Highest-paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina that don't require a college degree
College isn't for everyone—despite what today's youth may hear from the adults in their lives.
From the moment they arrive freshman year, today's high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches.
While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students' future careers, it's not necessary for all fields—something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.
The median wage for high school diploma recipients is about $809 a week—higher than those without a diploma ($626), but well below the median for bachelor's degree holders ($1,334). But many jobs without college degree requirements still pay decent wages. Some even pay better than jobs reserved for degree earners.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the 50 highest-paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina that don't require higher education. Professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022.
Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Charleston, South Carolina that don't require a college degree.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Sheet metal workers
- Median annual wage: $51,020
- Median hourly wage: $24.53
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 180 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#49. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses
- Median annual wage: $51,400
- Median hourly wage: $24.71
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 1,110 people (3.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#48. Advertising sales agents
- Median annual wage: $52,030
- Median hourly wage: $25.02
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 340 people (0.94 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#47. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $52,750
- Median hourly wage: $25.36
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 2,990 people (8.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#46. Computer numerically controlled tool operators
- Median annual wage: $52,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.39
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 840 people (2.37 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Industrial machinery mechanics
- Median annual wage: $53,110
- Median hourly wage: $25.53
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,080 people (3.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#44. Postal service mail carriers
- Median annual wage: $53,790
- Median hourly wage: $25.86
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 690 people (1.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#43. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $53,820
- Median hourly wage: $25.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#42. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $54,600
- Median hourly wage: $26.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 530 people (1.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#41. Production, planning, and expediting clerks
- Median annual wage: $54,880
- Median hourly wage: $26.38
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 810 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#40. Occupational health and safety technicians
- Median annual wage: $54,910
- Median hourly wage: $26.40
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 30 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#39. Electrical, electronic, and electromechanical assemblers, except coil winders, tapers, and finishers
- Median annual wage: $55,130
- Median hourly wage: $26.50
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 560 people (1.57 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#38. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers
- Median annual wage: $55,140
- Median hourly wage: $26.51
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 500 people (1.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Pipelayers
- Median annual wage: $56,670
- Median hourly wage: $27.24
- Education required: No formal educational credential
- Total employment: 120 people (0.34 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#36. Chefs and head cooks
- Median annual wage: $56,690
- Median hourly wage: $27.25
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 820 people (2.29 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#35. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $57,160
- Median hourly wage: $27.48
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 740 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#34. First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisors
- Median annual wage: $57,210
- Median hourly wage: $27.51
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,390 people (3.89 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#33. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers
- Median annual wage: $57,730
- Median hourly wage: $27.75
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 340 people (0.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#32. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $58,120
- Median hourly wage: $27.94
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 4,360 people (12.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#31. Postal service clerks
- Median annual wage: $58,460
- Median hourly wage: $28.11
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 120 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#30. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Median annual wage: $58,720
- Median hourly wage: $28.23
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 600 people (1.67 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#29. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $59,050
- Median hourly wage: $28.39
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $59,990
- Median hourly wage: $28.84
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 3,100 people (8.69 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#27. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines
- Median annual wage: $60,060
- Median hourly wage: $28.87
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 520 people (1.45 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#26. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $61,040
- Median hourly wage: $29.34
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 620 people (1.74 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Median annual wage: $61,140
- Median hourly wage: $29.40
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#24. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $62,090
- Median hourly wage: $29.85
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 690 people (1.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#23. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $62,160
- Median hourly wage: $29.89
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 190 people (0.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#22. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $62,910
- Median hourly wage: $30.24
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 440 people (1.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#21. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $62,980
- Median hourly wage: $30.28
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,650 people (4.62 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#20. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $63,490
- Median hourly wage: $30.52
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,860 people (5.23 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#19. Real estate sales agents
- Median annual wage: $64,280
- Median hourly wage: $30.90
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,090 people (3.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#18. Grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic
- Median annual wage: $66,050
- Median hourly wage: $31.76
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 180 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#17. Millwrights
- Median annual wage: $66,550
- Median hourly wage: $31.99
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 130 people (0.36 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#16. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Median annual wage: $67,570
- Median hourly wage: $32.49
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 310 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $68,880
- Median hourly wage: $33.12
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 270 people (0.77 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#14. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Median annual wage: $72,300
- Median hourly wage: $34.76
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 360 people (1.0 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#13. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $72,510
- Median hourly wage: $34.86
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 1,610 people (4.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#12. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $72,580
- Median hourly wage: $34.89
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 380 people (1.07 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $72,830
- Median hourly wage: $35.02
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 140 people (0.38 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#10. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $74,550
- Median hourly wage: $35.84
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 60 people (0.16 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#9. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $75,670
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (0.44 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#8. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $76,540
- Median hourly wage: $36.80
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 420 people (1.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#7. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $76,660
- Median hourly wage: $36.86
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 140 people (0.39 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#6. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $80,440
- Median hourly wage: $38.67
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 280 people (0.8 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#5. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers
- Median annual wage: $81,970
- Median hourly wage: $39.41
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 50 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#4. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $82,760
- Median hourly wage: $39.79
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 150 people (0.41 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#3. Ship engineers
- Median annual wage: $84,690
- Median hourly wage: $40.72
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 90 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $100,710
- Median hourly wage: $48.42
- Education required: High school diploma or equivalent
- Total employment: 450 people (1.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#1. Commercial pilots
- Median annual wage: $107,050
- Median hourly wage: Not available
- Education required: Postsecondary nondegree award
- Total employment: 90 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
