High paying jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA run 11.1% above the national average (2024), so a Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA salary is worth about 0.90× 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

OccupationMedian, Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA · Employed

1First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$158,510
High school diploma or equivalent
$130,480 – $195,2201,330
2Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$146,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$85,220 – $213,9101,690
3First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$134,830
Postsecondary nondegree award
$104,260 – $161,9601,680
4Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$134,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,570 – $151,8201,010
5Dental Hygienists$133,740
Associate's degree
$127,620 – $162,8503,500
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$129,960
Associate's degree
$60,930 – $162,0301,190
7Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$125,160
Associate's degree
$108,200 – $125,1601,570
8Detectives and Criminal Investigators$123,820
High school diploma or equivalent
$88,790 – $177,650740
9Paramedics$123,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,530 – $144,230750
10First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$121,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$77,980 – $170,81011,040
11Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$117,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,800 – $172,8402,110
12Tool and Die Makers$116,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,730 – $116,8501,090
13Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$115,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$94,290 – $136,1104,520
14Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$110,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,110 – $110,4704,010
15Sheet Metal Workers$109,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,330 – $149,2602,190
16Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$109,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,870 – $116,6701,960
17Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$109,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,000 – $122,440910
18Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$109,080
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,850 – $153,3901,140
19Advertising Sales Agents$105,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,000 – $205,1502,770
20Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$105,200
Associate's degree
$80,110 – $134,2202,130
21Computer Network Support Specialists$104,610
Associate's degree
$61,660 – $191,2702,320
22Respiratory Therapists$104,220
Associate's degree
$78,450 – $128,6101,130
23Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$103,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,520 – $119,0403,950
24Construction and Building Inspectors$102,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,320 – $120,9701,640
25Electricians$101,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,690 – $151,2909,750
26Firefighters$101,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$73,360 – $124,0003,760
27Avionics Technicians$100,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$70,740 – $116,9202,880
28First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$100,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,640 – $199,0203,130
29Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$99,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,540 – $119,000830
30Food Service Managers$98,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,550 – $138,780760
31Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$98,180
Associate's degree
$60,920 – $127,0201,570
32Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$95,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,830 – $128,4204,860
33Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$95,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,930 – $153,5006,350
34Mechanical Drafters$94,470
Associate's degree
$59,670 – $137,6901,020
35Massage Therapists$94,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,850 – $128,5002,230
36First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$93,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$65,240 – $155,0907,820
37Paralegals and Legal Assistants$92,900
Associate's degree
$59,320 – $119,8206,310
38Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$90,620
Associate's degree
$55,850 – $136,250660
39Legal Support Workers, All Other$87,110
Associate's degree
$56,090 – $156,860700
40Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$85,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$70,380 – $103,3103,470
41Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,660
Associate's degree
$60,410 – $118,630860
42Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$83,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,750 – $93,1804,430
43Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$83,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,990 – $125,8403,840
44Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$82,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,280 – $158,99012,450
45Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$82,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,410 – $115,5503,740
46Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$82,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,460 – $149,00016,510
47Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$81,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,270 – $81,85013,160
48First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$81,640
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,310 – $126,04018,020
49Correctional Officers and Jailers$81,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,600 – $100,9602,170
50Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$81,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,850 – $116,7901,930

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

#	Occupation	MedianSeattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$158,510	$130,480 – $195,220	1,330
2	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$146,080	$85,220 – $213,910	1,690
3	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$134,830	$104,260 – $161,960	1,680
4	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,150	$74,570 – $151,820	1,010
5	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$133,740	$127,620 – $162,850	3,500
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$129,960	$60,930 – $162,030	1,190
7	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$125,160	$108,200 – $125,160	1,570
8	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,820	$88,790 – $177,650	740
9	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$123,310	$77,530 – $144,230	750
10	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$121,130	$77,980 – $170,810	11,040
11	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$117,990	$67,800 – $172,840	2,110
12	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$116,850	$77,730 – $116,850	1,090
13	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,120	$94,290 – $136,110	4,520
14	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,470	$63,110 – $110,470	4,010
15	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,830	$61,330 – $149,260	2,190
16	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,600	$67,870 – $116,670	1,960
17	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$109,570	$80,000 – $122,440	910
18	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$109,080	$58,850 – $153,390	1,140
19	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,320	$61,000 – $205,150	2,770
20	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$105,200	$80,110 – $134,220	2,130
21	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$104,610	$61,660 – $191,270	2,320
22	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,220	$78,450 – $128,610	1,130
23	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$103,900	$59,520 – $119,040	3,950
24	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,830	$65,320 – $120,970	1,640
25	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,780	$55,690 – $151,290	9,750
26	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,090	$73,360 – $124,000	3,760
27	Avionics TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,200	$70,740 – $116,920	2,880
28	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$100,060	$62,640 – $199,020	3,130
29	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,010	$62,540 – $119,000	830
30	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,800	$74,550 – $138,780	760
31	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,180	$60,920 – $127,020	1,570
32	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,750	$59,830 – $128,420	4,860
33	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,230	$51,930 – $153,500	6,350
34	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$94,470	$59,670 – $137,690	1,020
35	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,220	$65,850 – $128,500	2,230
36	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$93,230	$65,240 – $155,090	7,820
37	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$92,900	$59,320 – $119,820	6,310
38	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$90,620	$55,850 – $136,250	660
39	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$87,110	$56,090 – $156,860	700
40	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,690	$70,380 – $103,310	3,470
41	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,660	$60,410 – $118,630	860
42	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,430	$59,750 – $93,180	4,430
43	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,200	$51,990 – $125,840	3,840
44	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,540	$48,280 – $158,990	12,450
45	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,330	$61,410 – $115,550	3,740
46	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,260	$53,460 – $149,000	16,510
47	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,850	$59,270 – $81,850	13,160
48	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,640	$60,310 – $126,040	18,020
49	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,550	$70,600 – $100,960	2,170
50	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,090	$59,850 – $116,790	1,930

Ranked among the occupations common enough to employ roughly one in every three thousand workers in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA to rank honestly.

High paying jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA that need no degree

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