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

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January 5, 2021
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

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

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

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VGstockstudio // Shutterstock

#50. Reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $50,490
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,390
- Employment: 123,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
welcomia // Shutterstock

#49. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $50,600
- Employment: 860

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,840
- Employment: 147,800
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
3 / 50
Rido // Shutterstock

#48. Opticians, dispensing

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $50,760
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $40,730
- Employment: 72,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
LStockStudio // Shutterstock

#47. Brokerage clerks

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $50,850
- Employment: 170

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,190
- Employment: 47,990
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
wandee007 // Shutterstock

#46. Earth drillers, except oil and gas; and explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $50,900
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,890
- Employment: 24,940
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
Erin Deleon // Shutterstock

#45. Postal service mail carriers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $51,430
- Employment: 1,480

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

#44. Dental laboratory technicians

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $51,580
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $44,330
- Employment: 34,460
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
Pressmaster // Shutterstock

#43. Title examiners, abstractors, and searchers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $51,880
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,050
- Employment: 52,890
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
DenisProduction.com // Shutterstock

#42. Chefs and head cooks

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $52,240
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,310
- Employment: 128,190
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
Canva

#41. Skincare specialists

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $52,280
- Employment: 440

National
- Annual mean salary: $38,970
- Employment: 56,660
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
11 / 50
SritanaN // Shutterstock

#40. Industrial machinery mechanics

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $53,180
- Employment: 830

National
- Annual mean salary: $55,320
- Employment: 387,630
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
rlat // Shutterstock

#39. Postal service clerks

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $53,600
- Employment: 190

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,610
- Employment: 81,170
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
13 / 50
Canva

#38. Tool and die makers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $54,320
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,980
- Employment: 70,770
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
14 / 50
Shift Drive // Shutterstock

#37. Computer user support specialists

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $54,350
- Employment: 5,370

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,550
- Employment: 647,330
- Entry level education requirements: Some college, no degree
15 / 50
goodluz // Shutterstock

#36. Real estate sales agents

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $54,660
- Employment: 1,370

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,060
- Employment: 162,330
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Wipas Rojjanakard // Shutterstock

#35. Occupational health and safety technicians

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $55,940
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 20,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

#34. Flight attendants

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $55,960
- Employment: 220

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,230
- Employment: 120,840
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
GaudiLab // Shutterstock

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $56,240
- Employment: 5,870

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,130
- Employment: 1,487,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Stealth Communications // Wikimedia Commons

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $56,870
- Employment: 2,590

National
- Annual mean salary: $58,560
- Employment: 208,480
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
20 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#31. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $57,560
- Employment: 130

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Canva

#30. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $58,320
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Employment: 14,530
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
22 / 50
Canva

#29. Fire inspectors and investigators

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $58,380
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 13,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
23 / 50
Loveischiangrai // Shutterstock

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $58,970
- Employment: 530

National
- Annual mean salary: $52,340
- Employment: 103,580
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#27. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $59,830
- Employment: 2,090

National
- Annual mean salary: $62,920
- Employment: 542,690
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $60,000
- Employment: 1,460

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

#25. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $60,810
- Employment: 30

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,960
- Employment: 9,500
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
Pandu Agus Wismoyo // Unsplash

#24. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $61,690
- Employment: 260

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,110
- Employment: 133,310
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
28 / 50
Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

#23. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $62,610
- Employment: 510

National
- Annual mean salary: $50,900
- Employment: 168,140
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
29 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#22. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $62,620
- Employment: 660

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

#21. Advertising sales agents

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $62,740
- Employment: 730

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,660
- Employment: 129,740
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
31 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $63,180
- Employment: 5,310

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
Canva

#19. Construction and building inspectors

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $63,530
- Employment: 1,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

#18. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $63,980
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
34 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#17. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $64,080
- Employment: 1,590

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#16. Insurance sales agents

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $64,750
- Employment: 1,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,780
- Employment: 410,050
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
36 / 50
Unsplash

#15. Crane and tower operators

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $66,940
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- Employment: 45,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#14. Food service managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $67,740
- Employment: 590

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Canva

#13. Automotive body and related repairers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $69,030
- Employment: 470

National
- Annual mean salary: $47,390
- Employment: 144,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
39 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#12. Detectives and criminal investigators

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $70,170
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
U.S. Air Force

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $70,290
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
41 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $70,800
- Employment: 2,630

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
42 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $71,800
- Employment: 9,360

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
43 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $74,820
- Employment: 6,840

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
44 / 50
Canva

#7. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $78,560
- Employment: 500

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
45 / 50
rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#6. Real estate brokers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $81,470
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,450
- Employment: 42,730
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#5. Private detectives and investigators

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $85,480
- Employment: 40

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,000
- Employment: 35,000
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#4. Commercial pilots

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $87,800
- Employment: 120

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $93,150
- Employment: 1,370

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $112,570
- Employment: 1,850

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Raleigh, NC
- Annual mean salary: $116,870
- Employment: 380

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

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