High paying jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA 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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA run 13.6% below the national average (2024), so a Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

OccupationMedian, Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$95,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,000 – $161,630130
2Detectives and Criminal Investigators$84,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,970 – $158,06060
3Dental Hygienists$82,870
Associate's degree
$64,080 – $96,680210
4Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$81,950
Associate's degree
$53,060 – $91,60070
5First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$81,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,440 – $170,320180
6Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,110 – $100,900110
7First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$76,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,530 – $105,440880
8Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$75,440
Associate's degree
$53,920 – $96,900110
9Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$75,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,550 – $93,51090
10First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$74,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,580 – $112,630110
11Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$74,910
Associate's degree
$66,590 – $95,33080
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$74,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,920 – $117,320550
13Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$73,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,460 – $89,770190
14Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,120
Associate's degree
$46,870 – $119,62060
15Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$71,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,290 – $71,610100
16First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$69,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,770 – $102,350730
17Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$68,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $96,10060
18Millwrights$66,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,850 – $74,57050
19Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$66,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $77,67070
20Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$65,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,890 – $98,700250
21First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$64,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,740 – $100,06040
22Occupational Therapy Assistants$64,040
Associate's degree
$53,010 – $80,56060
23Computer Network Support Specialists$63,520
Associate's degree
$43,180 – $95,55060
24Transportation Security Screeners$63,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $70,26040
25Respiratory Therapists$62,740
Associate's degree
$59,880 – $94,410170
26Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,630
Associate's degree
$43,720 – $92,91040
27Physical Therapist Assistants$62,620
Associate's degree
$47,510 – $80,800160
28First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$62,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,870 – $88,63080
29Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,940 – $77,6401,100
30Food Service Managers$61,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,190 – $92,770130
31Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$61,450
Associate's degree
$48,120 – $79,160200
32Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$61,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,520 – $121,43090
33Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,970 – $78,220120
34Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03060
35First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,940 – $94,0701,380
36Surgical Technologists$60,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,350 – $77,200110
37Electricians$60,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,420 – $76,630760
38Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,210 – $77,370290
39Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040360
40Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$58,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,310 – $126,770770
41First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$58,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,060 – $86,670490
42Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$58,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,750 – $88,88060
43Machinists$57,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,980 – $76,010450
44Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$57,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,650 – $80,590170
45Computer User Support Specialists$57,720
Some college, no degree
$37,350 – $80,350400
46Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,540 – $77,120290
47Brickmasons and Blockmasons$57,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $77,76060
48Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$57,000
Associate's degree
$45,170 – $73,57090
49Construction and Building Inspectors$56,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,400 – $77,830110
50Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$56,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,580 – $103,270600

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

#	Occupation	MedianKingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,090	$51,000 – $161,630	130
2	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,660	$55,970 – $158,060	60
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,870	$64,080 – $96,680	210
4	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$81,950	$53,060 – $91,600	70
5	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,280	$49,440 – $170,320	180
6	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,860	$56,110 – $100,900	110
7	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,820	$47,530 – $105,440	880
8	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$75,440	$53,920 – $96,900	110
9	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,300	$59,550 – $93,510	90
10	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,970	$56,580 – $112,630	110
11	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$74,910	$66,590 – $95,330	80
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,390	$42,920 – $117,320	550
13	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,830	$37,460 – $89,770	190
14	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,120	$46,870 – $119,620	60
15	Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,610	$34,290 – $71,610	100
16	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,610	$47,770 – $102,350	730
17	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,250	$44,210 – $96,100	60
18	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,560	$47,850 – $74,570	50
19	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,110	$38,110 – $77,670	70
20	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,930	$35,890 – $98,700	250
21	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,740	$39,740 – $100,060	40
22	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,040	$53,010 – $80,560	60
23	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$63,520	$43,180 – $95,550	60
24	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,130	$49,940 – $70,260	40
25	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$62,740	$59,880 – $94,410	170
26	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,630	$43,720 – $92,910	40
27	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,620	$47,510 – $80,800	160
28	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,500	$49,870 – $88,630	80
29	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,300	$42,940 – $77,640	1,100
30	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,550	$40,190 – $92,770	130
31	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,450	$48,120 – $79,160	200
32	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,320	$40,520 – $121,430	90
33	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$42,970 – $78,220	120
34	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	60
35	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,690	$40,940 – $94,070	1,380
36	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,500	$40,350 – $77,200	110
37	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,070	$37,420 – $76,630	760
38	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,360	$38,210 – $77,370	290
39	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,010	$42,390 – $81,040	360
40	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,570	$34,310 – $126,770	770
41	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,260	$38,060 – $86,670	490
42	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,040	$45,750 – $88,880	60
43	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,890	$35,980 – $76,010	450
44	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,770	$38,650 – $80,590	170
45	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,720	$37,350 – $80,350	400
46	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,630	$38,540 – $77,120	290
47	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,450	$44,550 – $77,760	60
48	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,000	$45,170 – $73,570	90
49	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,820	$39,400 – $77,830	110
50	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,680	$33,580 – $103,270	600

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA. 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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA that need no degree

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