High paying jobs in Winston-Salem, NC that need no experience

Every occupation here pays well in Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, NC run 8.0% below the national average (2024), so a Winston-Salem, NC salary is worth about 1.09× 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 Winston-Salem, NC

OccupationMedian, Winston-Salem, NC · Employed

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$98,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,070 – $111,180110
2Dental Hygienists$95,930
Associate's degree
$82,090 – $100,540500
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$87,220
Associate's degree
$69,640 – $104,320250
4Respiratory Therapists$80,250
Associate's degree
$64,370 – $99,380530
5Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$77,900
Associate's degree
$62,050 – $99,440770
6Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$75,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,220 – $108,8901,430
7Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$73,480
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,540 – $115,250240
8Computer Network Support Specialists$71,220
Associate's degree
$44,110 – $107,890140
9Occupational Therapy Assistants$70,150
Associate's degree
$51,140 – $95,33090
10Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$68,870
Associate's degree
$47,700 – $98,830160
11Chemical Technicians$68,630
Associate's degree
$41,620 – $80,87090
12Postal Service Clerks$66,750
No formal educational credential
$55,350 – $76,360110
13Physical Therapist Assistants$64,660
Associate's degree
$50,660 – $80,980180
14Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$64,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,880 – $93,420110
15Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$64,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,080 – $134,9402,330
16Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$62,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,000 – $72,6001,330
17Medical Records Specialists$62,590
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,700 – $78,030520
18Postal Service Mail Carriers$62,070
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040730
19Industrial Machinery Mechanics$61,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,860 – $78,8701,050
20Surgical Technologists$60,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,290 – $74,560480
21Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$60,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,310 – $79,870170
22Maintenance Workers, Machinery$60,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,040 – $76,310290
23Medical Equipment Repairers$59,850
Associate's degree
$33,480 – $74,720110
24Computer User Support Specialists$59,000
Some college, no degree
$36,610 – $97,560960
25Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians$58,330
Associate's degree
$52,420 – $81,910100
26Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$58,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,310 – $128,3001,790
27Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$58,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,450 – $73,930580
28Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$57,670
Associate's degree
$39,100 – $107,430210
29Tool and Die Makers$57,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,570 – $77,340130
30Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$57,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,810 – $75,7501,310
31Electricians$56,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,550 – $72,3501,120
32Opticians, Dispensing$55,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,310 – $81,110130
33Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$55,740
Associate's degree
$44,390 – $69,17090
34Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$55,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,770 – $74,610700
35Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$53,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,880 – $74,010250
36Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers$51,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,300 – $75,8503,480
37Paralegals and Legal Assistants$50,680
Associate's degree
$38,840 – $75,040830
38Machinists$50,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,180 – $64,010910
39Dental Assistants$50,060
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,370 – $59,260480
40Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$49,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,090 – $73,430220
41Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$49,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,140 – $71,400280
42Carpenters$49,940
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,600 – $69,050510
43Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$49,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,610 – $61,800190
44Prepress Technicians and Workers$49,760
Postsecondary nondegree award
$40,590 – $63,06090
45Automotive Body and Related Repairers$49,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,210 – $72,620320
46Insurance Sales Agents$49,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,310 – $107,630800
47Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$49,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,690 – $82,250350
48Roofers$49,280
No formal educational credential
$38,370 – $61,100190
49Billing and Posting Clerks$49,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,030 – $58,290460
50Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$49,240
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,830 – $72,160860

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

#	Occupation	MedianWinston-Salem, NC	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,720	$57,070 – $111,180	110
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$95,930	$82,090 – $100,540	500
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$87,220	$69,640 – $104,320	250
4	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$80,250	$64,370 – $99,380	530
5	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$77,900	$62,050 – $99,440	770
6	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,310	$54,220 – $108,890	1,430
7	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,480	$48,540 – $115,250	240
8	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$71,220	$44,110 – $107,890	140
9	Occupational Therapy AssistantsAssociate's degree	$70,150	$51,140 – $95,330	90
10	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,870	$47,700 – $98,830	160
11	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$68,630	$41,620 – $80,870	90
12	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$66,750	$55,350 – $76,360	110
13	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$64,660	$50,660 – $80,980	180
14	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$64,360	$47,880 – $93,420	110
15	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,330	$37,080 – $134,940	2,330
16	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,970	$52,000 – $72,600	1,330
17	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,590	$36,700 – $78,030	520
18	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$62,070	$42,390 – $81,040	730
19	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,120	$41,860 – $78,870	1,050
20	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,920	$40,290 – $74,560	480
21	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,570	$45,310 – $79,870	170
22	Maintenance Workers, MachineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$60,380	$46,040 – $76,310	290
23	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$59,850	$33,480 – $74,720	110
24	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$59,000	$36,610 – $97,560	960
25	Mechanical Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$58,330	$52,420 – $81,910	100
26	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,240	$37,310 – $128,300	1,790
27	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,100	$41,450 – $73,930	580
28	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$57,670	$39,100 – $107,430	210
29	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$57,510	$40,570 – $77,340	130
30	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,440	$43,810 – $75,750	1,310
31	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$56,100	$38,550 – $72,350	1,120
32	Opticians, DispensingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,990	$36,310 – $81,110	130
33	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$55,740	$44,390 – $69,170	90
34	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$55,360	$37,770 – $74,610	700
35	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$53,110	$36,880 – $74,010	250
36	Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck DriversPostsecondary nondegree award	$51,320	$38,300 – $75,850	3,480
37	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$50,680	$38,840 – $75,040	830
38	MachinistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$50,350	$36,180 – $64,010	910
39	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$50,060	$38,370 – $59,260	480
40	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,990	$38,090 – $73,430	220
41	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,970	$40,140 – $71,400	280
42	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,940	$35,600 – $69,050	510
43	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,790	$44,610 – $61,800	190
44	Prepress Technicians and WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,760	$40,590 – $63,060	90
45	Automotive Body and Related RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,520	$36,210 – $72,620	320
46	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,460	$40,310 – $107,630	800
47	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,420	$34,690 – $82,250	350
48	RoofersNo formal educational credential	$49,280	$38,370 – $61,100	190
49	Billing and Posting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,260	$38,030 – $58,290	460
50	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,240	$37,830 – $72,160	860

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Winston-Salem, 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 Winston-Salem, NC to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Winston-Salem, NC that need no experience

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