High paying jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC run 2.7% below the national average (2024), so a Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC salary is worth about 1.03× 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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

OccupationMedian, Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC · Employed

1Commercial Pilots$144,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$67,070 – $265,710430
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$98,650
Associate's degree
$78,070 – $107,950730
3Dental Hygienists$98,390
Associate's degree
$92,120 – $103,7601,910
4Respiratory Therapists$82,020
Associate's degree
$65,170 – $100,4501,110
5Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$81,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,080 – $109,4501,130
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,950
Associate's degree
$58,690 – $100,8702,470
7Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,430 – $113,3102,460
8Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,650 – $128,9201,310
9Computer Network Support Specialists$75,420
Associate's degree
$48,610 – $117,1601,110
10Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,760
Associate's degree
$49,470 – $107,350650
11Occupational Therapy Assistants$72,780
Associate's degree
$58,430 – $79,210450
12Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$72,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,360 – $95,0101,150
13Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,000 – $149,46015,910
14Physical Therapist Assistants$70,720
Associate's degree
$57,910 – $83,250870
15Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,530 – $93,5801,780
16Industrial Machinery Mechanics$65,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,290 – $85,6904,690
17Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door$65,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,890 – $93,760480
18Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$65,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,210 – $76,3703,890
19Transportation Security Screeners$64,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,840 – $70,780560
20Architectural and Civil Drafters$63,940
Associate's degree
$45,760 – $93,860740
21Real Estate Sales Agents$63,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,960 – $158,6603,190
22Financial Clerks, All Other$63,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,310 – $100,620470
23Surgical Technologists$63,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,600 – $81,0301,170
24Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$63,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,850 – $94,4305,770
25Insurance Sales Agents$62,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,390 – $154,7206,800
26Tool and Die Makers$62,440
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,340 – $92,260450
27Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$61,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,590 – $143,99013,980
28Chemical Technicians$61,730
Associate's degree
$44,660 – $85,020480
29Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$61,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,110 – $76,060890
30Medical Equipment Repairers$61,530
Associate's degree
$35,510 – $82,220640
31Postal Service Mail Carriers$61,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $83,2202,710
32Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,990 – $77,710910
33Loan Interviewers and Clerks$60,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,930 – $71,8901,790
34Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,370 – $78,9703,350
35Computer User Support Specialists$60,220
Some college, no degree
$38,900 – $94,7205,250
36Machinists$60,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,880 – $76,0802,390
37Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,870
Associate's degree
$43,160 – $99,5304,140
38Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,840
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,110 – $79,2103,860
39Electricians$59,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,770 – $76,3105,250
40Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$59,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,880 – $80,560760
41Massage Therapists$58,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$32,740 – $96,690930
42Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$58,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,320 – $76,0103,840
43Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$58,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,790 – $79,420790
44Surveying and Mapping Technicians$58,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,900 – $71,6101,120
45Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$57,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,130 – $78,580970
46Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$57,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,430 – $78,9203,480
47Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$57,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,770 – $73,5001,520
48Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$56,780
Associate's degree
$39,530 – $100,960600
49Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$56,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,240 – $77,49018,700
50Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,060 – $75,9103,370

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

#	Occupation	MedianCharlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Commercial PilotsPostsecondary nondegree award	$144,750	$67,070 – $265,710	430
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$98,650	$78,070 – $107,950	730
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,390	$92,120 – $103,760	1,910
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$82,020	$65,170 – $100,450	1,110
5	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,740	$46,080 – $109,450	1,130
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,950	$58,690 – $100,870	2,470
7	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,680	$47,430 – $113,310	2,460
8	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,580	$51,650 – $128,920	1,310
9	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$75,420	$48,610 – $117,160	1,110
10	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,760	$49,470 – $107,350	650
11	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$72,780	$58,430 – $79,210	450
12	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,600	$49,360 – $95,010	1,150
13	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,500	$40,000 – $149,460	15,910
14	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,720	$57,910 – $83,250	870
15	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,420	$48,530 – $93,580	1,780
16	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,530	$46,290 – $85,690	4,690
17	Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical DoorHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,170	$48,890 – $93,760	480
18	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,140	$51,210 – $76,370	3,890
19	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,540	$44,840 – $70,780	560
20	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$63,940	$45,760 – $93,860	740
21	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,930	$30,960 – $158,660	3,190
22	Financial Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,640	$48,310 – $100,620	470
23	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,490	$49,600 – $81,030	1,170
24	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,190	$49,850 – $94,430	5,770
25	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,490	$37,390 – $154,720	6,800
26	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,440	$41,340 – $92,260	450
27	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,850	$37,590 – $143,990	13,980
28	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,730	$44,660 – $85,020	480
29	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,590	$40,110 – $76,060	890
30	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$61,530	$35,510 – $82,220	640
31	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$61,010	$42,390 – $83,220	2,710
32	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,580	$44,990 – $77,710	910
33	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,510	$39,930 – $71,890	1,790
34	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,300	$38,370 – $78,970	3,350
35	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$60,220	$38,900 – $94,720	5,250
36	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,210	$39,880 – $76,080	2,390
37	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,870	$43,160 – $99,530	4,140
38	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,840	$40,110 – $79,210	3,860
39	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,080	$43,770 – $76,310	5,250
40	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,080	$43,880 – $80,560	760
41	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,930	$32,740 – $96,690	930
42	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,690	$42,320 – $76,010	3,840
43	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,600	$40,790 – $79,420	790
44	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,480	$38,900 – $71,610	1,120
45	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,650	$42,130 – $78,580	970
46	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,340	$40,430 – $78,920	3,480
47	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,110	$39,770 – $73,500	1,520
48	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,780	$39,530 – $100,960	600
49	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,120	$44,240 – $77,490	18,700
50	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,070	$41,060 – $75,910	3,370

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-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 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC that need no experience

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