High paying entry level jobs in District of Columbia

These occupations in District of Columbia ask for no prior experience in a related job and no on-the-job training period: you are expected to be productive on arrival. That is precisely why most of them want a specific qualification instead — the credential does the work the experience would have. Read the line under each title for what that qualification is; several here are doctorates. If you need something you can start without one, use the no-experience list.

Cost of living: prices in District of Columbia run 9.9% above the national average (2024), so a District of Columbia salary is worth about 0.91× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in District of Columbia.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in District of Columbia

OccupationMedian, District of Columbia · Employed

1Lawyers$195,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$120,580 – $392,75033,070
2Nuclear Engineers$195,190
Bachelor's degree
$128,960 – $207,480230
3Marine Engineers and Naval Architects$172,330
Bachelor's degree
$107,030 – $195,190490
4Economists$167,590
Master's degree
$98,350 – $299,1103,000
5Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$161,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$94,510 – $217,850220
6Aerospace Engineers$157,600
Bachelor's degree
$98,200 – $196,310290
7Physicists$157,040
Doctoral or professional degree
$86,820 – $202,360480
8Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$157,040
Bachelor's degree
$113,300 – $195,190400
9Physical Scientists, All Other$156,730
Bachelor's degree
$101,400 – $195,190790
10Computer Occupations, All Other$156,590
Bachelor's degree
$87,400 – $207,70017,200
11Pharmacists$153,400
Doctoral or professional degree
$64,870 – $196,080850
12Political Scientists$152,530
Master's degree
$114,920 – $195,1903,070
13Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other$151,990
Master's degree
$101,940 – $195,190490
14Engineers, All Other$151,920
Bachelor's degree
$101,990 – $195,1903,560
15Chemists$149,860
Bachelor's degree
$101,400 – $195,190280
16Computer and Information Research Scientists$144,190
Master's degree
$100,010 – $196,640330
17Electrical Engineers$143,000
Bachelor's degree
$87,450 – $195,190330
18Statisticians$140,670
Master's degree
$80,980 – $185,220550
19Dental Hygienists$137,220
Associate's degree
$86,120 – $155,840320
20Software Developers$136,880
Bachelor's degree
$85,140 – $197,0006,120
21Nurse Practitioners$135,880
Master's degree
$115,200 – $180,300680
22Physician Assistants$135,140
Master's degree
$84,520 – $213,560470
23Mechanical Engineers$133,300
Bachelor's degree
$86,820 – $195,190510
24Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$132,620
Bachelor's degree
$78,270 – $185,2201,270
25Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$128,440
Bachelor's degree
$83,890 – $170,9802,480
26Business Teachers, Postsecondary$128,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,930 – $265,940630
27Data Scientists$126,490
Bachelor's degree
$89,750 – $209,7302,680
28Financial Specialists, All Other$125,110
Bachelor's degree
$69,910 – $195,1902,460
29Budget Analysts$124,590
Bachelor's degree
$82,060 – $156,7501,490
30Database Administrators$118,540
Bachelor's degree
$74,360 – $154,750560
31Historians$118,290
Master's degree
$60,160 – $156,750250
32Computer Systems Analysts$116,820
Bachelor's degree
$89,190 – $168,2702,480
33Web Developers$114,690
Bachelor's degree
$76,160 – $172,520430
34Respiratory Therapists$111,950
Associate's degree
$77,240 – $127,400430
35Accountants and Auditors$111,530
Bachelor's degree
$71,470 – $185,2209,810
36Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$111,530
Bachelor's degree
$68,000 – $156,750280
37Human Resources Specialists$110,970
Bachelor's degree
$65,280 – $170,3306,910
38Network and Computer Systems Administrators$110,970
Bachelor's degree
$80,850 – $150,5801,320
39Interpreters and Translators$109,970
Bachelor's degree
$58,720 – $128,610280
40Occupational Therapists$109,170
Master's degree
$81,760 – $129,810540
41Business Operations Specialists, All Other$108,160
Bachelor's degree
$64,110 – $194,42037,790
42Web and Digital Interface Designers$107,650
Bachelor's degree
$78,120 – $172,130480
43Financial and Investment Analysts$105,780
Bachelor's degree
$67,620 – $207,3303,670
44News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$105,390
Bachelor's degree
$64,600 – $222,0401,720
45Project Management Specialists$104,900
Bachelor's degree
$64,080 – $194,1705,170
46Logisticians$104,770
Bachelor's degree
$64,080 – $169,0601,350
47Civil Engineers$103,880
Bachelor's degree
$78,780 – $164,2001,650
48Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$103,340
Bachelor's degree
$65,210 – $144,820760
49Health Education Specialists$103,330
Bachelor's degree
$63,250 – $170,980680
50Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$102,770
Associate's degree
$59,130 – $128,120660

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianDistrict of Columbia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$195,190	$120,580 – $392,750	33,070
2	Nuclear EngineersBachelor's degree	$195,190	$128,960 – $207,480	230
3	Marine Engineers and Naval ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$172,330	$107,030 – $195,190	490
4	EconomistsMaster's degree	$167,590	$98,350 – $299,110	3,000
5	Economics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$161,860	$94,510 – $217,850	220
6	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$157,600	$98,200 – $196,310	290
7	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$157,040	$86,820 – $202,360	480
8	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$157,040	$113,300 – $195,190	400
9	Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$156,730	$101,400 – $195,190	790
10	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$156,590	$87,400 – $207,700	17,200
11	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$153,400	$64,870 – $196,080	850
12	Political ScientistsMaster's degree	$152,530	$114,920 – $195,190	3,070
13	Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All OtherMaster's degree	$151,990	$101,940 – $195,190	490
14	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$151,920	$101,990 – $195,190	3,560
15	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$149,860	$101,400 – $195,190	280
16	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$144,190	$100,010 – $196,640	330
17	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$143,000	$87,450 – $195,190	330
18	StatisticiansMaster's degree	$140,670	$80,980 – $185,220	550
19	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$137,220	$86,120 – $155,840	320
20	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$136,880	$85,140 – $197,000	6,120
21	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$135,880	$115,200 – $180,300	680
22	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$135,140	$84,520 – $213,560	470
23	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$133,300	$86,820 – $195,190	510
24	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$132,620	$78,270 – $185,220	1,270
25	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$128,440	$83,890 – $170,980	2,480
26	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,370	$62,930 – $265,940	630
27	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$126,490	$89,750 – $209,730	2,680
28	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$125,110	$69,910 – $195,190	2,460
29	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$124,590	$82,060 – $156,750	1,490
30	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$118,540	$74,360 – $154,750	560
31	HistoriansMaster's degree	$118,290	$60,160 – $156,750	250
32	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$116,820	$89,190 – $168,270	2,480
33	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$114,690	$76,160 – $172,520	430
34	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$111,950	$77,240 – $127,400	430
35	Accountants and AuditorsBachelor's degree	$111,530	$71,470 – $185,220	9,810
36	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$111,530	$68,000 – $156,750	280
37	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$110,970	$65,280 – $170,330	6,910
38	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$110,970	$80,850 – $150,580	1,320
39	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$109,970	$58,720 – $128,610	280
40	Occupational TherapistsMaster's degree	$109,170	$81,760 – $129,810	540
41	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$108,160	$64,110 – $194,420	37,790
42	Web and Digital Interface DesignersBachelor's degree	$107,650	$78,120 – $172,130	480
43	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$105,780	$67,620 – $207,330	3,670
44	News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsBachelor's degree	$105,390	$64,600 – $222,040	1,720
45	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$104,900	$64,080 – $194,170	5,170
46	LogisticiansBachelor's degree	$104,770	$64,080 – $169,060	1,350
47	Civil EngineersBachelor's degree	$103,880	$78,780 – $164,200	1,650
48	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$103,340	$65,210 – $144,820	760
49	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$103,330	$63,250 – $170,980	680
50	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,770	$59,130 – $128,120	660

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in District of Columbia. The rarer ones are real jobs — but a 1,190-person occupation at the top of a list answers a different question than the one most readers are asking.

More for District of Columbia

Metro areas in District of Columbia

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria

By field in District of Columbia

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in District of Columbia to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in District of Columbia

More for District of Columbia

Metro areas in District of Columbia

By field in District of Columbia

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state