High paying jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Charleston-North Charleston, SC, 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC run 1.0% above the national average (2024), so a Charleston-North Charleston, SC salary is worth about 0.99× 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 Charleston-North Charleston, SC

OccupationMedian, Charleston-North Charleston, SC · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$94,570
Associate's degree
$80,180 – $97,710540
2Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$94,520
Associate's degree
$61,410 – $102,500150
3Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$88,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$53,470 – $101,610130
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$88,080
Associate's degree
$77,200 – $108,220210
5Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$86,370
Associate's degree
$61,790 – $131,300520
6Computer Network Support Specialists$81,990
Associate's degree
$56,100 – $113,780690
7Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$81,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,820 – $93,160380
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$81,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,530 – $115,210370
9Advertising Sales Agents$80,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,190 – $133,760520
10Power Plant Operators$79,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,240 – $100,200150
11Respiratory Therapists$79,410
Associate's degree
$60,020 – $90,670390
12Insurance Sales Agents$78,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,180 – $202,9001,330
13Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$75,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,820 – $98,680300
14Maintenance Workers, Machinery$75,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,340 – $91,300140
15Tool and Die Makers$74,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,190 – $77,000160
16Crossing Guards and Flaggers$73,990
No formal educational credential
$34,730 – $99,410140
17Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$72,730
Associate's degree
$58,450 – $96,820640
18Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,330
Associate's degree
$46,650 – $107,680210
19Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$71,160
Associate's degree
$62,330 – $82,210410
20Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,460
Associate's degree
$48,310 – $105,810260
21Postal Service Clerks$64,670
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,030130
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,140 – $152,7503,170
23Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,210 – $76,3501,480
24Automotive Body and Related Repairers$63,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,790 – $78,110660
25Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,720 – $83,200470
26Chemical Technicians$63,050
Associate's degree
$52,280 – $101,970330
27Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,310 – $131,6404,290
28Tax Preparers$62,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,630 – $80,880210
29Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$62,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,640 – $78,340600
30Physical Therapist Assistants$62,270
Associate's degree
$37,270 – $91,300280
31Massage Therapists$62,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$18,960 – $99,410400
32Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$61,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,750 – $78,510180
33Medical Records Specialists$61,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,240 – $69,350460
34Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$61,110
Associate's degree
$38,170 – $97,470190
35Transportation Security Screeners$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,100 – $67,200160
36Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$61,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,550 – $79,340540
37Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,940 – $79,9201,350
38Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,300 – $75,9202,320
39Real Estate Sales Agents$60,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,990 – $128,0901,350
40Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$60,110
Associate's degree
$36,930 – $101,780210
41Surgical Technologists$59,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,390 – $69,110380
42Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,880
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040730
43Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$59,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,270 – $80,680150
44Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$59,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,760 – $92,060400
45Sheet Metal Workers$59,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,000 – $81,120270
46Machinists$59,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,930 – $75,160470
47Sailors and Marine Oilers$59,100
No formal educational credential
$41,070 – $93,720160
48Electricians$59,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,560 – $75,6601,480
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$58,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,760 – $89,270960
50Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,410
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,280 – $77,0601,270

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

#	Occupation	MedianCharleston-North Charleston, SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$94,570	$80,180 – $97,710	540
2	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$94,520	$61,410 – $102,500	150
3	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$88,130	$53,470 – $101,610	130
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$88,080	$77,200 – $108,220	210
5	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$86,370	$61,790 – $131,300	520
6	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$81,990	$56,100 – $113,780	690
7	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,690	$65,820 – $93,160	380
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,330	$60,530 – $115,210	370
9	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,410	$39,190 – $133,760	520
10	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,900	$57,240 – $100,200	150
11	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,410	$60,020 – $90,670	390
12	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,890	$46,180 – $202,900	1,330
13	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,570	$49,820 – $98,680	300
14	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,190	$52,340 – $91,300	140
15	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,320	$62,190 – $77,000	160
16	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$73,990	$34,730 – $99,410	140
17	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,730	$58,450 – $96,820	640
18	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,330	$46,650 – $107,680	210
19	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$71,160	$62,330 – $82,210	410
20	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,460	$48,310 – $105,810	260
21	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,670	$54,330 – $75,030	130
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,120	$38,140 – $152,750	3,170
23	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,100	$49,210 – $76,350	1,480
24	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,080	$48,790 – $78,110	660
25	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,080	$45,720 – $83,200	470
26	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,050	$52,280 – $101,970	330
27	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,600	$34,310 – $131,640	4,290
28	Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,350	$33,630 – $80,880	210
29	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,280	$39,640 – $78,340	600
30	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,270	$37,270 – $91,300	280
31	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,140	$18,960 – $99,410	400
32	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,960	$37,750 – $78,510	180
33	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,950	$38,240 – $69,350	460
34	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$61,110	$38,170 – $97,470	190
35	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$42,100 – $67,200	160
36	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,000	$46,550 – $79,340	540
37	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,950	$43,940 – $79,920	1,350
38	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,570	$49,300 – $75,920	2,320
39	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,110	$39,990 – $128,090	1,350
40	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,110	$36,930 – $101,780	210
41	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,920	$47,390 – $69,110	380
42	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,880	$42,390 – $81,040	730
43	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,790	$49,270 – $80,680	150
44	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,730	$45,760 – $92,060	400
45	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,650	$40,000 – $81,120	270
46	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,280	$46,930 – $75,160	470
47	Sailors and Marine OilersNo formal educational credential	$59,100	$41,070 – $93,720	160
48	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,010	$45,560 – $75,660	1,480
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,690	$41,760 – $89,270	960
50	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,410	$40,280 – $77,060	1,270

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

High paying jobs in Charleston-North Charleston, SC that need no experience

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