High paying jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC run 2.4% below the national average (2024), so a Durham-Chapel Hill, NC salary is worth about 1.02× 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

OccupationMedian, Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$116,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,890 – $227,410420
2First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$102,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,950 – $215,400660
3Dental Hygienists$101,460
Associate's degree
$82,490 – $103,850350
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$97,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,380 – $107,150210
5Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$84,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,980 – $111,050200
6Computer Network Support Specialists$81,090
Associate's degree
$44,300 – $134,560470
7Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$80,430
Associate's degree
$63,740 – $102,350780
8First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,990 – $111,100980
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,830 – $107,4601,050
10Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$76,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,720 – $97,040180
11Food Service Managers$75,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,840 – $105,170510
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,690 – $101,6401,270
13Physical Therapist Assistants$73,970
Associate's degree
$55,230 – $85,470130
14Construction and Building Inspectors$73,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,640 – $92,190310
15Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$72,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,380 – $171,9403,300
16Computer User Support Specialists$71,750
Some college, no degree
$46,390 – $133,0002,090
17Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$71,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,220 – $103,990230
18Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,030 – $144,2501,720
19Detectives and Criminal Investigators$68,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,210 – $80,330160
20First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$68,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,690 – $100,4302,690
21Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$66,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,190 – $76,190960
22Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$66,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,150 – $95,430140
23Chefs and Head Cooks$66,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,440 – $93,670270
24Medical Equipment Repairers$65,890
Associate's degree
$44,930 – $97,720310
25Ophthalmic Medical Technicians$65,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,740 – $74,180130
26Chemical Technicians$64,500
Associate's degree
$48,370 – $83,630370
27Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,320
Associate's degree
$56,010 – $95,950300
28Paramedics$64,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,810 – $75,340230
29Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$64,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,590 – $98,1401,200
30Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,870
Associate's degree
$50,650 – $105,520200
31Industrial Machinery Mechanics$63,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,250 – $83,190540
32Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,960
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040570
33Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$62,650
Associate's degree
$46,310 – $80,290130
34Maintenance Workers, Machinery$62,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,930 – $83,320440
35Surveying and Mapping Technicians$62,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,190 – $78,310370
36Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,020
Associate's degree
$49,270 – $82,930180
37First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$62,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,560 – $88,580950
38Postal Service Clerks$61,570
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $75,030100
39Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,140 – $75,800130
40Massage Therapists$61,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,360 – $97,290130
41Architectural and Civil Drafters$61,080
Associate's degree
$42,640 – $93,350160
42Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$61,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,080 – $107,640800
43Calibration Technologists and Technicians$60,960
Associate's degree
$49,720 – $99,050170
44Surgical Technologists$60,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,950 – $82,170370
45Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,460 – $82,210370
46Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$60,340
Associate's degree
$49,160 – $91,350110
47Loan Interviewers and Clerks$60,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,070 – $72,080150
48Real Estate Sales Agents$60,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,340 – $159,370280
49First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$60,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,670 – $91,460130
50Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,820 – $76,460620

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

#	Occupation	MedianDurham-Chapel Hill, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$116,310	$70,890 – $227,410	420
2	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,300	$58,950 – $215,400	660
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$101,460	$82,490 – $103,850	350
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,180	$73,380 – $107,150	210
5	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,930	$56,980 – $111,050	200
6	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$81,090	$44,300 – $134,560	470
7	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,430	$63,740 – $102,350	780
8	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,930	$49,990 – $111,100	980
9	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,800	$47,830 – $107,460	1,050
10	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,740	$61,720 – $97,040	180
11	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,800	$51,840 – $105,170	510
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,430	$48,690 – $101,640	1,270
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,970	$55,230 – $85,470	130
14	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,590	$47,640 – $92,190	310
15	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,460	$42,380 – $171,940	3,300
16	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$71,750	$46,390 – $133,000	2,090
17	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,400	$48,220 – $103,990	230
18	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,870	$40,030 – $144,250	1,720
19	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,790	$61,210 – $80,330	160
20	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,450	$47,690 – $100,430	2,690
21	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,950	$50,190 – $76,190	960
22	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,430	$51,150 – $95,430	140
23	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,090	$47,440 – $93,670	270
24	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$65,890	$44,930 – $97,720	310
25	Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,000	$42,740 – $74,180	130
26	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,500	$48,370 – $83,630	370
27	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,320	$56,010 – $95,950	300
28	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,310	$48,810 – $75,340	230
29	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,170	$50,590 – $98,140	1,200
30	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,870	$50,650 – $105,520	200
31	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,140	$48,250 – $83,190	540
32	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,960	$42,390 – $81,040	570
33	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$62,650	$46,310 – $80,290	130
34	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,560	$51,930 – $83,320	440
35	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,420	$47,190 – $78,310	370
36	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,020	$49,270 – $82,930	180
37	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,000	$44,560 – $88,580	950
38	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,570	$55,350 – $75,030	100
39	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,360	$47,140 – $75,800	130
40	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,170	$31,360 – $97,290	130
41	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$61,080	$42,640 – $93,350	160
42	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,010	$38,080 – $107,640	800
43	Calibration Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,960	$49,720 – $99,050	170
44	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,610	$39,950 – $82,170	370
45	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,540	$44,460 – $82,210	370
46	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$60,340	$49,160 – $91,350	110
47	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,260	$36,070 – $72,080	150
48	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,230	$37,340 – $159,370	280
49	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,200	$33,670 – $91,460	130
50	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,110	$43,820 – $76,460	620

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC that need no degree

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