High paying jobs in North Carolina that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina run 5.7% below the national average (2024), so a North Carolina salary is worth about 1.06× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in North Carolina.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in North Carolina

OccupationMedian, North Carolina · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$97,850
Associate's degree
$77,270 – $103,8506,690
2Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,010
Associate's degree
$67,070 – $105,5302,970
3Respiratory Therapists$80,090
Associate's degree
$63,990 – $99,5204,630
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$77,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,180 – $105,4305,650
5Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$76,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,970 – $112,0504,700
6Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$76,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,830 – $97,0401,660
7Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$76,040
Associate's degree
$49,880 – $106,3502,490
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,200 – $108,6309,880
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$74,450
Associate's degree
$52,860 – $99,2109,250
10Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$70,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,200 – $144,31049,110
11Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,720
Associate's degree
$48,240 – $100,9201,940
12Occupational Therapy Assistants$69,390
Associate's degree
$55,130 – $83,3601,590
13Physical Therapist Assistants$67,540
Associate's degree
$56,100 – $80,8503,280
14Postal Service Clerks$64,290
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $75,0302,070
15Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$64,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,140 – $87,6605,100
16Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$63,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,400 – $94,4803,540
17Tire Builders$63,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,750 – $79,7403,750
18Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$63,270
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,480 – $74,73018,010
19Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars$63,010
Associate's degree
$25,860 – $114,2602,370
20Architectural and Civil Drafters$62,750
Associate's degree
$42,790 – $95,5402,680
21Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$62,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,410 – $145,63046,040
22Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,550 – $81,97015,720
23Tool and Die Makers$61,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,770 – $79,1801,580
24Surgical Technologists$60,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,990 – $78,6504,400
25Massage Therapists$60,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$31,050 – $96,5102,460
26Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,540 – $78,2304,750
27Computer User Support Specialists$60,120
Some college, no degree
$38,270 – $97,21023,100
28Postal Service Mail Carriers$59,990
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $82,37011,030
29Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$59,300
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $80,24022,370
30Medical Equipment Repairers$59,190
Associate's degree
$35,510 – $88,7502,650
31Chemical Technicians$59,030
Associate's degree
$45,280 – $83,1102,660
32Insurance Sales Agents$58,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,000 – $124,90020,540
33Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,700
Associate's degree
$44,940 – $81,7402,760
34Loan Interviewers and Clerks$57,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,030 – $70,0504,800
35Paralegals and Legal Assistants$57,500
Associate's degree
$38,570 – $84,41013,650
36Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,890 – $76,24011,070
37Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$57,260
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,780 – $77,16015,230
38Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$57,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,860 – $75,85014,510
39Electricians$56,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,130 – $75,06021,640
40Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$56,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,630 – $81,4902,610
41Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$55,460
Associate's degree
$38,650 – $101,8501,990
42Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$55,350
No formal educational credential
$40,600 – $75,2804,040
43Machinists$55,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,110 – $75,5708,330
44Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$54,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,180 – $75,2202,880
45Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$53,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,620 – $74,4803,630
46Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$53,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,080 – $60,3902,950
47Surveying and Mapping Technicians$53,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,710 – $76,4204,100
48Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$52,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $77,41013,000
49Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$51,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,860 – $75,6003,620
50Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$51,530
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,400 – $76,36062,400

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

#	Occupation	MedianNorth Carolina	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$97,850	$77,270 – $103,850	6,690
2	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,010	$67,070 – $105,530	2,970
3	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,090	$63,990 – $99,520	4,630
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,270	$48,180 – $105,430	5,650
5	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,980	$50,970 – $112,050	4,700
6	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$76,740	$52,830 – $97,040	1,660
7	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$76,040	$49,880 – $106,350	2,490
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,310	$48,200 – $108,630	9,880
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$74,450	$52,860 – $99,210	9,250
10	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,990	$38,200 – $144,310	49,110
11	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,720	$48,240 – $100,920	1,940
12	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$69,390	$55,130 – $83,360	1,590
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,540	$56,100 – $80,850	3,280
14	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,290	$55,350 – $75,030	2,070
15	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,080	$47,140 – $87,660	5,100
16	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,970	$48,400 – $94,480	3,540
17	Tire BuildersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,950	$47,750 – $79,740	3,750
18	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$63,270	$50,480 – $74,730	18,010
19	Health Information Technologists and Medical RegistrarsAssociate's degree	$63,010	$25,860 – $114,260	2,370
20	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$62,750	$42,790 – $95,540	2,680
21	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,620	$37,410 – $145,630	46,040
22	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,430	$43,550 – $81,970	15,720
23	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,060	$43,770 – $79,180	1,580
24	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,920	$45,990 – $78,650	4,400
25	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,650	$31,050 – $96,510	2,460
26	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,580	$42,540 – $78,230	4,750
27	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$60,120	$38,270 – $97,210	23,100
28	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$59,990	$42,390 – $82,370	11,030
29	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,300	$46,040 – $80,240	22,370
30	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$59,190	$35,510 – $88,750	2,650
31	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,030	$45,280 – $83,110	2,660
32	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,710	$36,000 – $124,900	20,540
33	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,700	$44,940 – $81,740	2,760
34	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,780	$40,030 – $70,050	4,800
35	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$57,500	$38,570 – $84,410	13,650
36	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,490	$39,890 – $76,240	11,070
37	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,260	$37,780 – $77,160	15,230
38	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,080	$38,860 – $75,850	14,510
39	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,800	$40,130 – $75,060	21,640
40	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,680	$38,630 – $81,490	2,610
41	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$55,460	$38,650 – $101,850	1,990
42	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$55,350	$40,600 – $75,280	4,040
43	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,230	$37,110 – $75,570	8,330
44	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,120	$37,180 – $75,220	2,880
45	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,550	$36,620 – $74,480	3,630
46	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,330	$38,080 – $60,390	2,950
47	Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,160	$37,710 – $76,420	4,100
48	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,640	$37,860 – $77,410	13,000
49	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,680	$37,860 – $75,600	3,620
50	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,530	$39,400 – $76,360	62,400

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in North Carolina. 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 North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in North Carolina

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in North Carolina to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in North Carolina that need no experience

More for North Carolina

Metro areas in North Carolina

By field in North Carolina

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience