Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Augusta, Georgia (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Augusta, Georgia was $45,990 in May 2025, below the U.S. median of $50,980.
- The best-paid job here that typically needs only a high school diploma or less was first-line supervisors of production and operating workers, at a median of $75,570.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by dental hygienists at $79,840.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Augusta, Georgia. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC)) and the education level BLS lists as typical for entry into each job (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35), here are the best-paying jobs in the metro area that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC had about 231,930 wage and salary jobs in the survey.
Top-paying jobs that need a high school diploma or less
Jobs with at least 300 positions in the metro area, ranked by median annual wage. The last column shows the national median for comparison.
| Occupation | Augusta, Georgia median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,570 | 1,690 | $74,450 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives | $74,580 | 350 | $106,040 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $74,440 | 300 | $87,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $74,360 | 1,320 | $79,920 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $73,220 | 1,050 | $79,860 |
| Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $72,430 | 330 | $78,000 |
| Machinists | $67,140 | 370 | $58,750 |
| Industrial Machinery Mechanics | $66,690 | 1,190 | $64,520 |
| Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants | $64,360 | 410 | $76,590 |
| Food Service Managers | $63,990 | 460 | $69,390 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers | $62,610 | 1,930 | $69,500 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $61,510 | 1,250 | $72,080 |
Many of these jobs pay well because they come with long on-the-job training, licensing, physical risk or irregular hours. Several are skilled trades that train through paid apprenticeships.
Top-paying jobs that need a certificate or associate’s degree
Jobs where BLS lists a postsecondary certificate, some college or an associate’s degree as the typical entry credential:
| Occupation | Augusta, Georgia median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $79,840 | 370 | $98,100 |
| Respiratory Therapists | $78,560 | 350 | $82,280 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $64,190 | 450 | $80,110 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $63,760 | 1,220 | $64,400 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $57,580 | 990 | $61,860 |
| Medical Records Specialists | $53,830 | 410 | $51,140 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $51,560 | 420 | $62,890 |
| Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers | $48,900 | 620 | $61,010 |
The most common jobs in Augusta, Georgia, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $26,620 | 8,710 |
| Retail Salespersons | $29,350 | 6,930 |
| Registered Nurses | $87,760 | 6,880 |
| Cashiers | $28,310 | 6,040 |
| General and Operations Managers | $102,360 | 4,230 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $28,730 | 3,920 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $36,640 | 3,900 |
| Office Clerks, General | $39,530 | 3,850 |
How to use these numbers
- Medians are midpoints. Half of workers in each job earn more and half earn less; new workers usually start well below the median.
- Overtime is not included. BLS wage estimates exclude overtime pay and shift differentials, so jobs with heavy overtime often pay more in practice (see the OEWS technical notes).
- Check the training path. “Typical entry education” is what most new workers have; licenses and apprenticeships may still be required.
Published November 9, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
One more data point from the same survey: the occupation most concentrated in Augusta, Georgia relative to the nation is extruding and forming machine setters, operators, and tenders, synthetic and glass fibers, with a location quotient of 26.11. That means those jobs make up about 26.11 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 500 of them locally, at a median of $42,380. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk