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

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

Highest-paying jobs in Columbia 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 Columbia that don’t require a college degree.

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#50. Electricians

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $48,880
- Employment: 1,510

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Studio 72 // Shutterstock

#49. Heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $49,230
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $39,840
- Employment: 19,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Indypendenz // Shutterstock

#48. Postal service mail sorters, processors, and processing machine operators

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $49,370
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,190
- Employment: 102,390
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Shift Drive // Shutterstock

#47. Computer user support specialists

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $49,490
- Employment: 2,480

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- Employment: 647,330
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
5 / 50
Canva

#46. Chemical plant and system operators

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $50,500
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,710
- Employment: 28,840
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#45. Postal service mail carriers

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $50,560
- Employment: 920

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,180
- Employment: 339,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
ALPA PROD // Shutterstock

#44. Extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $50,700
- Employment: 470

National
- Annual mean salary: $37,770
- Employment: 76,940
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#43. Postal service clerks

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $51,200
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- Employment: 81,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#42. Millwrights

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $51,640
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- Employment: 47,320
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#41. Chefs and head cooks

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $51,870
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#40. Advertising sales agents

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $52,610
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#39. Lodging managers

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $52,660
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

#38. Chemical equipment operators and tenders

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $52,930
- Employment: 250

National
- Annual mean salary: $51,540
- Employment: 87,120
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $53,080
- Employment: 7,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

#36. Insulation workers, mechanical

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $53,990
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,120
- Employment: 26,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
G-Stock Studio // Shutterstock

#35. Production, planning, and expediting clerks

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $54,040
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,640
- Employment: 370,380
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $54,150
- Employment: 560

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,560
- Employment: 208,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
18 / 50
Unsplash

#33. Crane and tower operators

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $55,750
- Employment: 160

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- Employment: 45,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#32. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $56,330
- Employment: 790

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
Zephyris // Wikimedia Commons

#31. Lathe and turning machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $56,350
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,990
- Employment: 28,070
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#30. Industrial machinery mechanics

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $56,440
- Employment: 1,440

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
Canva

#29. Tool and die makers

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $56,860
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,980
- Employment: 70,770
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
23 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $57,160
- Employment: 2,090

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

#27. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $57,250
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,960
- Employment: 9,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $57,270
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 58,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
26 / 50
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#25. Gas plant operators

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $58,690
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#24. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $60,220
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
RossHelen // Shutterstock

#23. Paper goods machine setters, operators, and tenders

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $60,330
- Employment: 880

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,980
- Employment: 100,290
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#22. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $60,850
- Employment: 380

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

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $61,000
- Employment: 2,160

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
Canva

#20. Fire inspectors and investigators

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $61,040
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 13,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
32 / 50
Pxhere

#19. Maintenance workers, machinery

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $61,190
- Employment: 200

National
- Annual mean salary: $49,450
- Employment: 72,890
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $61,550
- Employment: 180

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
34 / 50
Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#17. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $63,140
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
35 / 50
Canva

#16. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $63,180
- Employment: 390

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#15. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $63,980
- Employment: 90

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,050
- Employment: 52,890
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#14. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 1,180

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $67,630
- Employment: 1,750

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $68,220
- Employment: 3,670

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#11. Detectives and criminal investigators

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $68,230
- Employment: 350

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
Peter Braakmann // Shutterstock

#10. First-line supervisors of farming, fishing, and forestry workers

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $69,050
- Employment: 80

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,520
- Employment: 22,560
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#9. Real estate brokers

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $69,180
- Employment: 360

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $69,760
- Employment: 1,750

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $70,810
- Employment: 240

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#6. Insurance sales agents

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $73,080
- Employment: 2,010

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#5. Food service managers

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $76,750
- Employment: 640

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $81,430
- Employment: 750

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
IAEA Imagebank // Flickr

#3. Nuclear power reactor operators

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $89,840
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $100,990
- Employment: 5,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Canva

#2. Transportation inspectors

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $96,160
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Columbia, SC
- Annual mean salary: $98,510
- Employment: 180

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

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