4 Cities In The Carolinas Are Best Cities For Jobs In The Country

Very soon scores of young men and women walk across the stage to graduate high school and college ready for their next career move.  So, it turns out that 4 cities in the Carolinas are among the best cities for jobs in the country.  And, what comes next for many graduates will be the job search.

And, according to a study from MoneyGeek, unemployment is relatively low, making it a job seeker's market.  So, where do all these newly graduated or seasoned job seeker's need to go for their best options?  Well, the study analyzed 94 metropolitan areas to come up with a list of the best and worst places for those looking for employment in the U.S.

After examining employment growth, hourly wage growth, current unemployment rates, current labor force size and more, MoneyGeek determined the best cities for jobs in the country.  And, they also point out the 'worst.'  But, which ones can we seek out in the Carolinas?

So, coming in at number 7 on the list is capital city Raleigh, North Carolina.  And, Raleigh's total score among best cities for jobs was a whopping 90.2.  Raleigh is the largest city of the Research Triangle Metro area.  It's home to NC State.  And, of course, nearby Chapel Hill and Durham are home of UNC and Duke, making the area a hub for education and employment opportunities in the field.

Next, close behind Raleigh is Greenville, South Carolina with a score of 89.0.  We lived in Greenville early on in our career.  It's a beautiful place bustling with growth and opportunity.  Plus, there's plenty to do and lovely restaurants.  And, Greenville is a quick day trip to some of our favorite mountain destinations.

So, not only does it make one of the best cities for jobs in the country, it gets my vote for a great city to live and raise a family.

Coming in at number 10 on the list of best cities for jobs in the country is Charleston, South Carolina.  And, what else can we say about Charleston that hasn't already been said.  It's a gorgeous city full of rich history, culture and a magnificent culinary scene.  Charleston's score on the best cities for jobs study was 87.6.

Finally, Durham, North Carolina squeezes in at number 14 with an 82.9 on the best cities for jobs.  So, with my son getting ready to embark on a career after college graduation, I might nudge him into one of the 4 cities in the Carolinas making best cities for jobs in the country.  Learn more and see the full list in the MoneyGeek study.

The traditional bachelor's degree just isn't for everyone. In fact, there are a big group of people who opt to skip the traditional college route and still make very good money. There are plenty of jobs out there that don't requite a four-year bachelor's degree but still make $100K or more per year. No, it's not too good to be true. Let's get into some of these high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Before we get into those high-paying jobs, let's talk about how to land your dream job. Indeed.com has a great checklist of things to do when you're on the job hunt. One major thing is to create a good resume. They suggest to tailor that resume to every job to which you're applying, so that it fits the job perfectly. Make one "master" copy of your resume, and then use that as a template to create special resumes for each of the jobs for which you're applying. So, how do you tailer for resume? "When deciding what to include in your resume, choose actionable items that would capture an employer's interest," they suggest. "Along with including qualitative results in your work experience section, you can also add in some quantifiable data." They also say that numbers and statistics and numbers look good on a resume, so include those.

FlexJobs.com suggests to "research companies, rather than jobs." They say to "pursue companies that mirror your values to narrow your search, and to, "seek out organizations with a strong culture fit and a mission that aligns with yours." That's a great tip so that you're finding a company with the same values and ethics that you possess. Of course, it doesn't hurt to look for actual jobs on search sites such as FlexJobs.com and Indeed.com, too. Keep an eye out for opening at your desired company that pop up.

Now, let's get into some high-paying jobs that pay over $100K without a degree.

Careerkarma.com has Technology Sales Manager listed as the job without a college degree that makes the most money. Average salary is $161,920. Sound good, right? Minimum job requirements are, "Experience as a sales representative and a high-school diploma."

Another high-paying job without a degree, according to Careerkarma.com, is a Computer and Information Systems Manager. They make an average of $159,010 a year. You need computer science knowledge and 5 to 10 years of management experience, they state.

Here's an interesting one. A fire chief is on Indeed's list of high-paying jobs without a degree. They state, "Fire chiefs are responsible for overseeing and managing fire departments, which involves supervising personnel, developing budgets and planning emergency responses." National average salary is $105,287 per year.

Another job on Indeed list of high-paying jobs without a degree is Product Manager. So, what is that? "They may develop and implement the large and small business strategies that fuel the product development process and manage the launch of the product's features," they explain.

This is a really interesting one: Professional Sports Referee. The top salary per year is $210,000. But, they can make as little as $21,000 per year, too, as that's the average salary. So, you have to get a bigger gig to make more than 100K for this job. This is according to Resumeviking.com. They state, "No academic background is necessary, apart from obtaining a referee certification in the sport you want to referee. The stakes are high, but so is the return if you have the nerves for putting it all out there with no guarantees of ever gaining enough recognition to join in on this multi-billion-dollar industry!"

The national salary for a Senior Real Estate Manager is $133,076 per year," according to Indeed. They state, "Senior real estate managers oversee the daily operations of a property like an apartment complex or commercial building. They typically manage maintenance teams, ensure tenants pay rent on time and fill vacancies." They suggest to "gain experience in entry-level positions and work your way up to this job."

A Court Reporter makes an average salary of $103,270, according to Careerkarma.com. The job is to take notes on legal proceedings in court. "To land a court reporter job with no degree, you’ll need to take the exam for Registered Professional Reporter certification," they note. "This requires good listening skills, the ability to type quickly, and some knowledge of common legal terms."

Executive Assistant is No. 1 on US News and World Report's list of the highest-paying jobs without a degree. "Executive assistants support high-level executives in public offices and private companies," they state. "They may manage the executive’s schedule, make travel arrangements, prioritize the executive’s emails, and sometimes act as a receptionist or gatekeeper, serving as the liaison between the executive and anyone who wishes to meet with them."