High paying jobs in Wilmington, NC that need no experience
Every occupation here pays well in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington, NC run 3.6% below the national average (2024), so a Wilmington, NC salary is worth about 1.04× 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
Associate's degree
$80,730 – $103,970440Associate's degree
$66,890 – $103,270170Postsecondary nondegree award
$20,890 – $121,240120Associate's degree
$64,490 – $95,830200Associate's degree
$64,650 – $90,500120Associate's degree
$56,520 – $86,930220Associate's degree
$49,880 – $103,10080High school diploma or equivalent
$48,950 – $90,290250Associate's degree
$48,100 – $101,050410Associate's degree
$36,310 – $106,640120- 11Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$64,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,500 – $136,5001,730 High school diploma or equivalent
$37,210 – $88,730270High school diploma or equivalent
$46,360 – $105,020230High school diploma or equivalent
$35,830 – $63,550100- 15Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$63,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,850 – $145,7901,670 High school diploma or equivalent
$51,220 – $108,090110Associate's degree
$48,380 – $85,67080Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,640 – $72,470790High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $69,24060High school diploma or equivalent
$38,700 – $79,090180Associate's degree
$45,830 – $87,00090No formal educational credential
$54,330 – $75,030100Some college, no degree
$37,490 – $98,610690Associate's degree
$42,340 – $81,930100Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,570 – $65,780210Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,180 – $89,450140High school diploma or equivalent
$44,960 – $72,900170High school diploma or equivalent
$28,650 – $125,210660High school diploma or equivalent
$38,920 – $81,490290High school diploma or equivalent
$43,260 – $74,980210Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,450 – $121,37070High school diploma or equivalent
$36,430 – $78,150130High school diploma or equivalent
$36,390 – $86,280370No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040580No formal educational credential
$36,950 – $57,540100High school diploma or equivalent
$48,350 – $69,600130High school diploma or equivalent
$39,090 – $76,600690Associate's degree
$40,090 – $75,600580High school diploma or equivalent
$40,820 – $75,620360High school diploma or equivalent
$38,390 – $68,640260High school diploma or equivalent
$37,680 – $75,550910Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,200 – $65,220240High school diploma or equivalent
$46,550 – $72,5601,210High school diploma or equivalent
$41,710 – $57,160120High school diploma or equivalent
$36,730 – $80,170130High school diploma or equivalent
$37,280 – $73,480130High school diploma or equivalent
$40,440 – $74,780220Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,980 – $59,530600High school diploma or equivalent
$38,010 – $64,510640High school diploma or equivalent
$38,840 – $75,030210
Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.
| # | Occupation | MedianWilmington, NC | 10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree | $96,700 | $80,730 – $103,970 | 440 |
| 2 | Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree | $81,480 | $66,890 – $103,270 | 170 |
| 3 | Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award | $81,390 | $20,890 – $121,240 | 120 |
| 4 | Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree | $81,020 | $64,490 – $95,830 | 200 |
| 5 | Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $78,740 | $64,650 – $90,500 | 120 |
| 6 | Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree | $75,820 | $56,520 – $86,930 | 220 |
| 7 | Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $68,790 | $49,880 – $103,100 | 80 |
| 8 | Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent | $68,700 | $48,950 – $90,290 | 250 |
| 9 | Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $67,210 | $48,100 – $101,050 | 410 |
| 10 | Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree | $66,660 | $36,310 – $106,640 | 120 |
| 11 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent | $64,520 | $37,500 – $136,500 | 1,730 |
| 12 | Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $64,440 | $37,210 – $88,730 | 270 |
| 13 | Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $63,630 | $46,360 – $105,020 | 230 |
| 14 | Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $63,550 | $35,830 – $63,550 | 100 |
| 15 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $63,510 | $37,850 – $145,790 | 1,670 |
| 16 | Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $63,470 | $51,220 – $108,090 | 110 |
| 17 | Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree | $63,440 | $48,380 – $85,670 | 80 |
| 18 | Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award | $63,390 | $51,640 – $72,470 | 790 |
| 19 | Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $63,130 | $49,940 – $69,240 | 60 |
| 20 | MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $62,810 | $38,700 – $79,090 | 180 |
| 21 | Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree | $61,590 | $45,830 – $87,000 | 90 |
| 22 | Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential | $61,570 | $54,330 – $75,030 | 100 |
| 23 | Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree | $61,240 | $37,490 – $98,610 | 690 |
| 24 | Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree | $61,200 | $42,340 – $81,930 | 100 |
| 25 | Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award | $60,900 | $42,570 – $65,780 | 210 |
| 26 | Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award | $60,550 | $50,180 – $89,450 | 140 |
| 27 | Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $60,190 | $44,960 – $72,900 | 170 |
| 28 | Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $59,880 | $28,650 – $125,210 | 660 |
| 29 | Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $59,470 | $38,920 – $81,490 | 290 |
| 30 | Loan Interviewers and ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $58,860 | $43,260 – $74,980 | 210 |
