High paying jobs in Raleigh-Cary, NC that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Raleigh-Cary, 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 Raleigh-Cary, NC run 1.8% below the national average (2024), so a Raleigh-Cary, 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

Find high paying jobs in Raleigh-Cary, NC

OccupationMedian, Raleigh-Cary, NC · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$98,800
Associate's degree
$74,940 – $105,7301,220
2Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$91,600
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,020 – $141,030330
3Respiratory Therapists$87,820
Associate's degree
$67,420 – $108,150430
4Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$86,130
Associate's degree
$72,900 – $109,380430
5Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,560
Associate's degree
$56,880 – $100,920260
6Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$78,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,930 – $105,610550
7Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$72,640
Associate's degree
$52,590 – $106,120500
8Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$72,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,270 – $154,9807,550
9Massage Therapists$71,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,660 – $95,280650
10Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$68,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,720 – $154,7208,970
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$68,210
Associate's degree
$54,220 – $96,6201,080
12Physical Therapist Assistants$67,890
Associate's degree
$60,060 – $86,950390
13Maintenance Workers, Machinery$67,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,420 – $93,880390
14Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$66,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,330 – $95,3601,020
15Transportation Security Screeners$65,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,100 – $72,320400
16Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$65,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,620 – $80,8702,430
17Architectural and Civil Drafters$65,840
Associate's degree
$46,240 – $98,180730
18Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$64,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,780 – $75,7701,740
19Computer Network Support Specialists$63,910
Associate's degree
$42,800 – $104,3201,450
20Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$63,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,290 – $103,110990
21Chemical Technicians$63,640
Associate's degree
$44,280 – $82,150280
22Computer User Support Specialists$62,460
Some college, no degree
$39,370 – $99,6405,320
23Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,430 – $82,6801,360
24Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $83,7401,390
25Paralegals and Legal Assistants$61,880
Associate's degree
$38,690 – $85,5602,540
26Medical Equipment Repairers$61,840
Associate's degree
$37,470 – $95,580470
27Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$61,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,240 – $79,080370
28Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,970 – $90,980600
29Surgical Technologists$61,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,220 – $77,460560
30Machinists$61,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,940 – $72,020570
31Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$60,720
Associate's degree
$46,450 – $84,050830
32Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$60,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,940 – $77,6102,810
33Advertising Sales Agents$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,040 – $94,680370
34Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$60,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,080 – $76,530350
35Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$60,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,750 – $77,2101,070
36Insurance Sales Agents$59,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,680 – $100,4002,900
37Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$59,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,170 – $76,050600
38Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$59,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,100 – $81,3401,700
39Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,160 – $77,8302,550
40Dental Assistants$58,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,410 – $64,3901,850
41Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,470
No formal educational credential
$45,530 – $75,280690
42Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health$57,890
Associate's degree
$39,540 – $81,330290
43Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$56,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,460 – $71,8001,090
44Electricians$56,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,700 – $73,7603,740
45Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$54,360
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,670 – $71,620430
46Medical Records Specialists$54,340
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,130 – $93,950900
47Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$54,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,730 – $79,880590
48Correctional Officers and Jailers$54,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,550 – $58,4801,140
49Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$53,470
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,060 – $122,760240
50Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$52,110
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,030 – $73,8107,210

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

#	Occupation	MedianRaleigh-Cary, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$98,800	$74,940 – $105,730	1,220
2	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,600	$64,020 – $141,030	330
3	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$87,820	$67,420 – $108,150	430
4	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$86,130	$72,900 – $109,380	430
5	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,560	$56,880 – $100,920	260
6	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,930	$43,930 – $105,610	550
7	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$72,640	$52,590 – $106,120	500
8	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,220	$40,270 – $154,980	7,550
9	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,480	$40,660 – $95,280	650
10	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,560	$39,720 – $154,720	8,970
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,210	$54,220 – $96,620	1,080
12	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$67,890	$60,060 – $86,950	390
13	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$67,040	$47,420 – $93,880	390
14	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,600	$48,330 – $95,360	1,020
15	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,940	$42,100 – $72,320	400
16	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,860	$55,620 – $80,870	2,430
17	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$65,840	$46,240 – $98,180	730
18	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,080	$51,780 – $75,770	1,740
19	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$63,910	$42,800 – $104,320	1,450
20	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$63,810	$36,290 – $103,110	990
21	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$63,640	$44,280 – $82,150	280
22	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$62,460	$39,370 – $99,640	5,320
23	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,080	$46,430 – $82,680	1,360
24	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $83,740	1,390
25	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$61,880	$38,690 – $85,560	2,540
26	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$61,840	$37,470 – $95,580	470
27	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,640	$48,240 – $79,080	370
28	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,570	$48,970 – $90,980	600
29	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,480	$49,220 – $77,460	560
30	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,430	$39,940 – $72,020	570
31	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$60,720	$46,450 – $84,050	830
32	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,540	$42,940 – $77,610	2,810
33	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$29,040 – $94,680	370
34	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,440	$47,080 – $76,530	350
35	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,310	$46,750 – $77,210	1,070
36	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,900	$44,680 – $100,400	2,900
37	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,580	$38,170 – $76,050	600
38	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,190	$42,100 – $81,340	1,700
39	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,900	$39,160 – $77,830	2,550
40	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,750	$40,410 – $64,390	1,850
41	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,470	$45,530 – $75,280	690
42	Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthAssociate's degree	$57,890	$39,540 – $81,330	290
43	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,940	$40,460 – $71,800	1,090
44	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,800	$45,700 – $73,760	3,740
45	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,360	$43,670 – $71,620	430
46	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,340	$37,130 – $93,950	900
47	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,100	$33,730 – $79,880	590
48	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,070	$41,550 – $58,480	1,140
49	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$53,470	$38,060 – $122,760	240
50	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$52,110	$40,030 – $73,810	7,210

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Raleigh-Cary, 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.

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

High paying jobs in Raleigh-Cary, NC that need no experience

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