High paying jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC run 11.5% below the national average (2024), so a Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC salary is worth about 1.13× 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

OccupationMedian, Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$94,050
Associate's degree
$79,660 – $98,130170
2Computer Network Support Specialists$85,780
Associate's degree
$37,550 – $124,450170
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$83,510
Associate's degree
$69,600 – $99,97050
4Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$78,720
Associate's degree
$54,900 – $98,350100
5Respiratory Therapists$78,350
Associate's degree
$63,900 – $125,590130
6Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$77,590
Associate's degree
$54,500 – $85,83070
7Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$72,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,160 – $86,050100
8Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$71,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,190 – $105,860190
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$68,780
Associate's degree
$47,360 – $99,610380
10Postal Service Clerks$68,540
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $76,36080
11Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$67,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,430 – $131,8701,730
12Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$64,060
Associate's degree
$48,550 – $85,06060
13Physical Therapist Assistants$63,800
Associate's degree
$54,660 – $77,530140
14Tool and Die Makers$63,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,120 – $74,120110
15Occupational Therapy Assistants$63,120
Associate's degree
$52,560 – $76,28070
16Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$63,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,040 – $81,840120
17Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,000 – $72,130740
18Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,810 – $81,510850
19Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers$61,140
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,110 – $70,88070
20Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $76,390440
21Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,290
Associate's degree
$47,150 – $87,87080
22Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$59,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,700 – $134,690940
23Upholsterers$59,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,520 – $76,9702,220
24Medical Equipment Repairers$59,190
Associate's degree
$34,740 – $82,37060
25Postal Service Mail Carriers$58,960
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040410
26Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$58,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,920 – $92,920120
27Insurance Sales Agents$58,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,080 – $84,990340
28Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and Technicians$57,810
Associate's degree
$48,130 – $70,78060
29Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$57,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,120 – $107,62090
30Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$57,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,640 – $78,4103,050
31Surgical Technologists$57,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,930 – $72,850180
32Loan Interviewers and Clerks$54,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,420 – $59,46060
33Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$54,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,600 – $72,000410
34Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$53,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,460 – $59,460940
35Electricians$53,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,480 – $75,570570
36Food Batchmakers$53,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,310 – $53,170180
37Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$52,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,460 – $72,700770
38Computer User Support Specialists$51,990
Some college, no degree
$34,730 – $81,130370
39Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$51,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,750 – $74,740580
40Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$51,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,380 – $69,230330
41Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$50,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,880 – $75,75090
42Chemical Technicians$50,510
Associate's degree
$38,860 – $79,00080
43Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$50,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,880 – $73,240300
44Cutters and Trimmers, Hand$49,200
No formal educational credential
$39,030 – $62,040590
45Printing Press Operators$48,980
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,110 – $69,100250
46Correctional Officers and Jailers$48,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,660 – $58,390750
47Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,060 – $58,380600
48Dental Assistants$48,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,830 – $57,610320
49Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$48,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,920 – $59,340270
50Paralegals and Legal Assistants$48,530
Associate's degree
$32,070 – $73,490200

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

#	Occupation	MedianHickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$94,050	$79,660 – $98,130	170
2	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$85,780	$37,550 – $124,450	170
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$83,510	$69,600 – $99,970	50
4	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,720	$54,900 – $98,350	100
5	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$78,350	$63,900 – $125,590	130
6	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$77,590	$54,500 – $85,830	70
7	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,480	$47,160 – $86,050	100
8	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,290	$43,190 – $105,860	190
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,780	$47,360 – $99,610	380
10	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$68,540	$55,350 – $76,360	80
11	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,150	$37,430 – $131,870	1,730
12	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$64,060	$48,550 – $85,060	60
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,800	$54,660 – $77,530	140
14	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,230	$46,120 – $74,120	110
15	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$63,120	$52,560 – $76,280	70
16	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,040	$45,040 – $81,840	120
17	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,430	$51,000 – $72,130	740
18	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,570	$41,810 – $81,510	850
19	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool ProgrammersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,140	$41,110 – $70,880	70
20	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,940	$44,550 – $76,390	440
21	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,290	$47,150 – $87,870	80
22	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,850	$35,700 – $134,690	940
23	UpholsterersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,700	$44,520 – $76,970	2,220
24	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$59,190	$34,740 – $82,370	60
25	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$58,960	$42,390 – $81,040	410
26	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,720	$49,920 – $92,920	120
27	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,410	$35,080 – $84,990	340
28	Electro-Mechanical and Mechatronics Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,810	$48,130 – $70,780	60
29	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,780	$29,120 – $107,620	90
30	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,460	$40,640 – $78,410	3,050
31	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,000	$41,930 – $72,850	180
32	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,620	$40,420 – $59,460	60
33	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,480	$38,600 – $72,000	410
34	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,800	$46,460 – $59,460	940
35	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,730	$39,480 – $75,570	570
36	Food BatchmakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,160	$30,310 – $53,170	180
37	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,260	$44,460 – $72,700	770
38	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$51,990	$34,730 – $81,130	370
39	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,860	$37,750 – $74,740	580
40	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,330	$37,380 – $69,230	330
41	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,800	$35,880 – $75,750	90
42	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$50,510	$38,860 – $79,000	80
43	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,300	$36,880 – $73,240	300
44	Cutters and Trimmers, HandNo formal educational credential	$49,200	$39,030 – $62,040	590
45	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,980	$36,110 – $69,100	250
46	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,940	$38,660 – $58,390	750
47	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,740	$37,060 – $58,380	600
48	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,720	$37,830 – $57,610	320
49	Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,640	$36,920 – $59,340	270
50	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$48,530	$32,070 – $73,490	200

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, 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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Other metro areas in NC

By field in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC that need no experience

More for Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Other metro areas in NC

By field in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience