High paying entry level jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

These occupations in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV run 8.9% above the national average (2024), so a Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV salary is worth about 0.92× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

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

Find high paying jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

OccupationMedian, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV · Employed

1Lawyers$195,190
Doctoral or professional degree
$106,520 – $382,89046,840
2Dentists, General$184,540
Doctoral or professional degree
$105,610 – $324,3703,040
3Physicists$171,580
Doctoral or professional degree
$98,950 – $225,6801,520
4Physical Scientists, All Other$170,980
Bachelor's degree
$95,870 – $263,5802,740
5Legal Support Workers, All Other$169,690
Associate's degree
$76,140 – $195,1906,430
6Aerospace Engineers$166,420
Bachelor's degree
$104,030 – $249,9902,420
7Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other$166,230
Master's degree
$111,530 – $195,1905,970
8Computer and Information Research Scientists$161,090
Master's degree
$103,440 – $223,8003,420
9Computer Hardware Engineers$159,480
Bachelor's degree
$95,780 – $221,0901,790
10Economists$156,750
Master's degree
$93,440 – $259,2904,570
11Political Scientists$156,730
Master's degree
$118,290 – $195,1903,700
12Software Developers$154,930
Bachelor's degree
$96,450 – $213,66069,060
13Veterinarians$154,350
Doctoral or professional degree
$79,360 – $271,7701,740
14Engineers, All Other$151,340
Bachelor's degree
$83,700 – $195,1909,230
15Pharmacists$150,540
Doctoral or professional degree
$121,420 – $179,2305,260
16Physician Assistants$148,200
Master's degree
$108,030 – $213,7503,020
17Chemists$144,680
Bachelor's degree
$82,780 – $195,1902,490
18Electronics Engineers, Except Computer$140,000
Bachelor's degree
$96,190 – $195,1902,690
19Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other$138,250
Bachelor's degree
$84,590 – $195,1906,220
20Statisticians$136,660
Master's degree
$97,160 – $178,4003,220
21Nurse Practitioners$134,840
Master's degree
$101,340 – $175,4404,050
22Web Developers$134,350
Bachelor's degree
$84,580 – $184,0503,840
23Data Scientists$132,200
Bachelor's degree
$85,250 – $212,3209,260
24Computer Programmers$130,390
Bachelor's degree
$67,010 – $184,6602,680
25Business Teachers, Postsecondary$128,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$50,830 – $265,9401,590
26Operations Research Analysts$127,600
Bachelor's degree
$69,910 – $194,9008,080
27Computer Systems Analysts$127,040
Bachelor's degree
$77,910 – $195,12018,620
28Project Management Specialists$127,030
Bachelor's degree
$74,110 – $192,45038,230
29Mechanical Engineers$126,990
Bachelor's degree
$85,760 – $195,1905,390
30Financial Risk Specialists$126,510
Bachelor's degree
$80,810 – $194,4801,400
31Electrical Engineers$126,420
Bachelor's degree
$84,820 – $195,1904,450
32Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Testers$126,350
Bachelor's degree
$81,360 – $175,2408,460
33Network and Computer Systems Administrators$125,430
Bachelor's degree
$78,450 – $180,3609,920
34Budget Analysts$125,050
Bachelor's degree
$82,060 – $161,0304,100
35Health Education Specialists$124,590
Bachelor's degree
$66,050 – $170,9802,100
36Financial Specialists, All Other$120,580
Bachelor's degree
$63,300 – $185,2205,820
37Dental Hygienists$119,170
Associate's degree
$94,290 – $132,0002,200
38Industrial Engineers$117,600
Bachelor's degree
$82,140 – $173,4002,000
39Biological Scientists, All Other$114,920
Bachelor's degree
$64,480 – $195,1905,720
40Microbiologists$114,800
Bachelor's degree
$61,070 – $195,1901,370
41Credit Analysts$114,700
Bachelor's degree
$64,200 – $177,2201,060
42Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$109,170
Bachelor's degree
$67,990 – $155,3001,920
43Database Administrators$108,750
Bachelor's degree
$66,560 – $171,1703,730
44Financial and Investment Analysts$108,330
Bachelor's degree
$74,190 – $195,19010,930
45Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$108,160
Bachelor's degree
$68,450 – $184,3502,710
46Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$107,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,060 – $170,9801,030
47Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$107,110
Doctoral or professional degree
$77,120 – $188,0705,980
48Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$105,290
Associate's degree
$87,820 – $131,5001,550
49Business Operations Specialists, All Other$104,770
Bachelor's degree
$59,010 – $184,02076,600
50Urban and Regional Planners$104,770
Master's degree
$78,470 – $140,9801,250

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

#	Occupation	MedianWashington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	LawyersDoctoral or professional degree	$195,190	$106,520 – $382,890	46,840
2	Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree	$184,540	$105,610 – $324,370	3,040
3	PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree	$171,580	$98,950 – $225,680	1,520
4	Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$170,980	$95,870 – $263,580	2,740
5	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$169,690	$76,140 – $195,190	6,430
6	Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree	$166,420	$104,030 – $249,990	2,420
7	Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All OtherMaster's degree	$166,230	$111,530 – $195,190	5,970
8	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$161,090	$103,440 – $223,800	3,420
9	Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree	$159,480	$95,780 – $221,090	1,790
10	EconomistsMaster's degree	$156,750	$93,440 – $259,290	4,570
11	Political ScientistsMaster's degree	$156,730	$118,290 – $195,190	3,700
12	Software DevelopersBachelor's degree	$154,930	$96,450 – $213,660	69,060
13	VeterinariansDoctoral or professional degree	$154,350	$79,360 – $271,770	1,740
14	Engineers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$151,340	$83,700 – $195,190	9,230
15	PharmacistsDoctoral or professional degree	$150,540	$121,420 – $179,230	5,260
16	Physician AssistantsMaster's degree	$148,200	$108,030 – $213,750	3,020
17	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$144,680	$82,780 – $195,190	2,490
18	Electronics Engineers, Except ComputerBachelor's degree	$140,000	$96,190 – $195,190	2,690
19	Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$138,250	$84,590 – $195,190	6,220
20	StatisticiansMaster's degree	$136,660	$97,160 – $178,400	3,220
21	Nurse PractitionersMaster's degree	$134,840	$101,340 – $175,440	4,050
22	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$134,350	$84,580 – $184,050	3,840
23	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$132,200	$85,250 – $212,320	9,260
24	Computer ProgrammersBachelor's degree	$130,390	$67,010 – $184,660	2,680
25	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,370	$50,830 – $265,940	1,590
26	Operations Research AnalystsBachelor's degree	$127,600	$69,910 – $194,900	8,080
27	Computer Systems AnalystsBachelor's degree	$127,040	$77,910 – $195,120	18,620
28	Project Management SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$127,030	$74,110 – $192,450	38,230
29	Mechanical EngineersBachelor's degree	$126,990	$85,760 – $195,190	5,390
30	Financial Risk SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$126,510	$80,810 – $194,480	1,400
31	Electrical EngineersBachelor's degree	$126,420	$84,820 – $195,190	4,450
32	Software Quality Assurance Analysts and TestersBachelor's degree	$126,350	$81,360 – $175,240	8,460
33	Network and Computer Systems AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$125,430	$78,450 – $180,360	9,920
34	Budget AnalystsBachelor's degree	$125,050	$82,060 – $161,030	4,100
35	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$124,590	$66,050 – $170,980	2,100
36	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$120,580	$63,300 – $185,220	5,820
37	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$119,170	$94,290 – $132,000	2,200
38	Industrial EngineersBachelor's degree	$117,600	$82,140 – $173,400	2,000
39	Biological Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$114,920	$64,480 – $195,190	5,720
40	MicrobiologistsBachelor's degree	$114,800	$61,070 – $195,190	1,370
41	Credit AnalystsBachelor's degree	$114,700	$64,200 – $177,220	1,060
42	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$109,170	$67,990 – $155,300	1,920
43	Database AdministratorsBachelor's degree	$108,750	$66,560 – $171,170	3,730
44	Financial and Investment AnalystsBachelor's degree	$108,330	$74,190 – $195,190	10,930
45	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$108,160	$68,450 – $184,350	2,710
46	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$107,650	$43,060 – $170,980	1,030
47	Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsDoctoral or professional degree	$107,110	$77,120 – $188,070	5,980
48	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$105,290	$87,820 – $131,500	1,550
49	Business Operations Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$104,770	$59,010 – $184,020	76,600
50	Urban and Regional PlannersMaster's degree	$104,770	$78,470 – $140,980	1,250

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

By field in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV to rank honestly.

High paying entry level jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

More for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

By field in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Without a degree

High paying entry level jobs in each state