High paying jobs in Charlottesville, VA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Charlottesville, VA and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Charlottesville, VA run 0.9% below the national average (2024), so a Charlottesville, VA salary is worth about 1.01× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Charlottesville, VA

OccupationMedian, Charlottesville, VA · Employed

1Legal Support Workers, All Other$139,240
Associate's degree
$60,860 – $195,19040
2Dental Hygienists$107,690
Associate's degree
$96,940 – $130,120120
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$98,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,770 – $165,58060
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$94,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,270 – $131,06080
5Detectives and Criminal Investigators$93,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,740 – $136,12050
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$88,700
Associate's degree
$68,820 – $138,450100
7Respiratory Therapists$86,720
Associate's degree
$67,860 – $99,820120
8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$80,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,280 – $159,170170
9Occupational Therapy Assistants$79,770
Associate's degree
$62,450 – $84,09040
10Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,560
Associate's degree
$58,920 – $109,550200
11First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,350 – $115,440680
12Medical Equipment Repairers$78,940
Associate's degree
$49,380 – $102,70060
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$78,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,570 – $112,530390
14Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,570 – $92,60080
15Maintenance Workers, Machinery$77,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,840 – $109,07040
16First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,350 – $101,490220
17Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$74,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,680 – $109,730320
18Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$74,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,820 – $145,010210
19Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,100
Associate's degree
$47,820 – $102,280110
20Physical Therapist Assistants$74,010
Associate's degree
$55,440 – $85,72080
21First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$69,680
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,190 – $93,43070
22Construction and Building Inspectors$69,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,160 – $96,300100
23Computer Network Support Specialists$68,860
Associate's degree
$43,570 – $111,000100
24Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$67,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,310 – $80,930350
25Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$66,830
Associate's degree
$43,920 – $79,65070
26Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$65,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,630 – $103,38050
27Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,940 – $81,90060
28Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$64,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,570 – $107,17090
29Paramedics$63,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,440 – $63,920100
30First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$63,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,810 – $90,32070
31Computer User Support Specialists$63,530
Some college, no degree
$45,610 – $96,000410
32First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$63,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,310 – $97,680800
33Electricians$62,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,220 – $77,640460
34Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,170 – $135,020930
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,660 – $123,690430
36Medical Records Specialists$62,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,610 – $75,290220
37Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$62,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,860 – $74,88080
38Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,400
Associate's degree
$49,420 – $78,86080
39Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,340 – $76,450130
40Chefs and Head Cooks$61,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,590 – $80,600180
41Advertising Sales Agents$61,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,490 – $132,50070
42Transportation Security Screeners$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,870 – $67,20040
43Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03060
44Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,380 – $87,700410
45First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers$60,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,780 – $97,76040
46Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040200
47Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$60,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,260 – $80,37080
48Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,440 – $87,200100
49Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,570 – $85,700310
50Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,740
Associate's degree
$45,990 – $82,130190

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianCharlottesville, VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$139,240	$60,860 – $195,190	40
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$107,690	$96,940 – $130,120	120
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,950	$70,770 – $165,580	60
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,220	$70,270 – $131,060	80
5	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,160	$60,740 – $136,120	50
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$88,700	$68,820 – $138,450	100
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,720	$67,860 – $99,820	120
8	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,350	$48,280 – $159,170	170
9	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$79,770	$62,450 – $84,090	40
10	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,560	$58,920 – $109,550	200
11	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,980	$59,350 – $115,440	680
12	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$78,940	$49,380 – $102,700	60
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,380	$50,570 – $112,530	390
14	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,480	$48,570 – $92,600	80
15	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,060	$50,840 – $109,070	40
16	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,270	$45,350 – $101,490	220
17	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,370	$53,680 – $109,730	320
18	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,110	$45,820 – $145,010	210
19	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,100	$47,820 – $102,280	110
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$74,010	$55,440 – $85,720	80
21	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,680	$62,190 – $93,430	70
22	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,380	$49,160 – $96,300	100
23	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$68,860	$43,570 – $111,000	100
24	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,120	$51,310 – $80,930	350
25	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$66,830	$43,920 – $79,650	70
26	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,050	$50,630 – $103,380	50
27	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,740	$42,940 – $81,900	60
28	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,170	$39,570 – $107,170	90
29	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,870	$45,440 – $63,920	100
30	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,600	$55,810 – $90,320	70
31	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$63,530	$45,610 – $96,000	410
32	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,510	$44,310 – $97,680	800
33	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,980	$39,220 – $77,640	460
34	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,790	$37,170 – $135,020	930
35	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,660	$35,660 – $123,690	430
36	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,600	$39,610 – $75,290	220
37	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,460	$48,860 – $74,880	80
38	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,400	$49,420 – $78,860	80
39	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,060	$45,340 – $76,450	130
40	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,990	$39,590 – $80,600	180
41	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,790	$37,490 – $132,500	70
42	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$43,870 – $67,200	40
43	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	60
44	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,880	$51,380 – $87,700	410
45	First-Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,870	$41,780 – $97,760	40
46	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,550	$42,390 – $81,040	200
47	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,380	$46,260 – $80,370	80
48	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,360	$46,440 – $87,200	100
49	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,790	$45,570 – $85,700	310
50	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,740	$45,990 – $82,130	190

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Charlottesville, VA. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for Charlottesville, VA

Other metro areas in VA

By field in Charlottesville, VA

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Charlottesville, VA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Charlottesville, VA that need no degree

More for Charlottesville, VA

Other metro areas in VA

By field in Charlottesville, VA

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree