High paying jobs in Bellingham, WA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Bellingham, WA and typically require less than a bachelor's degree to enter — a high school diploma, a postsecondary certificate, or an associate's degree. Entry requirements come from the BLS Employment Projections program and describe what is typical, not mandatory.

Cost of living: prices in Bellingham, WA run 3.3% above the national average (2024), so a Bellingham, WA salary is worth about 0.97× 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 Bellingham, WA

OccupationMedian, Bellingham, WA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$137,720
Postsecondary nondegree award
$99,360 – $150,060130
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$132,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$113,760 – $166,26090
3Dental Hygienists$124,850
Associate's degree
$106,770 – $149,680150
4Detectives and Criminal Investigators$122,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$106,250 – $177,650260
5Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$120,380
High school diploma or equivalent
$86,340 – $164,76030
6Paramedics$119,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$109,330 – $123,49070
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$110,240
Associate's degree
$106,780 – $132,29060
8First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$107,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,850 – $156,860730
9Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$105,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,410 – $112,950380
10Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$105,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$75,200 – $167,17060
11Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$102,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,620 – $144,540540
12Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$101,810
High school diploma or equivalent
$84,830 – $118,810310
13Firefighters$101,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,690 – $117,990320
14Electricians$97,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,530 – $127,180560
15First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$96,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,470 – $138,990340
16Food Service Managers$93,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,720 – $134,98030
17Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$93,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,050 – $114,70060
18Construction and Building Inspectors$93,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,530 – $116,170110
19Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$91,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,450 – $127,010400
20Sheet Metal Workers$90,840
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,750 – $128,970100
21Structural Iron and Steel Workers$86,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,070 – $114,85050
22Massage Therapists$83,790
Postsecondary nondegree award
$60,950 – $115,630140
23First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$83,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,820 – $165,350110
24Correctional Officers and Jailers$83,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,270 – $93,960120
25Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$81,790
Associate's degree
$58,160 – $102,75060
26Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$81,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,150 – $101,30080
27Sales and Related Workers, All Other$81,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,500 – $106,29040
28Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$78,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$63,690 – $96,420220
29Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$78,420
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,800 – $119,60030
30Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$78,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,210 – $95,920220
31Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$77,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,700 – $101,520100
32Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$77,910
No formal educational credential
$50,270 – $133,860130
33Logging Equipment Operators$77,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,290 – $93,10050
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$76,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,570 – $160,850730
35Industrial Machinery Mechanics$76,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,690 – $126,610430
36Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$76,870
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,670 – $91,550240
37First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$76,530
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,360 – $105,960920
38Public Safety Telecommunicators$76,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,700 – $76,34050
39Surgical Technologists$75,970
Postsecondary nondegree award
$66,330 – $110,75050
40First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$75,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,000 – $140,990650
41Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators$73,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,230 – $74,88030
42Mechanical Drafters$73,680
Associate's degree
$52,000 – $104,85080
43Chemical Technicians$73,380
Associate's degree
$47,290 – $100,50060
44Carpenters$73,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,950 – $118,510950
45Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service Technicians$72,440
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,960 – $92,28070
46Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$72,190
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,070 – $99,260240
47Real Estate Sales Agents$72,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,810 – $114,160100
48Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$71,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,660 – $131,220400
49Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$71,540
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,350 – $103,37070
50First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors$71,270
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,050 – $102,440340

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

#	Occupation	MedianBellingham, WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$137,720	$99,360 – $150,060	130
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,730	$113,760 – $166,260	90
3	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$124,850	$106,770 – $149,680	150
4	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$122,840	$106,250 – $177,650	260
5	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$120,380	$86,340 – $164,760	30
6	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$119,970	$109,330 – $123,490	70
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$110,240	$106,780 – $132,290	60
8	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,830	$73,850 – $156,860	730
9	Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and GaugersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,640	$82,410 – $112,950	380
10	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,280	$75,200 – $167,170	60
11	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,750	$49,620 – $144,540	540
12	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,810	$84,830 – $118,810	310
13	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,130	$61,690 – $117,990	320
14	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,590	$57,530 – $127,180	560
15	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,400	$62,470 – $138,990	340
16	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,610	$70,720 – $134,980	30
17	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,400	$63,050 – $114,700	60
18	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,340	$73,530 – $116,170	110
19	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$91,510	$61,450 – $127,010	400
20	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,840	$49,750 – $128,970	100
21	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,120	$49,070 – $114,850	50
22	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,790	$60,950 – $115,630	140
23	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,050	$53,820 – $165,350	110
24	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,030	$62,270 – $93,960	120
25	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$81,790	$58,160 – $102,750	60
26	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,430	$64,150 – $101,300	80
27	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,120	$44,500 – $106,290	40
28	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,740	$63,690 – $96,420	220
29	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,420	$48,800 – $119,600	30
30	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,330	$58,210 – $95,920	220
31	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,960	$52,700 – $101,520	100
32	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$77,910	$50,270 – $133,860	130
33	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,310	$64,290 – $93,100	50
34	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,970	$49,570 – $160,850	730
35	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,960	$45,690 – $126,610	430
36	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,870	$59,670 – $91,550	240
37	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,530	$52,360 – $105,960	920
38	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,340	$63,700 – $76,340	50
39	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,970	$66,330 – $110,750	50
40	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,200	$52,000 – $140,990	650
41	Fiberglass Laminators and FabricatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,920	$45,230 – $74,880	30
42	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$73,680	$52,000 – $104,850	80
43	Chemical TechniciansAssociate's degree	$73,380	$47,290 – $100,500	60
44	CarpentersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,260	$50,950 – $118,510	950
45	Farm Equipment Mechanics and Service TechniciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,440	$48,960 – $92,280	70
46	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,190	$48,070 – $99,260	240
47	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,010	$47,810 – $114,160	100
48	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,900	$39,660 – $131,220	400
49	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,540	$46,350 – $103,370	70
50	First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling SupervisorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,270	$48,050 – $102,440	340

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Bellingham, WA. 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.

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Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Bellingham, WA that need no degree

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