High paying jobs in Columbia, SC that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Columbia, 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 Columbia, SC run 6.3% below the national average (2024), so a Columbia, SC 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 Columbia, SC

OccupationMedian, Columbia, SC · Employed

1Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$84,440
Associate's degree
$69,530 – $97,220320
2Dental Hygienists$82,370
Associate's degree
$63,030 – $91,250620
3Respiratory Therapists$79,780
Associate's degree
$61,050 – $84,690330
4Power Plant Operators$79,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,450 – $98,470150
5Computer Network Support Specialists$76,560
Associate's degree
$46,390 – $107,060520
6Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$75,710
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,830 – $92,910290
7Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$74,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,710 – $95,430360
8Insurance Sales Agents$74,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,710 – $174,6301,540
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$74,080
Associate's degree
$55,970 – $96,020700
10Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$44,390 – $80,600260
11Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$68,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,790 – $83,450250
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$67,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,240 – $99,2201,790
13Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$65,590
Associate's degree
$36,340 – $92,880140
14Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$65,400
Associate's degree
$45,310 – $98,080250
15Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,110 – $78,140190
16Chemical Technicians$64,740
Associate's degree
$47,210 – $86,450250
17Industrial Machinery Mechanics$64,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,220 – $87,8001,370
18Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,110
Associate's degree
$46,680 – $94,860200
19Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$63,960
Associate's degree
$43,660 – $82,780260
20Physical Therapist Assistants$62,920
Associate's degree
$43,150 – $81,520300
21Medical Records Specialists$62,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,090 – $71,570640
22Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$62,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,260 – $133,4003,290
23Postal Service Clerks$62,130
No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,030130
24Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,050 – $76,2801,600
25Surgical Technologists$61,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,030 – $74,290440
26Electricians$60,390
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,330 – $78,3101,170
27Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,830 – $94,860520
28Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$60,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,080 – $76,180320
29Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$60,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,050 – $89,980990
30Machinists$59,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,350 – $74,930240
31Massage Therapists$59,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$17,840 – $88,960240
32Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,650 – $98,8402,840
33Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$59,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,540 – $74,950480
34Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$58,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,810 – $67,740730
35Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,030470
36Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$57,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,470 – $77,610410
37Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$57,640
Associate's degree
$45,750 – $80,600280
38Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$57,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,460 – $73,8301,220
39Paralegals and Legal Assistants$57,220
Associate's degree
$39,490 – $75,9001,790
40Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$56,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,880 – $76,740310
41Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$55,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,320 – $62,150230
42Postal Service Mail Carriers$55,610
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040980
43Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$55,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,670 – $72,850490
44Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$52,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,240 – $71,280220
45Procurement Clerks$52,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,590 – $66,700260
46Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$52,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,010 – $75,5701,060
47Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$51,840
Associate's degree
$37,550 – $81,940540
48Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$51,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,490 – $85,790140
49Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$51,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,350 – $60,830240
50Glaziers$51,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $70,010160

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

#	Occupation	MedianColumbia, SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$84,440	$69,530 – $97,220	320
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,370	$63,030 – $91,250	620
3	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$79,780	$61,050 – $84,690	330
4	Power Plant OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,600	$64,450 – $98,470	150
5	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,560	$46,390 – $107,060	520
6	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,710	$38,830 – $92,910	290
7	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,190	$44,710 – $95,430	360
8	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,100	$35,710 – $174,630	1,540
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,080	$55,970 – $96,020	700
10	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,110	$44,390 – $80,600	260
11	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$68,100	$48,790 – $83,450	250
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,290	$44,240 – $99,220	1,790
13	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,590	$36,340 – $92,880	140
14	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$65,400	$45,310 – $98,080	250
15	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,910	$48,110 – $78,140	190
16	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,740	$47,210 – $86,450	250
17	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,680	$43,220 – $87,800	1,370
18	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,110	$46,680 – $94,860	200
19	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,960	$43,660 – $82,780	260
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,920	$43,150 – $81,520	300
21	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,650	$38,090 – $71,570	640
22	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,470	$36,260 – $133,400	3,290
23	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,130	$54,330 – $75,030	130
24	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,110	$51,050 – $76,280	1,600
25	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,230	$50,030 – $74,290	440
26	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,390	$45,330 – $78,310	1,170
27	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,320	$45,830 – $94,860	520
28	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,310	$36,080 – $76,180	320
29	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,090	$39,050 – $89,980	990
30	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,570	$36,350 – $74,930	240
31	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,310	$17,840 – $88,960	240
32	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,260	$46,650 – $98,840	2,840
33	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,180	$43,540 – $74,950	480
34	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,520	$32,810 – $67,740	730
35	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,030	470
36	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,870	$39,470 – $77,610	410
37	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,640	$45,750 – $80,600	280
38	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,610	$39,460 – $73,830	1,220
39	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$57,220	$39,490 – $75,900	1,790
40	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,430	$41,880 – $76,740	310
41	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,670	$36,320 – $62,150	230
42	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$55,610	$42,390 – $81,040	980
43	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,070	$39,670 – $72,850	490
44	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,240	$38,240 – $71,280	220
45	Procurement ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,210	$40,590 – $66,700	260
46	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,070	$38,010 – $75,570	1,060
47	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$51,840	$37,550 – $81,940	540
48	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,630	$33,490 – $85,790	140
49	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,530	$38,350 – $60,830	240
50	GlaziersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,310	$39,520 – $70,010	160

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

High paying jobs in Columbia, SC that need no experience

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