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No-Degree Jobs in North Carolina

High-paying careers that don't require a college degree

$120,690

Top Salary

50

Job Types

$62,771

All Jobs Avg.

State

Coverage

Best No-Degree Jobs in North Carolina

You don't need a college degree to build a successful, high-paying career in North Carolina. Many skilled trades, technical roles, and service positions offer competitive salaries and excellent growth opportunities. The occupations below are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data and represent the highest-paying jobs that typically don't require a bachelor's degree.

Career Growth Potential

These roles often provide opportunities for advancement through experience, certifications, and specialized training. Many employers offer on-the-job training, apprenticeship programs, or tuition assistance for further education if you choose to pursue additional qualifications later.

How to Get Started

To get started, research the specific requirements for your target occupation, including any necessary licenses, certifications, or training programs. Many of these roles offer immediate employment opportunities with competitive starting salaries.

No-Degree Job Opportunities

Real Wages (Purchasing Power)

These careers typically require a high school diploma or equivalent, with on-the-job training, apprenticeships, or certification programs instead of a 4-year college degree.

No-Degree Jobs in North Carolina


Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers SOC: 11-3071 No Degree	$120,690	$120,690	$58	6,650
Farmers, Ranchers, and Other Agricultural Managers SOC: 11-9013 No Degree	$108,780	$108,780	$52	250
First Line Supervisors of Non Retail Sales Workers SOC: 41-1012 No Degree	$107,980	$107,980	$52	11,080
Power Plant Operators SOC: 51-8013 No Degree	$100,460	$100,460	$48	420
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents SOC: 11-9131 No Degree	$98,170	$98,170	$47	480
First Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives SOC: 33-1012 No Degree	$91,280	$91,280	$44	4,820
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers SOC: 47-4021 No Degree	$91,210	$91,210	$44	240
Power Distributors and Dispatchers SOC: 51-8012 No Degree	$88,460	$88,460	$43	190
Find Power Distributors and Dispatchers Jobs
Transportation Inspectors SOC: 53-6051 No Degree	$88,120	$88,120	$42	380
Gas Plant Operators SOC: 51-8092 No Degree	$85,560	$85,560	$41	320
Explosives Workers, Ordnance Handling Experts, and Blasters SOC: 47-5032 No Degree	$85,330	$85,330	$41	160
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products SOC: 41-4012 No Degree	$83,500	$83,500	$40	49,110
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers SOC: 51-8093 No Degree	$81,520	$81,520	$39	130
First Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers SOC: 49-1011 No Degree	$80,050	$80,050	$38	21,110
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel SOC: 41-3091 No Degree	$78,660	$78,660	$38	46,040
Electrical Power Line Installers and Repairers SOC: 49-9051 No Degree	$77,570	$77,570	$37	5,650
Find Electrical Power Line Installers and Repairers Jobs
First Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC: 47-1011 No Degree	$77,320	$77,320	$37	32,460
Food Service Managers SOC: 11-9051 No Degree	$76,550	$76,550	$37	9,420
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators SOC: 13-1031 No Degree	$76,300	$76,300	$37	9,880
Detectives and Criminal Investigators SOC: 33-3021 No Degree	$76,020	$76,020	$37	3,360
Real Estate Sales Agents SOC: 41-9022 No Degree	$74,610	$74,610	$36	7,960
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants SOC: 43-6011 No Degree	$72,520	$72,520	$35	8,890
First Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers SOC: 51-1011 No Degree	$72,480	$72,480	$35	22,240
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers SOC: 11-9141 No Degree	$72,460	$72,460	$35	10,690
Find Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers Jobs
Hearing Aid Specialists SOC: 29-2092 No Degree	$72,460	$72,460	$35	240
Insurance Sales Agents SOC: 41-3021 No Degree	$72,330	$72,330	$35	20,540
First Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers SOC: 33-1011 No Degree	$70,200	$70,200	$34	1,090
Construction and Building Inspectors SOC: 47-4011 No Degree	$69,070	$69,070	$33	6,490
Lodging Managers SOC: 11-9081 No Degree	$68,330	$68,330	$33	1,460
Brokerage Clerks SOC: 43-4011 No Degree	$67,960	$67,960	$33	400
Real Estate Brokers SOC: 41-9021 No Degree	$67,600	$67,600	$33	1,560
First Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers SOC: 43-1011 No Degree	$67,440	$67,440	$32	35,830
Find First Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Jobs
Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines SOC: 49-3042 No Degree	$66,150	$66,150	$32	5,100
Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door SOC: 49-9012 No Degree	$66,100	$66,100	$32	1,440
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians SOC: 19-5012 No Degree	$66,040	$66,040	$32	720
Crane and Tower Operators SOC: 53-7021 No Degree	$65,620	$65,620	$32	1,050
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors SOC: 53-1041 No Degree	$64,530	$64,530	$31	90
Postal Service Clerks SOC: 43-5051 No Degree	$64,280	$64,280	$31	2,070
Chefs and Head Cooks SOC: 35-1011 No Degree	$63,960	$63,960	$31	4,920
Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians SOC: 49-3092 No Degree	$63,650	$63,650	$31	400
Find Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians Jobs
Millwrights SOC: 49-9044 No Degree	$63,590	$63,590	$31	700
Industrial Machinery Mechanics SOC: 49-9041 No Degree	$63,540	$63,540	$31	15,720
First Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors SOC: 53-1047 No Degree	$62,970	$62,970	$30	21,540
Subway and Streetcar Operators SOC: 53-4041 No Degree	$62,060	$62,060	$30	110
Chemical Plant and System Operators SOC: 51-8091 No Degree	$61,970	$61,970	$30	660
Transportation Security Screeners SOC: 33-9093 No Degree	$61,940	$61,940	$30	1,300
Postal Service Mail Carriers SOC: 43-5052 No Degree	$61,920	$61,920	$30	11,030
Locomotive Engineers SOC: 53-4011 No Degree	$61,880	$61,880	$30	340
Find Locomotive Engineers Jobs
Tire Builders SOC: 51-9197 No Degree	$61,450	$61,450	$30	3,750
Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers SOC: 33-3051 No Degree	$61,390	$61,390	$30	22,370

About No-Degree Careers

Many high-paying careers don't require a traditional 4-year college degree. These jobs often offer competitive salaries, strong job security, and clear advancement paths through:

On-the-job training programs
Apprenticeships (often paid)
Professional certifications
Trade school programs (typically 6 months to 2 years)
Community college associate degrees

The jobs shown above are filtered to include only occupations where the typical education requirement is high school or less, based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

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