High paying jobs in Raleigh-Cary, NC that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC run 1.8% below the national average (2024), so a Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC

OccupationMedian, Raleigh-Cary, NC · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$110,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,900 – $198,420850
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$102,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,270 – $125,320690
3First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$101,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,370 – $190,2701,820
4Dental Hygienists$98,800
Associate's degree
$74,940 – $105,7301,220
5Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$91,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,020 – $141,030330
6Respiratory Therapists$87,820
Associate's degree
$67,420 – $108,150430
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,130
Associate's degree
$72,900 – $109,380430
8Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,560
Associate's degree
$56,880 – $100,920260
9Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,930 – $105,610550
10First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$78,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,240 – $103,650840
11First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$77,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,570 – $120,2406,080
12Detectives and Criminal Investigators$77,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,030 – $146,720630
13First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$76,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,760 – $114,1303,120
14Food Service Managers$76,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,010 – $103,5701,640
15First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,690 – $112,6001,680
16Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,640
Associate's degree
$52,590 – $106,120500
17Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,270 – $154,9807,550
18Massage Therapists$71,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,660 – $95,280650
19Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$68,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,720 – $154,7208,970
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$68,210
Associate's degree
$54,220 – $96,6201,080
21Physical Therapist Assistants$67,890
Associate's degree
$60,060 – $86,950390
22Construction and Building Inspectors$67,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,840 – $97,9201,760
23Maintenance Workers, Machinery$67,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,420 – $93,880390
24Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$66,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,030 – $165,0101,880
25Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,330 – $95,3601,020
26Transportation Security Screeners$65,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,100 – $72,320400
27Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$65,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,620 – $80,8702,430
28Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,840
Associate's degree
$46,240 – $98,180730
29Paramedics$65,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,940 – $75,950470
30First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$64,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,090 – $100,4505,170
31Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,780 – $75,7701,740
32Computer Network Support Specialists$63,910
Associate's degree
$42,800 – $104,3201,450
33Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$63,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,290 – $103,110990
34Chemical Technicians$63,640
Associate's degree
$44,280 – $82,150280
35Computer User Support Specialists$62,460
Some college, no degree
$39,370 – $99,6405,320
36Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,430 – $82,6801,360
37Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $83,7401,390
38Paralegals and Legal Assistants$61,880
Associate's degree
$38,690 – $85,5602,540
39Medical Equipment Repairers$61,840
Associate's degree
$37,470 – $95,580470
40First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$61,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,270 – $85,230410
41Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $79,080370
42Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,970 – $90,980600
43Surgical Technologists$61,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,220 – $77,460560
44Machinists$61,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,940 – $72,020570
45Chefs and Head Cooks$61,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,790 – $96,840820
46Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,720
Associate's degree
$46,450 – $84,050830
47Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,940 – $77,6102,810
48Advertising Sales Agents$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,040 – $94,680370
49Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,080 – $76,530350
50First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$60,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,390 – $86,1602,700

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

#	Occupation	MedianRaleigh-Cary, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,780	$70,900 – $198,420	850
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,610	$80,270 – $125,320	690
3	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,680	$57,370 – $190,270	1,820
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,800	$74,940 – $105,730	1,220
5	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,600	$64,020 – $141,030	330
6	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$87,820	$67,420 – $108,150	430
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,130	$72,900 – $109,380	430
8	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,560	$56,880 – $100,920	260
9	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,930	$43,930 – $105,610	550
10	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,470	$52,240 – $103,650	840
11	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,690	$55,570 – $120,240	6,080
12	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,210	$55,030 – $146,720	630
13	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,450	$48,760 – $114,130	3,120
14	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,160	$41,010 – $103,570	1,640
15	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,230	$45,690 – $112,600	1,680
16	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,640	$52,590 – $106,120	500
17	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,220	$40,270 – $154,980	7,550
18	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,480	$40,660 – $95,280	650
19	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,560	$39,720 – $154,720	8,970
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,210	$54,220 – $96,620	1,080
21	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,890	$60,060 – $86,950	390
22	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,840	$46,840 – $97,920	1,760
23	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,040	$47,420 – $93,880	390
24	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,700	$46,030 – $165,010	1,880
25	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,600	$48,330 – $95,360	1,020
26	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,940	$42,100 – $72,320	400
27	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,860	$55,620 – $80,870	2,430
28	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,840	$46,240 – $98,180	730
29	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,220	$48,940 – $75,950	470
30	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,550	$46,090 – $100,450	5,170
31	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,080	$51,780 – $75,770	1,740
32	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$63,910	$42,800 – $104,320	1,450
33	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,810	$36,290 – $103,110	990
34	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,640	$44,280 – $82,150	280
35	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,460	$39,370 – $99,640	5,320
36	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,080	$46,430 – $82,680	1,360
37	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $83,740	1,390
38	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,880	$38,690 – $85,560	2,540
39	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$61,840	$37,470 – $95,580	470
40	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,710	$35,270 – $85,230	410
41	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,640	$48,240 – $79,080	370
42	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,570	$48,970 – $90,980	600
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,480	$49,220 – $77,460	560
44	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,430	$39,940 – $72,020	570
45	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,190	$34,790 – $96,840	820
46	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,720	$46,450 – $84,050	830
47	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,540	$42,940 – $77,610	2,810
48	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$29,040 – $94,680	370
49	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$47,080 – $76,530	350
50	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,370	$43,390 – $86,160	2,700

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

High paying jobs in Raleigh-Cary, NC that need no degree

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