| 31 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award | $58,670 | $50,450 – $121,370 | 70 |
| 32 | Motorboat Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent | $58,240 | $36,430 – $78,150 | 130 |
| 33 | Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and WeighersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $57,840 | $36,390 – $86,280 | 370 |
| 34 | Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential | $57,700 | $42,390 – $81,040 | 580 |
| 35 | Drywall and Ceiling Tile InstallersNo formal educational credential | $57,540 | $36,950 – $57,540 | 100 |
| 36 | Chemical Equipment Operators and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $56,990 | $48,350 – $69,600 | 130 |
| 37 | Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $56,390 | $39,090 – $76,600 | 690 |
| 38 | Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree | $56,060 | $40,090 – $75,600 | 580 |
| 39 | Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $55,560 | $40,820 – $75,620 | 360 |
| 40 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $55,340 | $38,390 – $68,640 | 260 |
| 41 | ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent | $54,080 | $37,680 – $75,550 | 910 |
| 42 | Emergency Medical TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award | $53,850 | $36,200 – $65,220 | 240 |
| 43 | Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $53,520 | $46,550 – $72,560 | 1,210 |
| 44 | Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent | $52,770 | $41,710 – $57,160 | 120 |
| 45 | Tax PreparersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $52,220 | $36,730 – $80,170 | 130 |
| 46 | Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $51,480 | $37,280 – $73,480 | 130 |
| 47 | Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent | $51,140 | $40,440 – $74,780 | 220 |
| 48 | Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award | $51,110 | $37,980 – $59,530 | 600 |
| 49 | CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent | $50,830 | $38,010 – $64,510 | 640 |
| 50 | Surveying and Mapping TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent | $50,670 | $38,840 – $75,030 | 210 |
Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Wilmington, 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.
More for Wilmington, NC
Other metro areas in NC
- Asheville, NC
- Burlington, NC
- Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
- Fayetteville, NC
- Goldsboro, NC
- Greensboro-High Point, NC
- Greenville, NC
- Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC
- Jacksonville, NC
- Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC
- Raleigh-Cary, NC
- Rocky Mount, NC
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
- Winston-Salem, NC
By field in Wilmington, NC
- High paying management jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying business and finance jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying tech and IT jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying engineering and architecture jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying science jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying social service jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying teaching and library jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying creative and media jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying medical jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying healthcare support jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying security and protective service jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying food service jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying cleaning and grounds jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying personal care jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying sales jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying office and admin jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying construction jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying repair and maintenance jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying production jobs in Wilmington, NC
- High paying transportation jobs in Wilmington, NC
Without a degree
The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Wilmington, NC to rank honestly.
- High paying medical jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying medical jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
- High paying healthcare support jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying healthcare support jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
- High paying security and protective service jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying security and protective service jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
- High paying food service jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying food service jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
- High paying cleaning and grounds jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying personal care jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying personal care jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
- High paying sales jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying sales jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
- High paying office and admin jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying office and admin jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
- High paying construction jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying construction jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
- High paying repair and maintenance jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying repair and maintenance jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
- High paying production jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying production jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
- High paying transportation jobs in Wilmington, NC with no degree
- High paying transportation jobs in Wilmington, NC with no experience
High paying jobs in each state that need no experience
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