High paying jobs in North Carolina that need no degree

These occupations pay well in North Carolina 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 North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average (2024), so a North Carolina salary is worth about 1.06× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in North Carolina.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in North Carolina

OccupationMedian, North Carolina · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$106,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,090 – $191,6506,650
2Dental Hygienists$97,850
Associate's degree
$77,270 – $103,8506,690
3First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$91,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,650 – $180,68011,080
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$91,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,750 – $124,1204,820
5Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,010
Associate's degree
$67,070 – $105,5302,970
6Respiratory Therapists$80,090
Associate's degree
$63,990 – $99,5204,630
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,180 – $105,4305,650
8Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$76,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,970 – $112,0504,700
9First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,580 – $117,40021,110
10Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$76,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,830 – $97,0401,660
11Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,040
Associate's degree
$49,880 – $106,3502,490
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,200 – $108,6309,880
13First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,040 – $104,85032,460
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$74,450
Associate's degree
$52,860 – $99,2109,250
15Food Service Managers$74,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,780 – $104,0609,420
16Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,200 – $144,31049,110
17Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$70,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,720 – $99,7108,890
18Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,720
Associate's degree
$48,240 – $100,9201,940
19First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$69,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,960 – $101,03022,240
20Occupational Therapy Assistants$69,390
Associate's degree
$55,130 – $83,3601,590
21Physical Therapist Assistants$67,540
Associate's degree
$56,100 – $80,8503,280
22Construction and Building Inspectors$66,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $95,2206,490
23Postal Service Clerks$64,290
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $75,0302,070
24Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,140 – $87,6605,100
25Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,400 – $94,4803,540
26Tire Builders$63,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,750 – $79,7403,750
27Detectives and Criminal Investigators$63,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,260 – $137,5503,360
28Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,480 – $74,73018,010
29Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$63,010
Associate's degree
$25,860 – $114,2602,370
30Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,750
Associate's degree
$42,790 – $95,5402,680
31Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,410 – $145,63046,040
32Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,550 – $81,97015,720
33First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,880 – $97,90035,830
34Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$61,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,470 – $111,43010,690
35Chefs and Head Cooks$61,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,210 – $92,2104,920
36Tool and Die Makers$61,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,770 – $79,1801,580
37Surgical Technologists$60,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,990 – $78,6504,400
38Massage Therapists$60,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,050 – $96,5102,460
39Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,540 – $78,2304,750
40Computer User Support Specialists$60,120
Some college, no degree
$38,270 – $97,21023,100
41First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,020 – $85,85021,540
42Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,990
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $82,37011,030
43First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$59,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,800 – $110,7905,050
44Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $80,24022,370
45Medical Equipment Repairers$59,190
Associate's degree
$35,510 – $88,7502,650
46Chemical Technicians$59,030
Associate's degree
$45,280 – $83,1102,660
47Insurance Sales Agents$58,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,000 – $124,90020,540
48Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,700
Associate's degree
$44,940 – $81,7402,760
49Loan Interviewers and Clerks$57,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,030 – $70,0504,800
50Paralegals and Legal Assistants$57,500
Associate's degree
$38,570 – $84,41013,650

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

#	Occupation	MedianNorth Carolina	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,100	$66,090 – $191,650	6,650
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,850	$77,270 – $103,850	6,690
3	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,200	$53,650 – $180,680	11,080
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,100	$61,750 – $124,120	4,820
5	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,010	$67,070 – $105,530	2,970
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,090	$63,990 – $99,520	4,630
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,270	$48,180 – $105,430	5,650
8	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,980	$50,970 – $112,050	4,700
9	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,800	$47,580 – $117,400	21,110
10	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,740	$52,830 – $97,040	1,660
11	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,040	$49,880 – $106,350	2,490
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,310	$48,200 – $108,630	9,880
13	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,270	$51,040 – $104,850	32,460
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,450	$52,860 – $99,210	9,250
15	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,080	$51,780 – $104,060	9,420
16	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,990	$38,200 – $144,310	49,110
17	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,140	$49,720 – $99,710	8,890
18	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,720	$48,240 – $100,920	1,940
19	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,640	$45,960 – $101,030	22,240
20	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$69,390	$55,130 – $83,360	1,590
21	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,540	$56,100 – $80,850	3,280
22	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,080	$46,840 – $95,220	6,490
23	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,290	$55,350 – $75,030	2,070
24	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,080	$47,140 – $87,660	5,100
25	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,970	$48,400 – $94,480	3,540
26	Tire BuildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,950	$47,750 – $79,740	3,750
27	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,280	$50,260 – $137,550	3,360
28	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,270	$50,480 – $74,730	18,010
29	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$63,010	$25,860 – $114,260	2,370
30	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,750	$42,790 – $95,540	2,680
31	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,620	$37,410 – $145,630	46,040
32	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,430	$43,550 – $81,970	15,720
33	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,340	$43,880 – $97,900	35,830
34	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,430	$38,470 – $111,430	10,690
35	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,130	$38,210 – $92,210	4,920
36	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,060	$43,770 – $79,180	1,580
37	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,920	$45,990 – $78,650	4,400
38	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,650	$31,050 – $96,510	2,460
39	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,580	$42,540 – $78,230	4,750
40	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$60,120	$38,270 – $97,210	23,100
41	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,070	$41,020 – $85,850	21,540
42	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,990	$42,390 – $82,370	11,030
43	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,560	$44,800 – $110,790	5,050
44	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,300	$46,040 – $80,240	22,370
45	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$59,190	$35,510 – $88,750	2,650
46	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,030	$45,280 – $83,110	2,660
47	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,710	$36,000 – $124,900	20,540
48	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,700	$44,940 – $81,740	2,760
49	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,780	$40,030 – $70,050	4,800
50	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$57,500	$38,570 – $84,410	13,650

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in North Carolina. 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.

More for North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in North Carolina

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in North Carolina that need no degree

More for North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina

By field in North Carolina

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree