High paying jobs in Wilmington, NC that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC run 3.6% below the national average (2024), so a Wilmington, NC salary is worth about 1.04× 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 Wilmington, NC

OccupationMedian, Wilmington, NC · Employed

1Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay$106,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,580 – $118,37060
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$97,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,590 – $167,090230
3Dental Hygienists$96,700
Associate's degree
$80,730 – $103,970440
4First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$94,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,270 – $113,040150
5Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists$83,650
Associate's degree
$76,350 – $100,20070
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$81,480
Associate's degree
$66,890 – $103,270170
7Massage Therapists$81,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$20,890 – $121,240120
8Respiratory Therapists$81,020
Associate's degree
$64,490 – $95,830200
9Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,740
Associate's degree
$64,650 – $90,500120
10First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$76,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,490 – $139,250370
11Physical Therapist Assistants$75,820
Associate's degree
$56,520 – $86,930220
12First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$73,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,020 – $120,740880
13First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$72,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,540 – $129,990590
14Food Service Managers$71,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,800 – $97,730450
15First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$70,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,440 – $100,4001,710
16First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$68,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,270 – $104,15090
17Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,790
Associate's degree
$49,880 – $103,10080
18Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$68,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,950 – $90,290250
19Crane and Tower Operators$68,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,670 – $85,87060
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$67,210
Associate's degree
$48,100 – $101,050410
21Architectural and Civil Drafters$66,660
Associate's degree
$36,310 – $106,640120
22Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$64,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,500 – $136,5001,730
23Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,210 – $88,730270
24Construction and Building Inspectors$63,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,210 – $89,700290
25Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$63,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,360 – $105,020230
26Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$63,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,830 – $63,550100
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,850 – $145,7901,670
28Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$63,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $108,090110
29Occupational Therapy Assistants$63,440
Associate's degree
$48,380 – $85,67080
30Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,640 – $72,470790
31Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$63,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,410 – $102,190150
32Transportation Security Screeners$63,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $69,24060
33Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$62,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,920 – $90,100340
34Machinists$62,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $79,090180
35Detectives and Criminal Investigators$62,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,400 – $153,670210
36Lodging Managers$62,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$26,740 – $98,27070
37Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$61,590
Associate's degree
$45,830 – $87,00090
38Postal Service Clerks$61,570
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,030100
39First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$61,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,380 – $95,270330
40Computer User Support Specialists$61,240
Some college, no degree
$37,490 – $98,610690
41Chemical Technicians$61,200
Associate's degree
$42,340 – $81,930100
42Paramedics$61,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,200 – $80,170210
43Surgical Technologists$60,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,570 – $65,780210
44Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$60,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,180 – $89,450140
45First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$60,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,920 – $92,0601,250
46Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$60,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,960 – $72,900170
47Insurance Sales Agents$59,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,650 – $125,210660
48First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$59,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,430 – $89,180890
49Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$59,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,920 – $81,490290
50Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$59,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,470 – $94,100600

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

#	Occupation	MedianWilmington, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and RelayPostsecondary nondegree award	$106,950	$80,580 – $118,370	60
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,080	$53,590 – $167,090	230
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$96,700	$80,730 – $103,970	440
4	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,670	$66,270 – $113,040	150
5	Magnetic Resonance Imaging TechnologistsAssociate's degree	$83,650	$76,350 – $100,200	70
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$81,480	$66,890 – $103,270	170
7	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,390	$20,890 – $121,240	120
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,020	$64,490 – $95,830	200
9	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,740	$64,650 – $90,500	120
10	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,700	$51,490 – $139,250	370
11	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$75,820	$56,520 – $86,930	220
12	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,160	$46,020 – $120,740	880
13	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,310	$42,540 – $129,990	590
14	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,710	$49,800 – $97,730	450
15	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,820	$48,440 – $100,400	1,710
16	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,940	$37,270 – $104,150	90
17	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,790	$49,880 – $103,100	80
18	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,700	$48,950 – $90,290	250
19	Crane and Tower OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,670	$56,670 – $85,870	60
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$67,210	$48,100 – $101,050	410
21	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$66,660	$36,310 – $106,640	120
22	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,520	$37,500 – $136,500	1,730
23	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,440	$37,210 – $88,730	270
24	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,670	$48,210 – $89,700	290
25	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,630	$46,360 – $105,020	230
26	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,550	$35,830 – $63,550	100
27	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,510	$37,850 – $145,790	1,670
28	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,470	$51,220 – $108,090	110
29	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,440	$48,380 – $85,670	80
30	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,390	$51,640 – $72,470	790
31	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,190	$40,410 – $102,190	150
32	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,130	$49,940 – $69,240	60
33	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,930	$43,920 – $90,100	340
34	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,810	$38,700 – $79,090	180
35	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,580	$54,400 – $153,670	210
36	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,180	$26,740 – $98,270	70
37	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,590	$45,830 – $87,000	90
38	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,570	$54,330 – $75,030	100
39	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,390	$48,380 – $95,270	330
40	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$61,240	$37,490 – $98,610	690
41	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,200	$42,340 – $81,930	100
42	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,060	$39,200 – $80,170	210
43	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,900	$42,570 – $65,780	210
44	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,550	$50,180 – $89,450	140
45	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,430	$43,920 – $92,060	1,250
46	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,190	$44,960 – $72,900	170
47	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,880	$28,650 – $125,210	660
48	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,660	$41,430 – $89,180	890
49	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,470	$38,920 – $81,490	290
50	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,010	$38,470 – $94,100	600

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

High paying jobs in Wilmington, NC that need no degree

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