Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Durham-Chapel Hill (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill was $60,720 in May 2025, above the U.S. median of $50,980.
- The best-paid job here that typically needs only a high school diploma or less was transportation, storage, and distribution managers, at a median of $116,310.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by dental hygienists at $101,460.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Durham-Chapel Hill. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Durham-Chapel Hill, NC)) 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. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC had about 344,020 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.
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 | Durham-Chapel Hill median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $101,460 | 350 | $98,100 |
| Computer Network Support Specialists | $81,090 | 470 | $76,220 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $80,430 | 780 | $80,110 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $71,750 | 2,090 | $61,860 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $66,950 | 960 | $64,400 |
| Medical Equipment Repairers | $65,890 | 310 | $61,660 |
| Chemical Technicians | $64,500 | 370 | $60,390 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians | $64,320 | 300 | $78,190 |
The most common jobs in Durham-Chapel Hill, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | $135,620 | 9,790 |
| Retail Salespersons | $31,790 | 5,850 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $46,860 | 5,820 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $29,170 | 5,350 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $37,750 | 5,250 |
| Cashiers | $29,920 | 4,840 |
| Nursing Assistants | $40,560 | 4,830 |
| Customer Service Representatives | $46,800 | 4,660 |
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 October 31, 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 Durham-Chapel Hill relative to the nation is microbiologists, with a location quotient of 9.58. That means those jobs make up about 9.58 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 400 of them locally, at a median of $85,860. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Durham-Chapel Hill, NC). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk