High paying jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA run 13.6% below the national average (2024), so a Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA salary is worth about 1.16× 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 Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA

OccupationMedian, Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$82,870
Associate's degree
$64,080 – $96,680210
2Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$81,950
Associate's degree
$53,060 – $91,60070
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,110 – $100,900110
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$75,440
Associate's degree
$53,920 – $96,900110
5Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$75,300
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,550 – $93,51090
6Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$73,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,460 – $89,770190
7Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,120
Associate's degree
$46,870 – $119,62060
8Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers$71,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,290 – $71,610100
9Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$68,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,210 – $96,10060
10Millwrights$66,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,850 – $74,57050
11Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters$66,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,110 – $77,67070
12Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$65,930
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,890 – $98,700250
13Occupational Therapy Assistants$64,040
Associate's degree
$53,010 – $80,56060
14Computer Network Support Specialists$63,520
Associate's degree
$43,180 – $95,55060
15Transportation Security Screeners$63,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $70,26040
16Respiratory Therapists$62,740
Associate's degree
$59,880 – $94,410170
17Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,630
Associate's degree
$43,720 – $92,91040
18Physical Therapist Assistants$62,620
Associate's degree
$47,510 – $80,800160
19Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,940 – $77,6401,100
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$61,450
Associate's degree
$48,120 – $79,160200
21Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$61,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,970 – $78,220120
22Postal Service Clerks$61,050
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,03060
23Surgical Technologists$60,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,350 – $77,200110
24Electricians$60,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,420 – $76,630760
25Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$59,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,210 – $77,370290
26Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,010
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040360
27Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$58,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,310 – $126,770770
28Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$58,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,750 – $88,88060
29Machinists$57,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,980 – $76,010450
30Computer User Support Specialists$57,720
Some college, no degree
$37,350 – $80,350400
31Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,540 – $77,120290
32Brickmasons and Blockmasons$57,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,550 – $77,76060
33Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$57,000
Associate's degree
$45,170 – $73,57090
34Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$56,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,580 – $103,270600
35Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$55,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,010 – $76,390770
36Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$55,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,780 – $69,130450
37Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$55,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,160 – $78,960110
38Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$54,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,060 – $69,5801,880
39Paralegals and Legal Assistants$54,210
Associate's degree
$39,760 – $78,370200
40Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$54,050
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,950 – $64,360800
41Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$51,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,520 – $72,32090
42Tutors$51,080
Some college, no degree
$31,010 – $80,56050
43Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$48,950
Postsecondary nondegree award
$35,600 – $65,790290
44Dental Laboratory Technicians$48,880
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,760 – $77,52070
45Bus Drivers, School$48,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$28,240 – $62,820450
46Surveying and Mapping Technicians$48,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $74,06040
47Tool and Die Makers$48,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,810 – $65,33070
48Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$48,670
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,640 – $78,180670
49Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$48,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,540 – $67,930690
50Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$48,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,440 – $60,09080

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

#	Occupation	MedianKingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$82,870	$64,080 – $96,680	210
2	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$81,950	$53,060 – $91,600	70
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,860	$56,110 – $100,900	110
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$75,440	$53,920 – $96,900	110
5	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,300	$59,550 – $93,510	90
6	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,830	$37,460 – $89,770	190
7	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,120	$46,870 – $119,620	60
8	Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass FibersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,610	$34,290 – $71,610	100
9	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,250	$44,210 – $96,100	60
10	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,560	$47,850 – $74,570	50
11	Structural Metal Fabricators and FittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,110	$38,110 – $77,670	70
12	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,930	$35,890 – $98,700	250
13	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,040	$53,010 – $80,560	60
14	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$63,520	$43,180 – $95,550	60
15	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,130	$49,940 – $70,260	40
16	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$62,740	$59,880 – $94,410	170
17	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,630	$43,720 – $92,910	40
18	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$62,620	$47,510 – $80,800	160
19	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,300	$42,940 – $77,640	1,100
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$61,450	$48,120 – $79,160	200
21	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,100	$42,970 – $78,220	120
22	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$61,050	$42,600 – $75,030	60
23	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,500	$40,350 – $77,200	110
24	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,070	$37,420 – $76,630	760
25	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,360	$38,210 – $77,370	290
26	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,010	$42,390 – $81,040	360
27	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,570	$34,310 – $126,770	770
28	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,040	$45,750 – $88,880	60
29	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,890	$35,980 – $76,010	450
30	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$57,720	$37,350 – $80,350	400
31	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,630	$38,540 – $77,120	290
32	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,450	$44,550 – $77,760	60
33	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,000	$45,170 – $73,570	90
34	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,680	$33,580 – $103,270	600
35	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,960	$41,010 – $76,390	770
36	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,690	$37,780 – $69,130	450
37	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,680	$36,160 – $78,960	110
38	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,700	$39,060 – $69,580	1,880
39	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$54,210	$39,760 – $78,370	200
40	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,050	$41,950 – $64,360	800
41	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,170	$39,520 – $72,320	90
42	TutorsSome college, no degree	$51,080	$31,010 – $80,560	50
43	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,950	$35,600 – $65,790	290
44	Dental Laboratory TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,880	$38,760 – $77,520	70
45	Bus Drivers, SchoolHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,820	$28,240 – $62,820	450
46	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,780	$34,200 – $74,060	40
47	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,730	$37,810 – $65,330	70
48	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$48,670	$31,640 – $78,180	670
49	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,620	$45,540 – $67,930	690
50	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,620	$37,440 – $60,090	80

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

High paying jobs in Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA that need no experience

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