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No College Degree Required

No-Degree Jobs in South Carolina

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

$121,290

Top Salary

50

Job Types

$58,130

All Jobs Avg.

State

Coverage

Best No-Degree Jobs in South Carolina

You don't need a college degree to build a successful, high-paying career in South 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 South Carolina


Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers SOC: 11-3071 No Degree	$121,290	$121,290	$58	3,460
Nuclear Power Reactor Operators SOC: 51-8011 No Degree	$114,610	$114,610	$55	320
Postmasters and Mail Superintendents SOC: 11-9131 No Degree	$100,820	$100,820	$48	210
Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers SOC: 47-4021 No Degree	$90,300	$90,300	$43	540
Power Distributors and Dispatchers SOC: 51-8012 No Degree	$89,840	$89,840	$43	190
First Line Supervisors of Non Retail Sales Workers SOC: 41-1012 No Degree	$87,640	$87,640	$42	3,230
Transportation Inspectors SOC: 53-6051 No Degree	$84,170	$84,170	$40	440
Locomotive Engineers SOC: 53-4011 No Degree	$83,100	$83,100	$40	380
Find Locomotive Engineers Jobs
Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers SOC: 11-9141 No Degree	$81,360	$81,360	$39	4,900
First Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives SOC: 33-1012 No Degree	$81,260	$81,260	$39	1,560
Power Plant Operators SOC: 51-8013 No Degree	$80,990	$80,990	$39	680
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products SOC: 41-4012 No Degree	$80,830	$80,830	$39	22,010
First Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers SOC: 33-1011 No Degree	$79,200	$79,200	$38	360
Real Estate Sales Agents SOC: 41-9022 No Degree	$79,100	$79,100	$38	4,930
Insurance Sales Agents SOC: 41-3021 No Degree	$78,730	$78,730	$38	8,220
First Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers SOC: 49-1011 No Degree	$78,430	$78,430	$38	10,140
Find First Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers Jobs
First Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers SOC: 51-1011 No Degree	$78,250	$78,250	$38	14,570
First Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers SOC: 47-1011 No Degree	$77,790	$77,790	$37	13,150
Detectives and Criminal Investigators SOC: 33-3021 No Degree	$77,020	$77,020	$37	1,470
Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators SOC: 13-1031 No Degree	$76,190	$76,190	$37	4,130
Advertising Sales Agents SOC: 41-3011 No Degree	$76,080	$76,080	$37	1,770
Electrical Power Line Installers and Repairers SOC: 49-9051 No Degree	$75,390	$75,390	$36	2,690
Lodging Managers SOC: 11-9081 No Degree	$74,630	$74,630	$36	640
Fallers SOC: 45-4021 No Degree	$73,000	$73,000	$35	130
Find Fallers Jobs
Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters SOC: 53-4031 No Degree	$72,890	$72,890	$35	420
Food Service Managers SOC: 11-9051 No Degree	$72,690	$72,690	$35	5,080
Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators SOC: 51-8021 No Degree	$71,920	$71,920	$35	170
Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel SOC: 41-3091 No Degree	$70,910	$70,910	$34	21,070
Chefs and Head Cooks SOC: 35-1011 No Degree	$70,780	$70,780	$34	2,650
Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining SOC: 47-5044 No Degree	$69,600	$69,600	$33	30
Gas Plant Operators SOC: 51-8092 No Degree	$69,080	$69,080	$33	280
First Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers SOC: 43-1011 No Degree	$69,070	$69,070	$33	26,710
Find First Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers Jobs
Earth Drillers, Except Oil and Gas SOC: 47-5023 No Degree	$68,660	$68,660	$33	120
Rail Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators SOC: 47-4061 No Degree	$67,950	$67,950	$33	30
Tank Car, Truck, and Ship Loaders SOC: 53-7121 No Degree	$67,700	$67,700	$33	90
Crane and Tower Operators SOC: 53-7021 No Degree	$65,890	$65,890	$32	720
First Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors SOC: 53-1047 No Degree	$65,740	$65,740	$32	8,300
Chemical Plant and System Operators SOC: 51-8091 No Degree	$65,640	$65,640	$32	610
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants SOC: 43-6011 No Degree	$65,080	$65,080	$31	3,880
Maintenance Workers, Machinery SOC: 49-9043 No Degree	$64,340	$64,340	$31	960
Find Maintenance Workers, Machinery Jobs
Industrial Machinery Mechanics SOC: 49-9041 No Degree	$64,280	$64,280	$31	9,890
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians SOC: 19-5012 No Degree	$63,720	$63,720	$31	420
Brokerage Clerks SOC: 43-4011 No Degree	$62,900	$62,900	$30	440
Postal Service Clerks SOC: 43-5051 No Degree	$62,740	$62,740	$30	960
Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers SOC: 51-8093 No Degree	$61,830	$61,830	$30	70
First Line Supervisors of Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Workers SOC: 45-1011 No Degree	$61,720	$61,720	$30	370
Millwrights SOC: 49-9044 No Degree	$61,080	$61,080	$29	950
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks SOC: 43-5061 No Degree	$60,830	$60,830	$29	7,020
Find Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks Jobs
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers SOC: 49-9052 No Degree	$60,820	$60,820	$29	1,310
Transportation Security Screeners SOC: 33-9093 No Degree	$60,590	$60,590	$29	480

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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