High paying jobs in South Carolina that need no degree

These occupations pay well in South 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 South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average (2024), so a South Carolina salary is worth about 1.07× 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 South Carolina.

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

Find high paying jobs in South Carolina

OccupationMedian, South Carolina · Employed

1Nuclear Technicians$108,490
Associate's degree
$88,210 – $124,190750
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$106,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,150 – $199,9703,460
3Dental Hygienists$84,340
Associate's degree
$65,700 – $97,2203,160
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$83,290
Associate's degree
$69,530 – $102,5401,340
5Respiratory Therapists$77,740
Associate's degree
$63,700 – $90,6701,960
6First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,720 – $103,44014,570
7First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$77,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,630 – $141,2103,230
8Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$76,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,890 – $102,8602,690
9Computer Network Support Specialists$76,790
Associate's degree
$48,800 – $113,7802,660
10Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$75,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,580 – $103,1701,130
11Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,640 – $104,0504,130
12First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$75,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,220 – $105,84013,150
13Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$75,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,230 – $84,6001,660
14First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$75,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,490 – $115,71010,140
15Chemical Technicians$75,020
Associate's degree
$48,860 – $81,8202,080
16Occupational Therapy Assistants$73,740
Associate's degree
$52,050 – $87,860830
17First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$73,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,750 – $118,2401,560
18Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,450
Associate's degree
$49,470 – $107,5902,060
19Chefs and Head Cooks$71,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,640 – $88,8802,650
20Physical Therapist Assistants$70,500
Associate's degree
$47,510 – $88,0701,870
21Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$70,080
Associate's degree
$46,450 – $83,8602,400
22Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$69,600
Associate's degree
$51,860 – $96,0203,630
23Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,580
Associate's degree
$49,350 – $96,6101,290
24Advertising Sales Agents$68,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,750 – $147,1101,770
25Food Service Managers$66,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,130 – $103,6805,080
26Tool and Die Makers$65,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,920 – $80,990870
27First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$65,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,200 – $100,8601,450
28Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $79,060960
29Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,680
Associate's degree
$46,410 – $100,9701,170
30Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $142,37022,010
31First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$63,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,690 – $90,9008,300
32First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$62,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,570 – $99,68026,710
33Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$62,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,280 – $140,5404,900
34Detectives and Criminal Investigators$62,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,960 – $149,2801,470
35Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030960
36Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,060 – $83,0509,890
37Surgical Technologists$62,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,830 – $75,2102,680
38Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,370 – $76,4209,400
39Millwrights$61,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,060 – $83,260950
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,900 – $92,9102,130
41Insurance Sales Agents$61,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,140 – $154,6508,220
42Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$60,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,600 – $92,3703,880
43First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Workers$60,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,570 – $78,1702,250
44Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$59,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,230 – $81,7101,310
45Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$59,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,940 – $76,5401,050
46Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,440 – $76,6703,360
47Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$59,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,540 – $76,5602,830
48Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$59,170
Associate's degree
$35,330 – $101,090890
49Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$58,960
Associate's degree
$38,170 – $101,6701,290
50Construction and Building Inspectors$58,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,140 – $84,8602,500

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

#	Occupation	MedianSouth Carolina	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nuclear TechniciansAssociate's degree	$108,490	$88,210 – $124,190	750
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$106,860	$68,150 – $199,970	3,460
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,340	$65,700 – $97,220	3,160
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$83,290	$69,530 – $102,540	1,340
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$77,740	$63,700 – $90,670	1,960
6	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,500	$49,720 – $103,440	14,570
7	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,130	$47,630 – $141,210	3,230
8	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,870	$48,890 – $102,860	2,690
9	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,790	$48,800 – $113,780	2,660
10	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,490	$47,580 – $103,170	1,130
11	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,370	$46,640 – $104,050	4,130
12	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,350	$52,220 – $105,840	13,150
13	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,160	$45,230 – $84,600	1,660
14	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,120	$47,490 – $115,710	10,140
15	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,020	$48,860 – $81,820	2,080
16	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,740	$52,050 – $87,860	830
17	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,700	$56,750 – $118,240	1,560
18	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,450	$49,470 – $107,590	2,060
19	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,860	$47,640 – $88,880	2,650
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,500	$47,510 – $88,070	1,870
21	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$70,080	$46,450 – $83,860	2,400
22	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,600	$51,860 – $96,020	3,630
23	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,580	$49,350 – $96,610	1,290
24	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,200	$25,750 – $147,110	1,770
25	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,190	$47,130 – $103,680	5,080
26	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,250	$41,920 – $80,990	870
27	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,160	$44,200 – $100,860	1,450
28	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,910	$46,760 – $79,060	960
29	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,680	$46,410 – $100,970	1,170
30	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,250	$36,250 – $142,370	22,010
31	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,470	$43,690 – $90,900	8,300
32	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,920	$43,570 – $99,680	26,710
33	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,810	$42,280 – $140,540	4,900
34	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,760	$50,960 – $149,280	1,470
35	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	960
36	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,330	$45,060 – $83,050	9,890
37	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,160	$38,830 – $75,210	2,680
38	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,820	$50,370 – $76,420	9,400
39	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,700	$40,060 – $83,260	950
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,480	$43,900 – $92,910	2,130
41	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,350	$35,140 – $154,650	8,220
42	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,890	$42,600 – $92,370	3,880
43	First-Line Supervisors of Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,100	$38,570 – $78,170	2,250
44	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,790	$39,230 – $81,710	1,310
45	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,710	$35,940 – $76,540	1,050
46	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,330	$41,440 – $76,670	3,360
47	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,180	$43,540 – $76,560	2,830
48	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,170	$35,330 – $101,090	890
49	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$58,960	$38,170 – $101,670	1,290
50	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,840	$36,140 – $84,860	2,500

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

Metro areas in South 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 South Carolina

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in South Carolina that need no degree

More for South Carolina

Metro areas in South Carolina

By field in South Carolina

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree