High paying jobs in District of Columbia that need no degree

These occupations pay well in District of Columbia 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 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

1Detectives and Criminal Investigators$160,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$94,220 – $195,1902,980
2Dental Hygienists$137,220
Associate's degree
$86,120 – $155,840320
3First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$134,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$98,690 – $195,1901,230
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$132,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,910 – $195,190610
5First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$126,560
Postsecondary nondegree award
$112,460 – $147,960380
6Real Estate Sales Agents$123,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,450 – $129,760590
7Printing Press Operators$116,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,840 – $138,590350
8Respiratory Therapists$111,950
Associate's degree
$77,240 – $127,400430
9Photographers$110,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,080 – $148,360260
10Broadcast Technicians$108,270
Associate's degree
$45,220 – $133,880290
11Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$102,770
Associate's degree
$59,130 – $128,120660
12Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$101,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,240 – $144,680360
13Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$101,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,310 – $117,1801,010
14Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$99,380
Associate's degree
$49,520 – $157,420280
15Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$99,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,680 – $123,0601,940
16Architectural and Civil Drafters$97,880
Associate's degree
$67,850 – $120,190370
17Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$97,620
Associate's degree
$68,230 – $140,670240
18Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$97,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,330 – $99,120500
19Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$94,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,570 – $160,3302,040
20Computer Network Support Specialists$91,370
Associate's degree
$67,700 – $151,420450
21Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$90,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,890 – $121,0004,560
22Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators$90,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,710 – $108,600620
23Paralegals and Legal Assistants$89,750
Associate's degree
$59,770 – $131,6506,400
24Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$88,650
High school diploma or equivalent
$66,420 – $119,6604,720
25Legal Support Workers, All Other$88,480
Associate's degree
$63,290 – $173,9201,770
26First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$88,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,480 – $176,020580
27First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$86,520
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,310 – $127,9201,420
28Construction and Building Inspectors$86,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,120 – $131,810370
29Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$84,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$49,940 – $108,240400
30First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$83,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,050 – $105,230710
31First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$83,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,040 – $126,6901,260
32Food Service Managers$81,680
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,000 – $134,6301,000
33Computer User Support Specialists$80,950
Some college, no degree
$59,980 – $120,8403,140
34First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$80,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,670 – $139,690350
35Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$80,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,500 – $157,920560
36First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$79,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,060 – $131,4004,080
37Electricians$78,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,950 – $125,7902,440
38Audio and Video Technicians$78,770
Postsecondary nondegree award
$39,150 – $124,130830
39Surgical Technologists$77,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$37,800 – $101,180340
40Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$76,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,590 – $192,2703,120
41Chefs and Head Cooks$76,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,570 – $104,6602,020
42Firefighters$75,870
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,050 – $99,7601,480
43Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,880 – $87,4701,040
44Lodging Managers$75,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,300 – $135,720260
45Advertising Sales Agents$75,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,990 – $176,270320
46Payroll and Timekeeping Clerks$74,670
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,270 – $98,760270
47Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$74,610
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,540 – $98,270620
48Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$74,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,440 – $91,730640
49Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$73,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $100,850400
50Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$73,130
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,710 – $131,140300

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	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$160,760	$94,220 – $195,190	2,980
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$137,220	$86,120 – $155,840	320
3	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,760	$98,690 – $195,190	1,230
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$132,180	$79,910 – $195,190	610
5	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$126,560	$112,460 – $147,960	380
6	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,770	$38,450 – $129,760	590
7	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$116,630	$48,840 – $138,590	350
8	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$111,950	$77,240 – $127,400	430
9	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,970	$46,080 – $148,360	260
10	Broadcast TechniciansAssociate's degree	$108,270	$45,220 – $133,880	290
11	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,770	$59,130 – $128,120	660
12	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,150	$70,240 – $144,680	360
13	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,020	$52,310 – $117,180	1,010
14	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$99,380	$49,520 – $157,420	280
15	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,280	$60,680 – $123,060	1,940
16	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$97,880	$67,850 – $120,190	370
17	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,620	$68,230 – $140,670	240
18	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$97,600	$47,330 – $99,120	500
19	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,080	$62,570 – $160,330	2,040
20	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$91,370	$67,700 – $151,420	450
21	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,850	$64,890 – $121,000	4,560
22	Stationary Engineers and Boiler OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,470	$62,710 – $108,600	620
23	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$89,750	$59,770 – $131,650	6,400
24	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,650	$66,420 – $119,660	4,720
25	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$88,480	$63,290 – $173,920	1,770
26	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$88,420	$64,480 – $176,020	580
27	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,520	$64,310 – $127,920	1,420
28	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,200	$68,120 – $131,810	370
29	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$84,390	$49,940 – $108,240	400
30	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,710	$52,050 – $105,230	710
31	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,460	$65,040 – $126,690	1,260
32	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,680	$74,000 – $134,630	1,000
33	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$80,950	$59,980 – $120,840	3,140
34	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,030	$52,670 – $139,690	350
35	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,010	$46,500 – $157,920	560
36	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,200	$55,060 – $131,400	4,080
37	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,970	$51,950 – $125,790	2,440
38	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,770	$39,150 – $124,130	830
39	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$77,520	$37,800 – $101,180	340
40	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,770	$44,590 – $192,270	3,120
41	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,420	$56,570 – $104,660	2,020
42	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,870	$61,050 – $99,760	1,480
43	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,740	$62,880 – $87,470	1,040
44	Lodging ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,610	$62,300 – $135,720	260
45	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,030	$58,990 – $176,270	320
46	Payroll and Timekeeping ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,670	$49,270 – $98,760	270
47	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,610	$50,540 – $98,270	620
48	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,080	$58,440 – $91,730	640
49	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,590	$46,560 – $100,850	400
50	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$73,130	$51,710 – $131,140	300

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 jobs in District of Columbia that need no degree

More for District of Columbia

Metro areas in District of Columbia

By field in District of Columbia

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree