High paying jobs in Columbia, SC that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Columbia, SC 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 Columbia, SC run 6.3% below the national average (2024), so a Columbia, SC salary is worth about 1.07× 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 Columbia, SC

OccupationMedian, Columbia, SC · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$101,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,860 – $165,650540
2Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$85,560
Associate's degree
$68,290 – $95,300130
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$84,440
Associate's degree
$69,530 – $97,220320
4Dental Hygienists$82,370
Associate's degree
$63,030 – $91,250620
5Respiratory Therapists$79,780
Associate's degree
$61,050 – $84,690330
6Power Plant Operators$79,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,450 – $98,470150
7Computer Network Support Specialists$76,560
Associate's degree
$46,390 – $107,060520
8First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,730 – $105,5901,860
9Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,830 – $92,910290
10First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$75,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,630 – $165,590600
11Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$74,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,710 – $95,430360
12Insurance Sales Agents$74,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,710 – $174,6301,540
13Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$74,080
Associate's degree
$55,970 – $96,020700
14First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$74,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,820 – $109,9301,800
15First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$73,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,440 – $129,750260
16Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,390 – $80,600260
17First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$72,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,720 – $101,3101,930
18Chefs and Head Cooks$69,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,280 – $85,710280
19Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$68,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,790 – $83,450250
20Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$67,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,240 – $99,2201,790
21Detectives and Criminal Investigators$66,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,730 – $136,120580
22Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$65,590
Associate's degree
$36,340 – $92,880140
23Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,400
Associate's degree
$45,310 – $98,080250
24Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,110 – $78,140190
25Chemical Technicians$64,740
Associate's degree
$47,210 – $86,450250
26Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,220 – $87,8001,370
27Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,110
Associate's degree
$46,680 – $94,860200
28Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,960
Associate's degree
$43,660 – $82,780260
29Physical Therapist Assistants$62,920
Associate's degree
$43,150 – $81,520300
30First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,020 – $87,8501,450
31Medical Records Specialists$62,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,090 – $71,570640
32Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,260 – $133,4003,290
33Construction and Building Inspectors$62,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,970 – $84,110450
34First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,610 – $95,5606,120
35Postal Service Clerks$62,130
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,030130
36Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,050 – $76,2801,600
37First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$61,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,540 – $94,740170
38Surgical Technologists$61,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,030 – $74,290440
39Food Service Managers$60,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,990 – $97,320860
40Electricians$60,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,330 – $78,3101,170
41Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,830 – $94,860520
42Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $76,180320
43First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$60,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,610 – $75,180340
44Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,050 – $89,980990
45Machinists$59,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,350 – $74,930240
46Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$59,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,280 – $132,620910
47Massage Therapists$59,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$17,840 – $88,960240
48Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,650 – $98,8402,840
49Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$59,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,540 – $74,950480
50Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$58,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,810 – $67,740730

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbia, SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,030	$67,860 – $165,650	540
2	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$85,560	$68,290 – $95,300	130
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$84,440	$69,530 – $97,220	320
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,370	$63,030 – $91,250	620
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,780	$61,050 – $84,690	330
6	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,600	$64,450 – $98,470	150
7	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,560	$46,390 – $107,060	520
8	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,420	$49,730 – $105,590	1,860
9	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,710	$38,830 – $92,910	290
10	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,630	$47,630 – $165,590	600
11	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,190	$44,710 – $95,430	360
12	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,100	$35,710 – $174,630	1,540
13	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,080	$55,970 – $96,020	700
14	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,040	$46,820 – $109,930	1,800
15	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,450	$51,440 – $129,750	260
16	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,110	$44,390 – $80,600	260
17	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,800	$50,720 – $101,310	1,930
18	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,820	$46,280 – $85,710	280
19	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,100	$48,790 – $83,450	250
20	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,290	$44,240 – $99,220	1,790
21	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,340	$50,730 – $136,120	580
22	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,590	$36,340 – $92,880	140
23	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,400	$45,310 – $98,080	250
24	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,910	$48,110 – $78,140	190
25	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,740	$47,210 – $86,450	250
26	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,680	$43,220 – $87,800	1,370
27	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,110	$46,680 – $94,860	200
28	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,960	$43,660 – $82,780	260
29	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,920	$43,150 – $81,520	300
30	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,860	$45,020 – $87,850	1,450
31	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,650	$38,090 – $71,570	640
32	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,470	$36,260 – $133,400	3,290
33	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,410	$35,970 – $84,110	450
34	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,230	$43,610 – $95,560	6,120
35	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,130	$54,330 – $75,030	130
36	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,110	$51,050 – $76,280	1,600
37	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,830	$41,540 – $94,740	170
38	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,230	$50,030 – $74,290	440
39	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,860	$39,990 – $97,320	860
40	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,390	$45,330 – $78,310	1,170
41	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,320	$45,830 – $94,860	520
42	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,310	$36,080 – $76,180	320
43	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,100	$37,610 – $75,180	340
44	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,090	$39,050 – $89,980	990
45	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,570	$36,350 – $74,930	240
46	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,540	$42,280 – $132,620	910
47	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,310	$17,840 – $88,960	240
48	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,260	$46,650 – $98,840	2,840
49	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,180	$43,540 – $74,950	480
50	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,520	$32,810 – $67,740	730

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Columbia, SC. 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.

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

High paying jobs in Columbia, SC that need no degree

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