High paying jobs in Sumter, SC that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Sumter, SC, 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 Sumter, SC run 12.0% below the national average (2024), so a Sumter, SC salary is worth about 1.14× 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 Sumter, SC

OccupationMedian, Sumter, SC · Employed

1Dental Hygienists$81,150
Associate's degree
$64,760 – $93,82060
2Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $109,30040
3Insurance Sales Agents$66,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,250 – $122,67090
4Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,640
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,860 – $72,670160
5Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,290
Associate's degree
$61,230 – $80,12060
6Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$61,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,360 – $135,350170
7Industrial Machinery Mechanics$60,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,490 – $75,330110
8Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$57,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,670 – $74,19050
9Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$57,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,060 – $76,24040
10Electricians$56,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,680 – $69,61090
11Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$54,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,640 – $72,280210
12Postal Service Mail Carriers$52,520
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040140
13Information and Record Clerks, All Other$52,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,820 – $59,95050
14Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$50,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,950 – $69,64080
15Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$50,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,440 – $57,790220
16Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$50,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,510 – $78,640130
17Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$49,880
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,190 – $73,990110
18Machinists$49,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,600 – $81,06090
19Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers$49,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,840 – $63,980270
20Highway Maintenance Workers$48,950
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,710 – $60,78040
21Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$48,160
No formal educational credential
$27,680 – $59,53040
22Maintenance and Repair Workers, General$47,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$27,720 – $69,550550
23Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$47,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,250 – $116,690200
24Computer User Support Specialists$47,080
Some college, no degree
$37,770 – $75,92080
25Paralegals and Legal Assistants$46,750
Associate's degree
$37,540 – $67,20090
26Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$46,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,880 – $77,990480
27Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics$46,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,660 – $76,050190
28Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$45,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,950 – $64,87050
29Carpenters$45,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,500 – $70,40070
30Dental Assistants$45,500
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,520 – $51,060120
31Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$44,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,340 – $78,140170
32Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders$44,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,530 – $59,220100
33Firefighters$43,890
Postsecondary nondegree award
$28,440 – $55,33090
34Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks$43,810
Some college, no degree
$29,130 – $66,080280
35Billing and Posting Clerks$41,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,650 – $74,89080
36Medical Assistants$40,780
Postsecondary nondegree award
$30,850 – $47,590170
37Loan Interviewers and Clerks$40,740
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,860 – $54,82040
38Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other$40,230
Postsecondary nondegree award
$34,120 – $47,010110
39Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive$40,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$24,590 – $59,020410
40Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$39,500
No formal educational credential
$22,150 – $61,380120
41Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$39,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,200 – $55,570190
42Customer Service Representatives$39,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,360 – $50,750990
43Miscellaneous Assemblers and Fabricators$39,040
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,290 – $47,570880
44Helpers--Electricians$38,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$30,700 – $48,54030
45Pharmacy Technicians$38,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$33,610 – $50,140130
46Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$38,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,260 – $60,00070
47Construction Laborers$38,650
No formal educational credential
$29,510 – $57,680390
48Painters, Construction and Maintenance$38,400
No formal educational credential
$30,160 – $52,94090
49Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$38,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,590 – $44,67040
50Light Truck Drivers$37,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$21,840 – $58,240150

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

#	Occupation	MedianSumter, SC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$81,150	$64,760 – $93,820	60
2	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,160	$49,940 – $109,300	40
3	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,370	$36,250 – $122,670	90
4	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,640	$50,860 – $72,670	160
5	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,290	$61,230 – $80,120	60
6	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,890	$29,360 – $135,350	170
7	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,820	$42,490 – $75,330	110
8	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,660	$41,670 – $74,190	50
9	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,000	$44,060 – $76,240	40
10	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,200	$43,680 – $69,610	90
11	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,940	$44,640 – $72,280	210
12	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$52,520	$42,390 – $81,040	140
13	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,440	$36,820 – $59,950	50
14	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,840	$36,950 – $69,640	80
15	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,340	$40,440 – $57,790	220
16	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,270	$39,510 – $78,640	130
17	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,880	$36,190 – $73,990	110
18	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,480	$40,600 – $81,060	90
19	Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,250	$35,840 – $63,980	270
20	Highway Maintenance WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$48,950	$42,710 – $60,780	40
21	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$48,160	$27,680 – $59,530	40
22	Maintenance and Repair Workers, GeneralHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,340	$27,720 – $69,550	550
23	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,140	$29,250 – $116,690	200
24	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$47,080	$37,770 – $75,920	80
25	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$46,750	$37,540 – $67,200	90
26	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,500	$36,880 – $77,990	480
27	Automotive Service Technicians and MechanicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$46,500	$29,660 – $76,050	190
28	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,930	$35,950 – $64,870	50
29	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,700	$34,500 – $70,400	70
30	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$45,500	$36,520 – $51,060	120
31	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,540	$35,340 – $78,140	170
32	Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,530	$44,530 – $59,220	100
33	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,890	$28,440 – $55,330	90
34	Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing ClerksSome college, no degree	$43,810	$29,130 – $66,080	280
35	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,760	$35,650 – $74,890	80
36	Medical AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$40,780	$30,850 – $47,590	170
37	Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,740	$33,860 – $54,820	40
38	Health Technologists and Technicians, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$40,230	$34,120 – $47,010	110
39	Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and ExecutiveHigh school diploma or equivalent	$40,210	$24,590 – $59,020	410
40	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$39,500	$22,150 – $61,380	120
41	Medical Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,380	$34,200 – $55,570	190
42	Customer Service RepresentativesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,100	$30,360 – $50,750	990
43	Miscellaneous Assemblers and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39,040	$37,290 – $47,570	880
44	Helpers--ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,930	$30,700 – $48,540	30
45	Pharmacy TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,820	$33,610 – $50,140	130
46	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,780	$29,260 – $60,000	70
47	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$38,650	$29,510 – $57,680	390
48	Painters, Construction and MaintenanceNo formal educational credential	$38,400	$30,160 – $52,940	90
49	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38,070	$34,590 – $44,670	40
50	Light Truck DriversHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,750	$21,840 – $58,240	150

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Sumter, SC. 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 Sumter, SC to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Sumter, SC that need no experience

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