High paying jobs in South Carolina that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in South 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 South Carolina run 6.3% below the national average (2024), so a South Carolina salary is worth about 1.07× 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 South Carolina.

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

Find high paying jobs in South Carolina

OccupationMedian, South Carolina · Employed

1Nuclear Technicians$108,490
Associate's degree
$88,210 – $124,190750
2Dental Hygienists$84,340
Associate's degree
$65,700 – $97,2203,160
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$83,290
Associate's degree
$69,530 – $102,5401,340
4Respiratory Therapists$77,740
Associate's degree
$63,700 – $90,6701,960
5Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$76,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,890 – $102,8602,690
6Computer Network Support Specialists$76,790
Associate's degree
$48,800 – $113,7802,660
7Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$75,490
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,580 – $103,1701,130
8Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,640 – $104,0504,130
9Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$75,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,230 – $84,6001,660
10Chemical Technicians$75,020
Associate's degree
$48,860 – $81,8202,080
11Occupational Therapy Assistants$73,740
Associate's degree
$52,050 – $87,860830
12Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$73,450
Associate's degree
$49,470 – $107,5902,060
13Physical Therapist Assistants$70,500
Associate's degree
$47,510 – $88,0701,870
14Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$70,080
Associate's degree
$46,450 – $83,8602,400
15Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$69,600
Associate's degree
$51,860 – $96,0203,630
16Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$69,580
Associate's degree
$49,350 – $96,6101,290
17Advertising Sales Agents$68,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$25,750 – $147,1101,770
18Tool and Die Makers$65,250
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,920 – $80,990870
19Maintenance Workers, Machinery$64,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,760 – $79,060960
20Architectural and Civil Drafters$64,680
Associate's degree
$46,410 – $100,9701,170
21Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $142,37022,010
22Postal Service Clerks$62,610
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,030960
23Industrial Machinery Mechanics$62,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,060 – $83,0509,890
24Surgical Technologists$62,160
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,830 – $75,2102,680
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$61,820
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,370 – $76,4209,400
26Millwrights$61,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,060 – $83,260950
27Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$61,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,900 – $92,9102,130
28Insurance Sales Agents$61,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,140 – $154,6508,220
29Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$59,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,230 – $81,7101,310
30Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$59,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,940 – $76,5401,050
31Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$59,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,440 – $76,6703,360
32Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$59,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,540 – $76,5602,830
33Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$59,170
Associate's degree
$35,330 – $101,090890
34Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$58,960
Associate's degree
$38,170 – $101,6701,290
35Electricians$58,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,330 – $77,8008,010
36Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$32,280 – $126,68021,070
37Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$58,390
No formal educational credential
$42,600 – $75,2801,280
38Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$58,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,060 – $78,76012,930
39Massage Therapists$58,000
Postsecondary nondegree award
$17,340 – $95,5401,840
40Machinists$57,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,270 – $75,6503,790
41Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,0405,650
42Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$57,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,810 – $87,8507,020
43Cargo and Freight Agents$57,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,220 – $77,5301,540
44Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$56,610
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,170 – $75,5306,920
45Real Estate Sales Agents$56,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,530 – $189,5904,930
46Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$56,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,700 – $72,5904,040
47Medical Records Specialists$54,280
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,240 – $71,2802,750
48Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$53,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,660 – $75,7805,770
49Paralegals and Legal Assistants$53,880
Associate's degree
$38,020 – $75,6407,420
50Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$53,710
Associate's degree
$41,020 – $79,6601,480

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

#	Occupation	MedianSouth Carolina	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Nuclear TechniciansAssociate's degree	$108,490	$88,210 – $124,190	750
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$84,340	$65,700 – $97,220	3,160
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$83,290	$69,530 – $102,540	1,340
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$77,740	$63,700 – $90,670	1,960
5	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,870	$48,890 – $102,860	2,690
6	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$76,790	$48,800 – $113,780	2,660
7	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,490	$47,580 – $103,170	1,130
8	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,370	$46,640 – $104,050	4,130
9	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,160	$45,230 – $84,600	1,660
10	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$75,020	$48,860 – $81,820	2,080
11	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$73,740	$52,050 – $87,860	830
12	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,450	$49,470 – $107,590	2,060
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,500	$47,510 – $88,070	1,870
14	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$70,080	$46,450 – $83,860	2,400
15	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,600	$51,860 – $96,020	3,630
16	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$69,580	$49,350 – $96,610	1,290
17	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,200	$25,750 – $147,110	1,770
18	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,250	$41,920 – $80,990	870
19	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,910	$46,760 – $79,060	960
20	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$64,680	$46,410 – $100,970	1,170
21	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,250	$36,250 – $142,370	22,010
22	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$62,610	$42,600 – $75,030	960
23	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$62,330	$45,060 – $83,050	9,890
24	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,160	$38,830 – $75,210	2,680
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,820	$50,370 – $76,420	9,400
26	MillwrightsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,700	$40,060 – $83,260	950
27	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,480	$43,900 – $92,910	2,130
28	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,350	$35,140 – $154,650	8,220
29	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,790	$39,230 – $81,710	1,310
30	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,710	$35,940 – $76,540	1,050
31	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,330	$41,440 – $76,670	3,360
32	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,180	$43,540 – $76,560	2,830
33	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$59,170	$35,330 – $101,090	890
34	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$58,960	$38,170 – $101,670	1,290
35	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,740	$44,330 – $77,800	8,010
36	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,510	$32,280 – $126,680	21,070
37	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$58,390	$42,600 – $75,280	1,280
38	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,070	$45,060 – $78,760	12,930
39	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,000	$17,340 – $95,540	1,840
40	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,970	$38,270 – $75,650	3,790
41	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,700	$42,390 – $81,040	5,650
42	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,640	$39,810 – $87,850	7,020
43	Cargo and Freight AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,000	$46,220 – $77,530	1,540
44	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$56,610	$39,170 – $75,530	6,920
45	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,580	$36,530 – $189,590	4,930
46	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,240	$37,700 – $72,590	4,040
47	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,280	$37,240 – $71,280	2,750
48	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,940	$37,660 – $75,780	5,770
49	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$53,880	$38,020 – $75,640	7,420
50	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$53,710	$41,020 – $79,660	1,480

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

Metro areas in South 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 South Carolina

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in South Carolina that need no experience

More for South Carolina

Metro areas in South Carolina

By field in South Carolina

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience