High paying jobs in Sumter, SC that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Sumter, SC 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 Sumter, SC run 12.0% below the national average (2024), so a Sumter, SC salary is worth about 1.14× 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 Sumter, SC

OccupationMedian, Sumter, SC · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$81,150
Associate's degree
$64,760 – $93,82060
2First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$79,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,170 – $114,170190
3First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$78,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,060 – $119,970350
4Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $109,30040
5First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,430 – $104,660340
6Insurance Sales Agents$66,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $122,67090
7First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$65,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,670 – $115,22030
8Chefs and Head Cooks$65,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,600 – $77,59030
9Food Service Managers$62,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,700 – $100,05080
10Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,860 – $72,670160
11Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,290
Associate's degree
$61,230 – $80,12060
12Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,360 – $135,350170
13Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,490 – $75,330110
14First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$60,620
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,200 – $90,69040
15First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,140 – $82,16070
16First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$58,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $90,160320
17Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$57,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,670 – $74,19050
18Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$57,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,510 – $97,20040
19Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,060 – $76,24040
20Detectives and Criminal Investigators$56,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $59,01040
21Electricians$56,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $69,61090
22Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$54,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,640 – $72,280210
23Postal Service Mail Carriers$52,520
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040140
24Information and Record Clerks, All Other$52,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,820 – $59,95050
25Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$50,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,950 – $69,64080
26Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$50,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,440 – $57,790220
27Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$50,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,510 – $78,640130
28Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$49,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,190 – $73,990110
29Machinists$49,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,600 – $81,06090
30Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,840 – $63,980270
31Highway Maintenance Workers$48,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,710 – $60,78040
32Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$48,160
No formal educational credential
$27,680 – $59,53040
33First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial Workers$47,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,040 – $66,04050
34Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$47,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,720 – $69,550550
35Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$47,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,250 – $116,690200
36Computer User Support Specialists$47,080
Some college, no degree
$37,770 – $75,92080
37Paralegals and Legal Assistants$46,750
Associate's degree
$37,540 – $67,20090
38Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$46,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,880 – $77,990480
39Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$46,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,660 – $76,050190
40Self-Enrichment Teachers$46,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$20,800 – $71,82060
41Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$45,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,950 – $64,87050
42Carpenters$45,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,500 – $70,40070
43Dental Assistants$45,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,520 – $51,060120
44Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$44,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,340 – $78,140170
45Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$44,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,530 – $59,220100
46Firefighters$43,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,440 – $55,33090
47Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,810
Some college, no degree
$29,130 – $66,080280
48First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales Workers$43,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,590 – $64,570330
49Billing and Posting Clerks$41,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,650 – $74,89080
50Medical Assistants$40,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,850 – $47,590170

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

#	Occupation	MedianSumter, SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$81,150	$64,760 – $93,820	60
2	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,540	$45,170 – $114,170	190
3	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,290	$54,060 – $119,970	350
4	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,160	$49,940 – $109,300	40
5	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,690	$54,430 – $104,660	340
6	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,370	$36,250 – $122,670	90
7	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,710	$44,670 – $115,220	30
8	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,020	$41,600 – $77,590	30
9	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,750	$44,700 – $100,050	80
10	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,640	$50,860 – $72,670	160
11	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,290	$61,230 – $80,120	60
12	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,890	$29,360 – $135,350	170
13	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,820	$42,490 – $75,330	110
14	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,620	$51,200 – $90,690	40
15	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,770	$45,140 – $82,160	70
16	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,590	$39,480 – $90,160	320
17	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,660	$41,670 – $74,190	50
18	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,460	$41,510 – $97,200	40
19	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,000	$44,060 – $76,240	40
20	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,500	$48,240 – $59,010	40
21	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,200	$43,680 – $69,610	90
22	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,940	$44,640 – $72,280	210
23	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$52,520	$42,390 – $81,040	140
24	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,440	$36,820 – $59,950	50
25	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,840	$36,950 – $69,640	80
26	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,340	$40,440 – $57,790	220
27	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,270	$39,510 – $78,640	130
28	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,880	$36,190 – $73,990	110
29	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,480	$40,600 – $81,060	90
30	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,250	$35,840 – $63,980	270
31	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,950	$42,710 – $60,780	40
32	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$48,160	$27,680 – $59,530	40
33	First-Line Supervisors of Housekeeping and Janitorial WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,660	$30,040 – $66,040	50
34	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,340	$27,720 – $69,550	550
35	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,140	$29,250 – $116,690	200
36	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$47,080	$37,770 – $75,920	80
37	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$46,750	$37,540 – $67,200	90
38	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,500	$36,880 – $77,990	480
39	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,500	$29,660 – $76,050	190
40	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,140	$20,800 – $71,820	60
41	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,930	$35,950 – $64,870	50
42	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,700	$34,500 – $70,400	70
43	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,500	$36,520 – $51,060	120
44	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,540	$35,340 – $78,140	170
45	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,530	$44,530 – $59,220	100
46	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,890	$28,440 – $55,330	90
47	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$43,810	$29,130 – $66,080	280
48	First-Line Supervisors of Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,540	$28,590 – $64,570	330
49	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,760	$35,650 – $74,890	80
50	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$40,780	$30,850 – $47,590	170

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Sumter, SC. 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 Sumter, SC to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Sumter, SC that need no degree

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