High paying jobs in Athens-Clarke County, GA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Athens-Clarke County, GA, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Athens-Clarke County, GA run 6.7% below the national average (2024), so a Athens-Clarke County, GA 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.

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 Athens-Clarke County, GA

OccupationMedian, Athens-Clarke County, GA · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$81,830
Associate's degree
$64,860 – $93,500130
2Respiratory Therapists$81,730
Associate's degree
$65,820 – $99,50090
3Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$80,820
Associate's degree
$42,910 – $98,80060
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$75,720
Associate's degree
$55,250 – $95,21090
5Computer Network Support Specialists$75,550
Associate's degree
$53,360 – $107,00070
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$75,360
Associate's degree
$50,220 – $94,790210
7Massage Therapists$73,330
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,880 – $77,88060
8Physical Therapist Assistants$65,910
Associate's degree
$42,420 – $90,24070
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$65,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,200 – $101,63080
10Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$65,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,040 – $76,96060
11Insurance Sales Agents$64,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,100 – $229,490220
12Surgical Technologists$63,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,550 – $78,020140
13Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$62,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,990 – $65,660170
14Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,870 – $139,820560
15Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,270 – $72,710420
16Postal Service Clerks$61,150
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $76,36050
17Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,720 – $75,010570
18Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$60,610
Associate's degree
$40,650 – $102,17030
19Architectural and Civil Drafters$60,520
Associate's degree
$42,350 – $84,75050
20Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$60,240
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,290 – $137,45040
21Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers$58,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,910 – $60,790260
22Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$57,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,790 – $75,520210
23Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$56,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,600 – $74,44040
24Postal Service Mail Carriers$56,660
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040220
25Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$56,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,020 – $92,820100
26Machinists$56,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $72,330120
27Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,310 – $99,630880
28Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$53,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,090 – $60,33080
29Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$52,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,110 – $72,60080
30Industrial Machinery Mechanics$52,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,340 – $77,960180
31Computer User Support Specialists$51,810
Some college, no degree
$36,390 – $68,060650
32Miscellaneous Construction and Related Workers$51,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,620 – $63,250300
33Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$51,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,520 – $93,600440
34Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$51,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,630 – $64,91050
35Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$50,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,570 – $74,610100
36Electricians$49,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,150 – $82,610390
37Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$49,580
Associate's degree
$22,380 – $69,89040
38Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$49,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,720 – $102,020400
39Automotive Body and Related Repairers$49,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,410 – $121,37070
40Dental Laboratory Technicians$49,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,770 – $80,31040
41Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$49,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,350 – $78,300200
42Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,530 – $59,67060
43Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$48,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,790 – $69,010240
44Paralegals and Legal Assistants$48,840
Associate's degree
$37,560 – $77,840200
45Bus Drivers, School$48,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$23,320 – $63,620260
46Interviewers, Except Eligibility and Loan$48,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,950 – $54,19080
47Glaziers$48,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,580 – $62,11050
48Production Workers, All Other$48,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,710 – $59,630450
49New Accounts Clerks$48,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,020 – $61,19050
50Skincare Specialists$48,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,440 – $85,91070

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

#	Occupation	MedianAthens-Clarke County, GA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$81,830	$64,860 – $93,500	130
2	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$81,730	$65,820 – $99,500	90
3	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$80,820	$42,910 – $98,800	60
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$75,720	$55,250 – $95,210	90
5	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$75,550	$53,360 – $107,000	70
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,360	$50,220 – $94,790	210
7	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,330	$42,880 – $77,880	60
8	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$65,910	$42,420 – $90,240	70
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,800	$64,200 – $101,630	80
10	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,250	$41,040 – $76,960	60
11	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,490	$44,100 – $229,490	220
12	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,950	$46,550 – $78,020	140
13	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,600	$40,990 – $65,660	170
14	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,080	$32,870 – $139,820	560
15	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,600	$47,270 – $72,710	420
16	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,150	$42,600 – $76,360	50
17	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,710	$41,720 – $75,010	570
18	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$60,610	$40,650 – $102,170	30
19	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$60,520	$42,350 – $84,750	50
20	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,240	$38,290 – $137,450	40
21	Electrical, Electronic, and Electromechanical Assemblers, Except Coil Winders, Tapers, and FinishersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,560	$39,910 – $60,790	260
22	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,750	$38,790 – $75,520	210
23	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,740	$45,600 – $74,440	40
24	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$56,660	$42,390 – $81,040	220
25	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,460	$42,020 – $92,820	100
26	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,010	$37,440 – $72,330	120
27	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,190	$37,310 – $99,630	880
28	Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,970	$35,090 – $60,330	80
29	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,920	$39,110 – $72,600	80
30	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,190	$46,340 – $77,960	180
31	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$51,810	$36,390 – $68,060	650
32	Miscellaneous Construction and Related WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,740	$41,620 – $63,250	300
33	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,170	$31,520 – $93,600	440
34	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,160	$37,630 – $64,910	50
35	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,820	$37,570 – $74,610	100
36	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,750	$36,150 – $82,610	390
37	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$49,580	$22,380 – $69,890	40
38	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,540	$27,720 – $102,020	400
39	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,400	$35,410 – $121,370	70
40	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,280	$37,770 – $80,310	40
41	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,260	$34,350 – $78,300	200
42	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,160	$34,530 – $59,670	60
43	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,890	$35,790 – $69,010	240
44	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$48,840	$37,560 – $77,840	200
45	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,630	$23,320 – $63,620	260
46	Interviewers, Except Eligibility and LoanHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,600	$32,950 – $54,190	80
47	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,540	$30,580 – $62,110	50
48	Production Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,360	$28,710 – $59,630	450
49	New Accounts ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,140	$36,020 – $61,190	50
50	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,000	$31,440 – $85,910	70

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Athens-Clarke County, GA. 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 Athens-Clarke County, GA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Athens-Clarke County, GA that need no experience

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