South Carolina · BLS, May 2025 wages

$30-an-hour jobs without a degree in South Carolina

Name: $30-an-hour jobs without a degree in South Carolina, 2025
Creator: Degreeless Jobs
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

76 occupations in South Carolina pay a median of $30 an hour or more and typically need less than a bachelor’s degree to enter. The highest is nuclear power reactor operators at $57.03 an hour.

By the Degreeless Jobs research deskUpdated Sep 7, 2026Sources: BLS

All 76, sorted by hourly median

State medians for employed workers. The 25th to 75th range is annual. Occupations reported on an annual basis only are not included.

Occupations in South Carolina with a median of $30 an hour or more that typically require less than a bachelor's degree
Occupation	Hourly median	Annual median	25th to 75th	Employed	Typical entry education
Nuclear power reactor operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57.03	$118,620	$107,190 to $119,540	320	High school diploma or equivalent
Air traffic controllersAssociate's degree	$53.86	$112,030	$92,980 to $132,600	190	Associate's degree
Nuclear techniciansAssociate's degree	$52.16	$108,490	$107,560 to $111,560	750	Associate's degree
Transportation, storage, and distribution managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51.37	$106,860	$83,780 to $145,310	3,460	High school diploma or equivalent
Radiation therapistsAssociate's degree	$48.46	$100,790	$82,150 to $104,800	200	Associate's degree
Postmasters and mail superintendentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47.57	$98,940	$93,060 to $105,600	210	High school diploma or equivalent
Ship engineersPostsecondary nondegree award	$47.06	$97,890	$80,700 to $105,590	80	Postsecondary nondegree award
Power distributors and dispatchersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44.02	$91,570	$77,260 to $101,940	190	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relayPostsecondary nondegree award	$43.82	$91,140	$79,850 to $95,840	230	Postsecondary nondegree award
Elevator and escalator installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43.68	$90,860	$75,810 to $106,950	540	High school diploma or equivalent
Nuclear medicine technologistsAssociate's degree	$43.38	$90,230	$82,470 to $98,400	280	Associate's degree
Locomotive engineersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42.93	$89,290	$83,210 to $89,290	380	High school diploma or equivalent
Insurance appraisers, auto damagePostsecondary nondegree award	$41.67	$86,680	$80,760 to $94,390	220	Postsecondary nondegree award
Surgical assistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$41.15	$85,580	$50,630 to $108,200	480	Postsecondary nondegree award
Dental hygienistsAssociate's degree	$40.55	$84,340	$79,400 to $94,830	3,160	Associate's degree
Magnetic resonance imaging technologistsAssociate's degree	$40.17	$83,550	$76,750 to $93,450	730	Associate's degree
Diagnostic medical sonographersAssociate's degree	$40.04	$83,290	$77,380 to $96,320	1,340	Associate's degree
Avionics techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$39.29	$81,720	$72,000 to $88,100	270	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$39.10	$81,330	$65,170 to $88,710	90	High school diploma or equivalent
Tank car, truck, and ship loadersNo formal educational credential	$38.80	$80,700	$54,540 to $80,700	90	No formal educational credential
Engineering technologists and technicians, except drafters, all otherAssociate's degree	$38.72	$80,540	$61,410 to $98,520	620	Associate's degree
Transportation inspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.70	$80,490	$80,490 to $90,080	440	High school diploma or equivalent
Loading and moving machine operators, underground miningNo formal educational credential	$38.69	$80,480	$56,570 to $80,480	30	No formal educational credential
Power plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$38.41	$79,900	$67,640 to $94,320	680	High school diploma or equivalent
Radio, cellular, and tower equipment installers and repairersAssociate's degree	$37.62	$78,250	$66,300 to $78,440	40	Associate's degree
Respiratory therapistsAssociate's degree	$37.38	$77,740	$67,410 to $82,400	1,960	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of production and operating workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.26	$77,500	$62,040 to $92,070	14,570	High school diploma or equivalent
Funeral home managersAssociate's degree	$37.21	$77,400	$60,580 to $99,700	220	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.08	$77,130	$59,370 to $103,960	3,230	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of correctional officersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37.07	$77,110	$58,720 to $98,790	360	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical power-line installers and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.96	$76,870	$60,200 to $95,430	2,690	High school diploma or equivalent
Computer network support specialistsAssociate's degree	$36.92	$76,790	$60,510 to $98,690	2,660	Associate's degree
Electrical and electronics draftersAssociate's degree	$36.75	$76,440	$63,950 to $80,980	290	Associate's degree
FallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.71	$76,350	$62,400 to $88,400	130	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$36.29	$75,490	$62,610 to $86,250	1,130	Postsecondary nondegree award
Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.24	$75,370	$61,110 to $91,560	4,130	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.23	$75,350	$60,790 to $91,320	13,150	High school diploma or equivalent
Aircraft mechanics and service techniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$36.13	$75,160	$59,360 to $81,980	1,660	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$36.12	$75,120	$60,100 to $95,040	10,140	High school diploma or equivalent
