High paying jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC that need no experience
Every occupation here pays well in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, 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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC run 2.4% below the national average (2024), so a Durham-Chapel Hill, NC salary is worth about 1.02× 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
Associate's degree
$82,490 – $103,850350High school diploma or equivalent
$56,980 – $111,050200Associate's degree
$44,300 – $134,560470Associate's degree
$63,740 – $102,350780Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,720 – $97,040180Associate's degree
$55,230 – $85,470130- 7Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$72,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,380 – $171,9403,300 Some college, no degree
$46,390 – $133,0002,090High school diploma or equivalent
$48,220 – $103,990230- 10Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,030 – $144,2501,720 Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,190 – $76,190960Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,150 – $95,430140Associate's degree
$44,930 – $97,720310Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,740 – $74,180130Associate's degree
$48,370 – $83,630370Associate's degree
$56,010 – $95,950300Associate's degree
$50,650 – $105,520200High school diploma or equivalent
$48,250 – $83,190540No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040570Associate's degree
$46,310 – $80,290130High school diploma or equivalent
$51,930 – $83,320440High school diploma or equivalent
$47,190 – $78,310370Associate's degree
$49,270 – $82,930180No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $75,030100High school diploma or equivalent
$47,140 – $75,800130Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,360 – $97,290130Associate's degree
$42,640 – $93,350160Associate's degree
$49,720 – $99,050170Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,950 – $82,170370High school diploma or equivalent
$44,460 – $82,210370Associate's degree
$49,160 – $91,350110High school diploma or equivalent
$36,070 – $72,080150High school diploma or equivalent
$37,340 – $159,370280High school diploma or equivalent
$43,820 – $76,460620High school diploma or equivalent
$47,420 – $78,0201,040High school diploma or equivalent
$45,400 – $78,270580High school diploma or equivalent
$46,160 – $75,8001,160Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,560 – $77,360750High school diploma or equivalent
$36,290 – $106,290560High school diploma or equivalent
$38,810 – $60,530100Associate's degree
$47,680 – $92,540110Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,730 – $82,040620High school diploma or equivalent
$36,460 – $95,570150High school diploma or equivalent
$35,780 – $75,860190High school diploma or equivalent
$36,230 – $61,060370High school diploma or equivalent
$47,730 – $61,500400Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,200 – $95,890670High school diploma or equivalent
$39,880 – $66,900250Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,810 – $78,9902,130High school diploma or equivalent
$39,260 – $73,350110
Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.
| # | Occupation | MedianDurham-Chapel Hill, NC | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree | $101,460 | $82,490 – $103,850 | 350 |
| 2 | Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $84,930 | $56,980 – $111,050 | 200 |
| 3 | Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree | $81,090 | $44,300 – $134,560 | 470 |
| 4 | Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $80,430 | $63,740 – $102,350 | 780 |
| 5 | Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award | $76,740 | $61,720 – $97,040 | 180 |
| 6 | Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree | $73,970 | $55,230 – $85,470 | 130 |
| 7 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent | $72,460 | $42,380 – $171,940 | 3,300 |
| 8 | Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree | $71,750 | $46,390 – $133,000 | 2,090 |
| 9 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $71,400 | $48,220 – $103,990 | 230 |
| 10 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $70,870 | $40,030 – $144,250 | 1,720 |
| 11 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award | $66,950 | $50,190 – $76,190 | 960 |
| 12 | Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award | $66,430 | $51,150 – $95,430 | 140 |
| 13 | Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree | $65,890 | $44,930 – $97,720 | 310 |
| 14 | Ophthalmic Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award | $65,000 | $42,740 – $74,180 | 130 |
| 15 | Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree | $64,500 | $48,370 – $83,630 | 370 |
| 16 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $64,320 | $56,010 – $95,950 | 300 |
| 17 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $63,870 | $50,650 – $105,520 | 200 |
| 18 | Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $63,140 | $48,250 – $83,190 | 540 |
| 19 | Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential | $62,960 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 570 |
| 20 | Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree | $62,650 | $46,310 – $80,290 | 130 |
| 21 | Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent | $62,560 | $51,930 – $83,320 | 440 |
| 22 | Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent | $62,420 | $47,190 – $78,310 | 370 |
| 23 | Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $62,020 | $49,270 – $82,930 | 180 |
| 24 | Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential | $61,570 | $55,350 – $75,030 | 100 |
| 25 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $61,360 | $47,140 – $75,800 | 130 |
| 26 | Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award | $61,170 | $31,360 – $97,290 | 130 |
| 27 | Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree | $61,080 | $42,640 – $93,350 | 160 |
| 28 | Calibration Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $60,960 | $49,720 – $99,050 | 170 |
| 29 | Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award | $60,610 | $39,950 – $82,170 | 370 |
| 30 | Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $60,540 | $44,460 – $82,210 | 370 |
| 31 | Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree | $60,340 | $49,160 – $91,350 | 110 |
| 32 | Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $60,260 | $36,070 – $72,080 | 150 |
| 33 | Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $60,230 | $37,340 – $159,370 | 280 |
| 34 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $60,110 | $43,820 – $76,460 | 620 |
| 35 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $60,100 | $47,420 – $78,020 | 1,040 |
| 36 | Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $60,080 | $45,400 – $78,270 | 580 |
| 37 | ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent | $59,220 | $46,160 – $75,800 | 1,160 |
| 38 | Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award | $59,180 | $39,560 – $77,360 | 750 |
| 39 | Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $59,120 | $36,290 – $106,290 | 560 |
| 40 | Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $57,810 | $38,810 – $60,530 | 100 |
| 41 | Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $57,680 | $47,680 – $92,540 | 110 |
| 42 | Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award | $57,290 | $40,730 – $82,040 | 620 |
| 43 | Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $57,090 | $36,460 – $95,570 | 150 |
| 44 | Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $56,400 | $35,780 – $75,860 | 190 |
| 45 | Residential AdvisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $56,170 | $36,230 – $61,060 | 370 |
| 46 | Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $55,690 | $47,730 – $61,500 | 400 |
| 47 | Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award | $54,610 | $42,200 – $95,890 | 670 |
| 48 | Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $54,560 | $39,880 – $66,900 | 250 |
| 49 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award | $53,280 | $41,810 – $78,990 | 2,130 |
| 50 | Insurance Claims and Policy Processing ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $52,560 | $39,260 – $73,350 | 110 |
Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC. 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.
More for Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Other metro areas in NC
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By field in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying management jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying business and finance jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying tech and IT jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying engineering and architecture jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying science jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying social service jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying teaching and library jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying creative and media jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying medical jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying healthcare support jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying security and protective service jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying food service jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying cleaning and grounds jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying personal care jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying sales jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying office and admin jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying construction jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying repair and maintenance jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying production jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- High paying transportation jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Without a degree
The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC to rank honestly.
- High paying engineering and architecture jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying engineering and architecture jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying medical jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying medical jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying healthcare support jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying healthcare support jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying security and protective service jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying security and protective service jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying food service jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying food service jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying cleaning and grounds jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying personal care jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying personal care jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying sales jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying sales jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying office and admin jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying office and admin jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying construction jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying construction jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying repair and maintenance jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying repair and maintenance jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying production jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying production jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
- High paying transportation jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no degree
- High paying transportation jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC with no experience
High paying jobs in each state that need no experience
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