High paying jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC run 11.5% below the national average (2024), so a Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC salary is worth about 1.13× 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

OccupationMedian, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$94,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,360 – $171,700260
2Dental Hygienists$94,050
Associate's degree
$79,660 – $98,130170
3First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$92,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,970 – $177,740240
4Computer Network Support Specialists$85,780
Associate's degree
$37,550 – $124,450170
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$83,510
Associate's degree
$69,600 – $99,97050
6Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,720
Associate's degree
$54,900 – $98,350100
7Respiratory Therapists$78,350
Associate's degree
$63,900 – $125,590130
8Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$77,590
Associate's degree
$54,500 – $85,83070
9First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$75,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,940 – $103,370190
10First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$75,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,530 – $111,550660
11Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$72,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,160 – $86,050100
12Food Service Managers$72,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,940 – $96,600260
13Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$71,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,190 – $105,860190
14First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$69,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,280 – $99,070640
15Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$68,780
Associate's degree
$47,360 – $99,610380
16Postal Service Clerks$68,540
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $76,36080
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,430 – $131,8701,730
18First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$64,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,850 – $95,5701,760
19Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,060
Associate's degree
$48,550 – $85,06060
20Physical Therapist Assistants$63,800
Associate's degree
$54,660 – $77,530140
21Tool and Die Makers$63,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,120 – $74,120110
22Occupational Therapy Assistants$63,120
Associate's degree
$52,560 – $76,28070
23Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,040 – $81,840120
24First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$62,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,590 – $71,95070
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,000 – $72,130740
26Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,810 – $81,510850
27Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$61,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,110 – $70,88070
28Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $76,390440
29First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,310 – $83,440740
30First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,620 – $88,5101,010
31Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,290
Associate's degree
$47,150 – $87,87080
32Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $134,690940
33Construction and Building Inspectors$59,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,800 – $87,56070
34Upholsterers$59,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,520 – $76,9702,220
35Chefs and Head Cooks$59,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $77,880110
36Medical Equipment Repairers$59,190
Associate's degree
$34,740 – $82,37060
37Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,960
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040410
38Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$58,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,920 – $92,920120
39Insurance Sales Agents$58,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,080 – $84,990340
40Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$57,810
Associate's degree
$48,130 – $70,78060
41Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$57,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,120 – $107,62090
42Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$57,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,640 – $78,4103,050
43Detectives and Criminal Investigators$57,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,340 – $72,750100
44Surgical Technologists$57,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,930 – $72,850180
45Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$56,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,420 – $115,460100
46Loan Interviewers and Clerks$54,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,420 – $59,46060
47Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$54,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,600 – $72,000410
48First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$53,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,240 – $65,280100
49Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$53,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,460 – $59,460940
50Electricians$53,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $75,570570

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

#	Occupation	MedianHickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,750	$63,360 – $171,700	260
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$94,050	$79,660 – $98,130	170
3	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,660	$54,970 – $177,740	240
4	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$85,780	$37,550 – $124,450	170
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$83,510	$69,600 – $99,970	50
6	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,720	$54,900 – $98,350	100
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,350	$63,900 – $125,590	130
8	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$77,590	$54,500 – $85,830	70
9	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,190	$55,940 – $103,370	190
10	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,120	$46,530 – $111,550	660
11	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,480	$47,160 – $86,050	100
12	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,140	$47,940 – $96,600	260
13	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,290	$43,190 – $105,860	190
14	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,990	$48,280 – $99,070	640
15	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,780	$47,360 – $99,610	380
16	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$68,540	$55,350 – $76,360	80
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,150	$37,430 – $131,870	1,730
18	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,910	$45,850 – $95,570	1,760
19	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,060	$48,550 – $85,060	60
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,800	$54,660 – $77,530	140
21	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,230	$46,120 – $74,120	110
22	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,120	$52,560 – $76,280	70
23	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,040	$45,040 – $81,840	120
24	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,780	$43,590 – $71,950	70
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,430	$51,000 – $72,130	740
26	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,570	$41,810 – $81,510	850
27	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,140	$41,110 – $70,880	70
28	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,940	$44,550 – $76,390	440
29	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,690	$39,310 – $83,440	740
30	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,320	$42,620 – $88,510	1,010
31	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,290	$47,150 – $87,870	80
32	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,850	$35,700 – $134,690	940
33	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,800	$44,800 – $87,560	70
34	UpholsterersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,700	$44,520 – $76,970	2,220
35	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,480	$37,700 – $77,880	110
36	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$59,190	$34,740 – $82,370	60
37	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,960	$42,390 – $81,040	410
38	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,720	$49,920 – $92,920	120
39	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,410	$35,080 – $84,990	340
40	Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,810	$48,130 – $70,780	60
41	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,780	$29,120 – $107,620	90
42	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,460	$40,640 – $78,410	3,050
43	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,220	$48,340 – $72,750	100
44	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,000	$41,930 – $72,850	180
45	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,530	$38,420 – $115,460	100
46	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,620	$40,420 – $59,460	60
47	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,480	$38,600 – $72,000	410
48	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,990	$42,240 – $65,280	100
49	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,800	$46,460 – $59,460	940
50	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,730	$39,480 – $75,570	570

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

High paying jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC that need no degree

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