High paying jobs in Columbus, GA-AL that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Columbus, GA-AL 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 Columbus, GA-AL run 10.7% below the national average (2024), so a Columbus, GA-AL salary is worth about 1.12× 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 Columbus, GA-AL

OccupationMedian, Columbus, GA-AL · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$106,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,590 – $176,63090
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$80,310
Associate's degree
$49,000 – $97,87090
3Dental Hygienists$80,240
Associate's degree
$64,310 – $91,140240
4Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$79,770
Associate's degree
$41,040 – $100,42060
5Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,170 – $106,34060
6Respiratory Therapists$77,150
Associate's degree
$63,240 – $95,100150
7First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,620 – $121,410650
8First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$69,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $106,470170
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$69,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,230 – $110,680550
10Computer Network Support Specialists$69,290
Associate's degree
$49,220 – $97,56080
11First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$68,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,030 – $96,430100
12Insurance Sales Agents$65,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,890 – $153,280630
13First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$65,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $98,240580
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$64,910
Associate's degree
$50,680 – $82,960270
15Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,900 – $101,210310
16Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$63,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,050 – $102,550370
17Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$63,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,490 – $71,28070
18Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $130,260570
19Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$63,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,190 – $90,360240
20Chefs and Head Cooks$62,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,960 – $95,05090
21First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$62,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,130 – $110,850250
22Physical Therapist Assistants$62,410
Associate's degree
$28,760 – $81,950100
23Lodging Managers$62,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,870 – $104,27050
24Food Service Managers$60,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,220 – $99,860290
25Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$60,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,990 – $150,120660
26Construction and Building Inspectors$60,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,070 – $91,21090
27Millwrights$59,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,850 – $74,68040
28Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$59,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,790 – $67,270240
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$59,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,290 – $68,680690
30First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$59,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,580 – $85,0901,020
31Postal Service Clerks$59,190
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03070
32First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,040 – $83,200430
33Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$58,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,900 – $91,260180
34Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$58,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,730 – $103,490190
35Surgical Technologists$58,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,010 – $63,260120
36Information and Record Clerks, All Other$58,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,050 – $65,150180
37Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$57,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,200 – $104,00040
38Architectural and Civil Drafters$56,430
Associate's degree
$41,350 – $102,43060
39Legal Support Workers, All Other$55,450
Associate's degree
$47,530 – $66,91040
40Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$55,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,380 – $78,820720
41Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$55,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,590 – $68,680180
42Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$54,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,190 – $74,110130
43Postal Service Mail Carriers$54,430
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040350
44Procurement Clerks$54,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,860 – $63,400130
45Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$53,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $65,030190
46Medical Records Specialists$52,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,060 – $75,390170
47Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$52,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,980 – $74,57040
48Paralegals and Legal Assistants$52,280
Associate's degree
$37,360 – $80,790220
49Computer User Support Specialists$51,730
Some college, no degree
$35,830 – $82,270410
50Electricians$50,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,830 – $77,020480

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbus, GA-AL	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,740	$65,590 – $176,630	90
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$80,310	$49,000 – $97,870	90
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$80,240	$64,310 – $91,140	240
4	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,770	$41,040 – $100,420	60
5	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,640	$47,170 – $106,340	60
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$77,150	$63,240 – $95,100	150
7	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,580	$40,620 – $121,410	650
8	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,620	$46,090 – $106,470	170
9	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,490	$43,230 – $110,680	550
10	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$69,290	$49,220 – $97,560	80
11	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,350	$62,030 – $96,430	100
12	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,680	$39,890 – $153,280	630
13	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,200	$46,090 – $98,240	580
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,910	$50,680 – $82,960	270
15	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,960	$45,900 – $101,210	310
16	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,400	$45,050 – $102,550	370
17	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,250	$56,490 – $71,280	70
18	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,180	$36,400 – $130,260	570
19	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,000	$48,190 – $90,360	240
20	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,920	$37,960 – $95,050	90
21	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,510	$62,130 – $110,850	250
22	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,410	$28,760 – $81,950	100
23	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,030	$43,870 – $104,270	50
24	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,820	$39,220 – $99,860	290
25	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,560	$35,990 – $150,120	660
26	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,520	$46,070 – $91,210	90
27	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,680	$47,850 – $74,680	40
28	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,360	$45,790 – $67,270	240
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,330	$46,290 – $68,680	690
30	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,290	$40,580 – $85,090	1,020
31	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$59,190	$42,600 – $75,030	70
32	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,090	$37,040 – $83,200	430
33	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,860	$37,900 – $91,260	180
34	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,520	$43,730 – $103,490	190
35	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,170	$40,010 – $63,260	120
36	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,120	$44,050 – $65,150	180
37	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,560	$31,200 – $104,000	40
38	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$56,430	$41,350 – $102,430	60
39	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$55,450	$47,530 – $66,910	40
40	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,430	$34,380 – $78,820	720
41	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,430	$35,590 – $68,680	180
42	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,580	$38,190 – $74,110	130
43	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$54,430	$42,390 – $81,040	350
44	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,020	$36,860 – $63,400	130
45	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,180	$34,530 – $65,030	190
46	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,580	$36,060 – $75,390	170
47	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,520	$37,980 – $74,570	40
48	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$52,280	$37,360 – $80,790	220
49	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$51,730	$35,830 – $82,270	410
50	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,730	$36,830 – $77,020	480

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Columbus, GA-AL. 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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Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Columbus, GA-AL that need no degree

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