Chemical techniciansAssociate's degree	$36.07	$75,020	$55,410 to $75,900	2,080	Associate's degree
BoilermakersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.98	$74,840	$74,830 to $75,630	—	High school diploma or equivalent
Media and communication equipment workers, all otherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.58	$74,010	$39,470 to $97,470	50	High school diploma or equivalent
Occupational therapy assistantsAssociate's degree	$35.45	$73,740	$63,170 to $77,660	830	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of police and detectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.43	$73,700	$60,960 to $96,000	1,560	High school diploma or equivalent
Railroad conductors and yardmastersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$35.42	$73,660	$73,660 to $73,660	420	High school diploma or equivalent
Electrical and electronic engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$35.31	$73,450	$60,400 to $89,320	2,060	Associate's degree
Stationary engineers and boiler operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.93	$72,650	$62,860 to $79,080	170	High school diploma or equivalent
Chefs and head cooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.55	$71,860	$60,120 to $79,050	2,650	High school diploma or equivalent
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$34.51	$71,770	$71,770 to $73,120	30	High school diploma or equivalent
Physical therapist assistantsAssociate's degree	$33.90	$70,500	$59,750 to $78,890	1,870	Associate's degree
Industrial engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$33.69	$70,080	$56,840 to $79,540	2,400	Associate's degree
Radiologic technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$33.46	$69,600	$61,900 to $82,560	3,630	Associate's degree
Mechanical engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$33.45	$69,580	$60,280 to $84,430	1,290	Associate's degree
Computer numerically controlled tool programmersPostsecondary nondegree award	$33.40	$69,470	$60,270 to $84,480	340	Postsecondary nondegree award
Chemical plant and system operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.94	$68,510	$59,950 to $74,370	610	High school diploma or equivalent
Advertising sales agentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.79	$68,200	$42,430 to $102,570	1,770	High school diploma or equivalent
Healthcare practitioners and technical workers, all otherPostsecondary nondegree award	$32.67	$67,940	$36,990 to $96,930	340	Postsecondary nondegree award
Electro-mechanical and mechatronics technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$32.50	$67,610	$51,720 to $78,640	270	Associate's degree
Gas plant operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$32.49	$67,580	$51,340 to $84,270	280	High school diploma or equivalent
Calibration technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$32.17	$66,910	$60,720 to $79,520	70	Associate's degree
Food service managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.82	$66,190	$54,910 to $83,830	5,080	High school diploma or equivalent
Tool and die makersPostsecondary nondegree award	$31.37	$65,250	$58,250 to $77,000	870	Postsecondary nondegree award
First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workersPostsecondary nondegree award	$31.33	$65,160	$56,250 to $82,800	1,450	Postsecondary nondegree award
Maintenance workers, machineryHigh school diploma or equivalent	$31.21	$64,910	$53,030 to $76,320	960	High school diploma or equivalent
Architectural and civil draftersAssociate's degree	$31.09	$64,680	$50,110 to $79,320	1,170	Associate's degree
Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific productsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.89	$64,250	$48,220 to $100,470	22,010	High school diploma or equivalent
Crane and tower operatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.83	$64,120	$48,100 to $80,880	720	High school diploma or equivalent
Mechanical draftersAssociate's degree	$30.64	$63,740	$55,140 to $80,240	640	Associate's degree
First-line supervisors of transportation and material moving workers, except aircraft cargo handling supervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.51	$63,470	$50,510 to $76,880	8,300	High school diploma or equivalent
Environmental engineering technologists and techniciansAssociate's degree	$30.39	$63,200	$56,190 to $82,280	220	Associate's degree
Transportation security screenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.35	$63,130	$61,110 to $67,200	480	High school diploma or equivalent
Lodging managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.29	$62,990	$45,690 to $88,370	640	High school diploma or equivalent
First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.25	$62,920	$49,930 to $80,010	26,710	High school diploma or equivalent
Property, real estate, and community association managersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.20	$62,810	$49,660 to $87,690	4,900	High school diploma or equivalent
Detectives and criminal investigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$30.17	$62,760	$55,490 to $77,200	1,470	High school diploma or equivalent
Postal service clerksNo formal educational credential	$30.10	$62,610	$57,430 to $70,890	960	No formal educational credential

Sources and method

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, state estimates. Typical entry education from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35 (Table 1.2). An occupation is listed when its typical entry education is below a bachelor’s degree and its South Carolina median hourly wage is $30.00 or more. Medians include experienced workers; entry pay is lower. Read the full method.

All 76, sorted by hourly median

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Sources and method