High paying jobs in Washington that need no degree

These occupations pay well in Washington 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 run 7.0% above the national average (2024), so a Washington salary is worth about 0.93× 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 Washington.

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

Find high paying jobs in Washington

OccupationMedian, Washington · Employed

1Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$136,500
High school diploma or equivalent
$84,870 – $202,0702,490
2First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$136,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$105,710 – $180,7702,750
3Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$133,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,640 – $147,8102,340
4Dental Hygienists$131,160
Associate's degree
$107,090 – $162,0506,330
5First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$129,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$79,440 – $160,6303,350
6Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$125,160
Associate's degree
$108,200 – $125,1601,590
7Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$121,340
Associate's degree
$61,840 – $156,8602,190
8Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$119,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,370 – $172,0502,950
9Detectives and Criminal Investigators$115,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$84,500 – $162,8601,850
10Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$110,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,110 – $110,4704,280
11First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$109,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,410 – $167,12019,550
12Tool and Die Makers$109,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,560 – $116,8501,510
13Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$107,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,590 – $116,6702,270
14Paramedics$104,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,010 – $133,0402,110
15Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels$103,730
Postsecondary nondegree award
$57,350 – $153,3301,560
16Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$102,090
Associate's degree
$66,570 – $132,0604,130
17Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$102,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$79,120 – $132,2009,160
18Computer Network Support Specialists$101,750
Associate's degree
$62,600 – $171,3003,300
19Advertising Sales Agents$101,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,510 – $183,7003,510
20Respiratory Therapists$101,130
Associate's degree
$76,080 – $127,5201,860
21Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$99,720
Associate's degree
$60,450 – $129,4802,310
22Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$99,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$68,910 – $122,4401,660
23Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$98,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,450 – $117,7404,480
24First-Line Supervisors of Correctional Officers$98,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$82,560 – $124,5301,400
25Sheet Metal Workers$98,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,650 – $149,2603,440
26Construction and Building Inspectors$96,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,840 – $121,7003,090
27Electricians$95,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,170 – $133,95019,380
28Food Service Managers$95,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,240 – $138,2101,180
29First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$95,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,920 – $183,7704,830
30Firefighters$94,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,640 – $123,9807,560
31First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers$94,420
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,560 – $144,79014,680
32Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$93,930
Associate's degree
$59,440 – $127,0202,540
33Avionics Technicians$91,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$67,540 – $116,9203,400
34Massage Therapists$87,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,850 – $115,8003,740
35Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$83,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$64,230 – $100,9506,780
36Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$81,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,200 – $125,49010,290
37Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$81,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,490 – $141,86012,470
38Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$80,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,720 – $106,2702,030
39Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$80,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,080 – $122,8406,180
40Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$79,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,840 – $149,99018,950
41Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$79,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,260 – $148,61027,340
42Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$79,580
Associate's degree
$54,000 – $102,9702,090
43First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers$79,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,900 – $120,71031,790
44Correctional Officers and Jailers$79,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,460 – $95,4306,800
45Paralegals and Legal Assistants$79,400
Associate's degree
$50,470 – $116,7509,460
46Skincare Specialists$79,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,620 – $119,0402,200
47First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers$79,310
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,020 – $122,83014,500
48Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistants$79,250
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,810 – $106,72011,560
49Real Estate Sales Agents$79,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,680 – $114,0905,150
50Tapers$79,040
No formal educational credential
$50,650 – $103,8801,550

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

#	Occupation	MedianWashington	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Employed
1	Transportation, Storage, and Distribution ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$136,500	$84,870 – $202,070	2,490
2	First-Line Supervisors of Police and DetectivesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$136,280	$105,710 – $180,770	2,750
3	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$133,060	$80,640 – $147,810	2,340
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$131,160	$107,090 – $162,050	6,330
5	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$129,350	$79,440 – $160,630	3,350
6	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$125,160	$108,200 – $125,160	1,590
7	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$121,340	$61,840 – $156,860	2,190
8	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$119,320	$73,370 – $172,050	2,950
9	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,790	$84,500 – $162,860	1,850
10	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,470	$63,110 – $110,470	4,280
11	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,570	$73,410 – $167,120	19,550
12	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$109,390	$58,560 – $116,850	1,510
13	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,920	$54,590 – $116,670	2,270
14	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$104,310	$61,010 – $133,040	2,110
15	Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water VesselsPostsecondary nondegree award	$103,730	$57,350 – $153,330	1,560
16	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$102,090	$66,570 – $132,060	4,130
17	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$102,080	$79,120 – $132,200	9,160
18	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$101,750	$62,600 – $171,300	3,300
19	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,320	$52,510 – $183,700	3,510
20	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$101,130	$76,080 – $127,520	1,860
21	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$99,720	$60,450 – $129,480	2,310
22	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$99,200	$68,910 – $122,440	1,660
23	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$98,980	$58,450 – $117,740	4,480
24	First-Line Supervisors of Correctional OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,910	$82,560 – $124,530	1,400
25	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,550	$57,650 – $149,260	3,440
26	Construction and Building InspectorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$96,140	$63,840 – $121,700	3,090
27	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,220	$52,170 – $133,950	19,380
28	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,190	$68,240 – $138,210	1,180
29	First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,150	$57,920 – $183,770	4,830
30	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,520	$47,640 – $123,980	7,560
31	First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$94,420	$64,560 – $144,790	14,680
32	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$93,930	$59,440 – $127,020	2,540
33	Avionics TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$91,380	$67,540 – $116,920	3,400
34	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,360	$61,850 – $115,800	3,740
35	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$83,150	$64,230 – $100,950	6,780
36	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,700	$57,200 – $125,490	10,290
37	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,030	$49,490 – $141,860	12,470
38	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,800	$57,720 – $106,270	2,030
39	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,700	$50,080 – $122,840	6,180
40	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,920	$45,840 – $149,990	18,950
41	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,830	$51,260 – $148,610	27,340
42	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$79,580	$54,000 – $102,970	2,090
43	First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,480	$56,900 – $120,710	31,790
44	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,460	$64,460 – $95,430	6,800
45	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$79,400	$50,470 – $116,750	9,460
46	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,320	$48,620 – $119,040	2,200
47	First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,310	$55,020 – $122,830	14,500
48	Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,250	$59,810 – $106,720	11,560
49	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,130	$48,680 – $114,090	5,150
50	TapersNo formal educational credential	$79,040	$50,650 – $103,880	1,550

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

Metro areas in Washington

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

By field in Washington

Without a degree

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

High paying jobs in Washington that need no degree

More for Washington

Metro areas in Washington

By field in Washington

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no degree