High paying jobs in Fayetteville, NC that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, NC run 8.0% below the national average (2024), so a Fayetteville, NC salary is worth about 1.09× 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 Fayetteville, NC

OccupationMedian, Fayetteville, NC · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$128,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,370 – $214,07040
2Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other$114,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$78,690 – $132,04060
3Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$101,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,570 – $169,400140
4Dental Hygienists$93,330
Associate's degree
$65,010 – $97,980220
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$87,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,770 – $117,190210
6Computer Network Support Specialists$86,370
Associate's degree
$31,400 – $105,190220
7Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$84,930
Associate's degree
$70,220 – $111,05060
8Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,860
Associate's degree
$61,880 – $100,93070
9Respiratory Therapists$80,650
Associate's degree
$64,950 – $112,140110
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$78,860
Associate's degree
$70,470 – $107,29070
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$77,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,300 – $104,870140
12First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$75,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,670 – $151,700170
13Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$74,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,950 – $106,21070
14First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$74,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,010 – $107,390610
15Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$74,220
Associate's degree
$49,340 – $93,750350
16Food Service Managers$72,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $111,500270
17First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$70,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,770 – $97,980630
18Paramedics$68,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$56,520 – $78,600130
19First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$67,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,300 – $82,35070
20Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$67,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,170 – $78,320100
21First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$67,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $102,680300
22Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$66,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,880 – $91,390210
23Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$66,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,340 – $80,56070
24Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$65,940
Associate's degree
$48,510 – $84,32070
25Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$65,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,040 – $99,54050
26Surgical Technologists$65,660
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,350 – $71,930100
27Postal Service Clerks$65,660
No formal educational credential
$56,390 – $76,36070
28Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$65,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,470 – $101,100270
29Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$54,100 – $77,650980
30Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,810 – $79,560460
31Detectives and Criminal Investigators$64,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,160 – $142,130170
32Physical Therapist Assistants$64,520
Associate's degree
$55,600 – $79,360130
33Occupational Therapy Assistants$64,010
Associate's degree
$54,350 – $79,44070
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,770 – $131,520530
35Automotive Glass Installers and Repairers$62,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,470 – $74,15060
36Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $101,91050
37Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,090
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040420
38Construction and Building Inspectors$61,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,000 – $93,340200
39Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$61,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,170 – $94,36040
40Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All Other$61,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,070 – $76,150180
41Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,110 – $79,450160
42First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,800 – $86,460870
43Paralegals and Legal Assistants$60,370
Associate's degree
$37,970 – $74,400420
44Lodging Managers$60,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,960 – $91,57050
45First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,970 – $84,640470
46Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$58,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,510 – $75,90090
47Surveying and Mapping Technicians$58,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,390 – $79,31080
48Maintenance Workers, Machinery$58,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,020 – $71,540160
49Machinists$58,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,880 – $84,41080
50Chefs and Head Cooks$57,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,980 – $79,580100

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

#	Occupation	MedianFayetteville, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$128,170	$58,370 – $214,070	40
2	Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$114,130	$78,690 – $132,040	60
3	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,500	$65,570 – $169,400	140
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$93,330	$65,010 – $97,980	220
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$87,480	$59,770 – $117,190	210
6	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$86,370	$31,400 – $105,190	220
7	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$84,930	$70,220 – $111,050	60
8	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,860	$61,880 – $100,930	70
9	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,650	$64,950 – $112,140	110
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$78,860	$70,470 – $107,290	70
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,160	$50,300 – $104,870	140
12	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,410	$46,670 – $151,700	170
13	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,440	$50,950 – $106,210	70
14	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,260	$46,010 – $107,390	610
15	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,220	$49,340 – $93,750	350
16	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,770	$37,700 – $111,500	270
17	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,180	$48,770 – $97,980	630
18	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,220	$56,520 – $78,600	130
19	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,830	$36,300 – $82,350	70
20	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,500	$34,170 – $78,320	100
21	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,040	$39,520 – $102,680	300
22	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,820	$48,880 – $91,390	210
23	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,580	$61,340 – $80,560	70
24	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$65,940	$48,510 – $84,320	70
25	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,730	$47,040 – $99,540	50
26	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,660	$46,350 – $71,930	100
27	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$65,660	$56,390 – $76,360	70
28	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,140	$43,470 – $101,100	270
29	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,670	$54,100 – $77,650	980
30	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,630	$46,810 – $79,560	460
31	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,590	$56,160 – $142,130	170
32	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,520	$55,600 – $79,360	130
33	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,010	$54,350 – $79,440	70
34	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,650	$33,770 – $131,520	530
35	Automotive Glass Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,500	$45,470 – $74,150	60
36	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,120	$34,200 – $101,910	50
37	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,090	$42,390 – $81,040	420
38	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,950	$47,000 – $93,340	200
39	Occupational Health and Safety TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,760	$51,170 – $94,360	40
40	Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,440	$35,070 – $76,150	180
41	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,240	$45,110 – $79,450	160
42	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,850	$41,800 – $86,460	870
43	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$60,370	$37,970 – $74,400	420
44	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,360	$25,960 – $91,570	50
45	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,220	$39,970 – $84,640	470
46	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,850	$37,510 – $75,900	90
47	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,280	$36,390 – $79,310	80
48	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,200	$45,020 – $71,540	160
49	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,150	$44,880 – $84,410	80
50	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,830	$31,980 – $79,580	100

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

High paying jobs in Fayetteville, NC that need no degree

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