Highest-paying jobs in Charlotte that don't require a college degree

Written by:
January 4, 2021
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

Highest-paying jobs in Charlotte that don't require a college degree

From the moment they first set foot on campus, 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, coaches—the list goes on and on. 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.

To find the highest-paying jobs that don't require a college degree, Stacker consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to compile a list of all jobs that don't require higher education. All professions that listed a high-school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary non-degree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs that didn't list any entry-level education requirement were excluded, as were job titles that grouped several positions together. Jobs are ranked by 2019 annual mean wage.

Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Charlotte that don’t require a college degree.

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#50. Industrial machinery mechanics

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $52,800
- Employment: 3,750

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Canva

#49. Construction and building inspectors

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $53,230
- Employment: 1,420

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Kot500 // Shutterstock

#48. Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $53,290
- Employment: 2,600

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,360
- Employment: 266,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

#47. First-line supervisors of landscaping, lawn service, and groundskeeping workers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $53,510
- Employment: 870

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Employment: 103,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#46. Brokerage clerks

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $54,140
- Employment: 1,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,190
- Employment: 47,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#45. Postal service clerks

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $54,250
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- Employment: 81,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#44. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $55,010
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

#43. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $55,360
- Employment: 430

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 58,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
9 / 50
Socrates471 // Shutterstock

#42. Audio and video technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $55,670
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,260
- Employment: 73,960
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
10 / 50
Pxhere

#41. Metal-refining furnace operators and tenders

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $55,740
- Employment: 320

National
- Annual mean salary: $43,280
- Employment: 17,150
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#40. Chefs and head cooks

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $55,790
- Employment: 910

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

#39. Telecommunications equipment installers and repairers, except line installers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $56,060
- Employment: 1,510

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,560
- Employment: 208,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
13 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

#38. Flight attendants

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $56,190
- Employment: 3,900

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,230
- Employment: 120,840
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
Canva

#37. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $56,220
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,730
- Employment: 25,570
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
15 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#36. Private detectives and investigators

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $57,080
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 35,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Stoyan Yotov

#35. Coil winders, tapers, and finishers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $57,420
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,760
- Employment: 12,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

#34. Occupational health and safety technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $57,890
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 20,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
U.S. Air Force

#33. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $58,930
- Employment: 870

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
19 / 50
Carl Mydans // Library of Congress

#32. Tile and stone setters

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $59,240
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,300
- Employment: 40,470
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
20 / 50
Canva

#31. Automotive body and related repairers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $59,370
- Employment: 1,990

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,390
- Employment: 144,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

#30. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $59,720
- Employment: 12,770

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#29. Food service managers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $60,150
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#28. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $61,680
- Employment: 4,140

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Canva

#27. Fire inspectors and investigators

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $61,710
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 13,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
25 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#26. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $61,730
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

#25. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $61,840
- Employment: 12,030

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

#24. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $64,150
- Employment: 5,520

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

#23. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $64,190
- Employment: 9,100

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#22. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $65,090
- Employment: 750

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
30 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#21. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $65,460
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#20. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $66,210
- Employment: 3,150

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

#19. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $67,580
- Employment: 2,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
Max Pixel

#18. Pourers and casters, metal

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $67,850
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,850
- Employment: 8,010
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#17. Insurance appraisers, auto damage

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $68,660
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,240
- Employment: 13,750
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
35 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#16. Detectives and criminal investigators

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $68,790
- Employment: 600

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#15. Advertising sales agents

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $71,500
- Employment: 1,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

#14. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $71,970
- Employment: 4,740

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#13. Gas plant operators

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $72,320
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

#12. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $73,610
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
40 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#11. Insurance sales agents

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $76,280
- Employment: 4,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#10. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $76,630
- Employment: 1,550

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
42 / 50
Canva

#9. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $77,020
- Employment: 1,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#8. Commercial pilots

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $81,100
- Employment: 760

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

#7. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $82,370
- Employment: 17,030

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Canva

#6. Transportation inspectors

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $82,550
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#5. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $84,410
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#4. Lodging managers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $85,340
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

#3. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $101,850
- Employment: 3,630

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#2. Real estate brokers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $110,350
- Employment: 870

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC
- Annual mean salary: $113,060
- Employment: 930

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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