High paying jobs in Charlottesville, VA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Charlottesville, VA, 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 Charlottesville, VA run 0.9% below the national average (2024), so a Charlottesville, VA salary is worth about 1.01× 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 Charlottesville, VA

OccupationMedian, Charlottesville, VA · Employed

1Legal Support Workers, All Other$139,240
Associate's degree
$60,860 – $195,19040
2Dental Hygienists$107,690
Associate's degree
$96,940 – $130,120120
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$88,700
Associate's degree
$68,820 – $138,450100
4Respiratory Therapists$86,720
Associate's degree
$67,860 – $99,820120
5Occupational Therapy Assistants$79,770
Associate's degree
$62,450 – $84,09040
6Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$79,560
Associate's degree
$58,920 – $109,550200
7Medical Equipment Repairers$78,940
Associate's degree
$49,380 – $102,70060
8Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$77,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,570 – $92,60080
9Maintenance Workers, Machinery$77,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,840 – $109,07040
10Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$74,100
Associate's degree
$47,820 – $102,280110
11Physical Therapist Assistants$74,010
Associate's degree
$55,440 – $85,72080
12Computer Network Support Specialists$68,860
Associate's degree
$43,570 – $111,000100
13Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$67,120
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,310 – $80,930350
14Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$66,830
Associate's degree
$43,920 – $79,65070
15Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$65,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,630 – $103,38050
16Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,940 – $81,90060
17Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$64,170
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,570 – $107,17090
18Computer User Support Specialists$63,530
Some college, no degree
$45,610 – $96,000410
19Electricians$62,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,220 – $77,640460
20Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,170 – $135,020930
21Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,660 – $123,690430
22Medical Records Specialists$62,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,610 – $75,290220
23Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$62,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,860 – $74,88080
24Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,400
Associate's degree
$49,420 – $78,86080
25Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$62,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,340 – $76,450130
26Advertising Sales Agents$61,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,490 – $132,50070
27Transportation Security Screeners$61,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,870 – $67,20040
28Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03060
29Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$60,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,380 – $87,700410
30Postal Service Mail Carriers$60,550
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040200
31Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$60,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,260 – $80,37080
32Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,440 – $87,200100
33Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$59,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,570 – $85,700310
34Paralegals and Legal Assistants$59,740
Associate's degree
$45,990 – $82,130190
35Insurance Sales Agents$59,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,550 – $120,530270
36Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$59,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,110 – $76,860420
37Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$59,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,980 – $83,610430
38Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$58,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,440 – $77,260120
39Massage Therapists$58,450
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,400 – $130,820100
40Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$57,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,440 – $78,72090
41Automotive Body and Related Repairers$57,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,690 – $130,33090
42Opticians, Dispensing$57,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,370 – $75,36060
43Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$56,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,210 – $74,620240
44Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$56,140
Associate's degree
$39,000 – $81,10050
45Carpenters$56,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,110 – $72,800630
46Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $81,890170
47Machinists$55,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,510 – $80,04050
48Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,540 – $66,180630
49Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$54,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,170 – $80,730110
50Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$53,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,950 – $68,220370

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

#	Occupation	MedianCharlottesville, VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$139,240	$60,860 – $195,190	40
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$107,690	$96,940 – $130,120	120
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$88,700	$68,820 – $138,450	100
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$86,720	$67,860 – $99,820	120
5	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$79,770	$62,450 – $84,090	40
6	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,560	$58,920 – $109,550	200
7	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$78,940	$49,380 – $102,700	60
8	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,480	$48,570 – $92,600	80
9	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,060	$50,840 – $109,070	40
10	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,100	$47,820 – $102,280	110
11	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$74,010	$55,440 – $85,720	80
12	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$68,860	$43,570 – $111,000	100
13	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,120	$51,310 – $80,930	350
14	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$66,830	$43,920 – $79,650	70
15	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,050	$50,630 – $103,380	50
16	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,740	$42,940 – $81,900	60
17	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,170	$39,570 – $107,170	90
18	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$63,530	$45,610 – $96,000	410
19	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,980	$39,220 – $77,640	460
20	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,790	$37,170 – $135,020	930
21	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,660	$35,660 – $123,690	430
22	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,600	$39,610 – $75,290	220
23	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,460	$48,860 – $74,880	80
24	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,400	$49,420 – $78,860	80
25	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,060	$45,340 – $76,450	130
26	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,790	$37,490 – $132,500	70
27	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,110	$43,870 – $67,200	40
28	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	60
29	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,880	$51,380 – $87,700	410
30	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$60,550	$42,390 – $81,040	200
31	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,380	$46,260 – $80,370	80
32	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,360	$46,440 – $87,200	100
33	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,790	$45,570 – $85,700	310
34	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$59,740	$45,990 – $82,130	190
35	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,630	$29,550 – $120,530	270
36	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,540	$43,110 – $76,860	420
37	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,130	$36,980 – $83,610	430
38	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,570	$38,440 – $77,260	120
39	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,450	$37,400 – $130,820	100
40	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,420	$41,440 – $78,720	90
41	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,380	$36,690 – $130,330	90
42	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,140	$37,370 – $75,360	60
43	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,510	$42,210 – $74,620	240
44	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$56,140	$39,000 – $81,100	50
45	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,090	$40,110 – $72,800	630
46	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,970	$39,520 – $81,890	170
47	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,600	$34,510 – $80,040	50
48	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,970	$38,540 – $66,180	630
49	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,340	$38,170 – $80,730	110
50	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,170	$40,950 – $68,220	370

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

High paying jobs in Charlottesville, VA that need no experience

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