High paying jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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 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

1Air Traffic Controllers$174,870
Associate's degree
$47,760 – $225,6801,800
2Legal Support Workers, All Other$169,690
Associate's degree
$76,140 – $195,1906,430
3Detectives and Criminal Investigators$156,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$90,310 – $195,1904,830
4Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$129,050
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,840 – $205,6402,570
5First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$125,960
High school diploma or equivalent
$89,770 – $195,1905,050
6Artists and Related Workers, All Other$125,050
No formal educational credential
$84,590 – $152,7301,410
7Dental Hygienists$119,170
Associate's degree
$94,290 – $132,0002,200
8First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$118,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$75,260 – $147,9602,420
9Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$107,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,060 – $170,9801,030
10Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$105,290
Associate's degree
$87,820 – $131,5001,550
11Respiratory Therapists$101,990
Associate's degree
$79,410 – $127,4001,850
12First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$101,410
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,260 – $184,4405,140
13Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$99,540
Associate's degree
$43,910 – $140,6701,660
14Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$97,390
Associate's degree
$70,820 – $124,2003,170
15Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$95,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,510 – $103,2302,860
16Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$95,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,000 – $124,6301,530
17Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$93,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,060 – $131,0701,440
18Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$93,030
Associate's degree
$48,670 – $136,7901,390
19Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$92,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,790 – $173,8207,370
20Computer Network Support Specialists$92,400
Associate's degree
$61,190 – $147,5905,100
21Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$90,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,960 – $121,33012,960
22First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$86,370
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,810 – $127,6209,670
23Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$84,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,960 – $125,0502,600
24Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,090
Associate's degree
$60,200 – $125,6402,590
25Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$84,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,530 – $119,24014,630
26First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$83,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,720 – $129,26014,660
27Paralegals and Legal Assistants$81,590
Associate's degree
$57,160 – $126,02012,990
28Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$80,600
Associate's degree
$47,840 – $134,7502,110
29Construction and Building Inspectors$80,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,460 – $116,5104,060
30Food Service Managers$79,290
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,990 – $129,5703,300
31Physical Therapist Assistants$78,790
Associate's degree
$50,910 – $103,5401,340
32Surgical Technologists$78,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,240 – $102,4201,430
33Real Estate Sales Agents$78,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,030 – $123,7703,250
34Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$78,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,930 – $173,47029,300
35First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$77,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,830 – $124,3904,290
36Computer User Support Specialists$77,860
Some college, no degree
$50,390 – $120,19018,510
37Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$77,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,920 – $121,2102,970
38First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$76,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,310 – $120,53023,390
39Architectural and Civil Drafters$76,020
Associate's degree
$55,730 – $116,0001,610
40Electricians$75,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,690 – $121,57016,580
41Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,880 – $87,4707,170
42Chefs and Head Cooks$74,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,110 – $102,8704,680
43Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,640 – $157,0507,740
44Industrial Machinery Mechanics$74,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,450 – $97,2502,060
45Audio and Video Technicians$74,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,950 – $120,6902,210
46Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$73,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,240 – $101,2601,630
47First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$73,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,010 – $104,2502,400
48Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$72,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,200 – $97,0602,910
49Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$71,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,920 – $105,1808,730
50Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$71,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $114,4009,420

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	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$174,870	$47,760 – $225,680	1,800
2	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$169,690	$76,140 – $195,190	6,430
3	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$156,750	$90,310 – $195,190	4,830
4	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$129,050	$80,840 – $205,640	2,570
5	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$125,960	$89,770 – $195,190	5,050
6	Artists and Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$125,050	$84,590 – $152,730	1,410
7	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$119,170	$94,290 – $132,000	2,200
8	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$118,570	$75,260 – $147,960	2,420
9	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$107,650	$43,060 – $170,980	1,030
10	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$105,290	$87,820 – $131,500	1,550
11	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$101,990	$79,410 – $127,400	1,850
12	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,410	$56,260 – $184,440	5,140
13	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$99,540	$43,910 – $140,670	1,660
14	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,390	$70,820 – $124,200	3,170
15	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,560	$50,510 – $103,230	2,860
16	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,480	$59,000 – $124,630	1,530
17	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$93,910	$61,060 – $131,070	1,440
18	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$93,030	$48,670 – $136,790	1,390
19	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,750	$59,790 – $173,820	7,370
20	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$92,400	$61,190 – $147,590	5,100
21	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$90,320	$60,960 – $121,330	12,960
22	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$86,370	$59,810 – $127,620	9,670
23	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,590	$55,960 – $125,050	2,600
24	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,090	$60,200 – $125,640	2,590
25	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,000	$63,530 – $119,240	14,630
26	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,540	$60,720 – $129,260	14,660
27	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$81,590	$57,160 – $126,020	12,990
28	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$80,600	$47,840 – $134,750	2,110
29	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,150	$58,460 – $116,510	4,060
30	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,290	$57,990 – $129,570	3,300
31	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,790	$50,910 – $103,540	1,340
32	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,750	$46,240 – $102,420	1,430
33	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,160	$38,030 – $123,770	3,250
34	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,110	$40,930 – $173,470	29,300
35	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,990	$47,830 – $124,390	4,290
36	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$77,860	$50,390 – $120,190	18,510
37	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,220	$52,920 – $121,210	2,970
38	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$76,400	$50,310 – $120,530	23,390
39	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,020	$55,730 – $116,000	1,610
40	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,930	$44,690 – $121,570	16,580
41	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,860	$61,880 – $87,470	7,170
42	Chefs and Head CooksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,900	$43,110 – $102,870	4,680
43	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,730	$43,640 – $157,050	7,740
44	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,720	$51,450 – $97,250	2,060
45	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,380	$45,950 – $120,690	2,210
46	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,600	$50,240 – $101,260	1,630
47	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,490	$46,010 – $104,250	2,400
48	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,580	$51,200 – $97,060	2,910
49	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,920	$46,920 – $105,180	8,730
50	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,860	$47,480 – $114,400	9,420

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 jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV that need no degree

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