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

Every occupation here pays well in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA, requires no bachelor's degree, and requires no prior experience in a related job. That second filter is what separates this from the no-degree list, which is topped by supervisor roles asking five years in the trade before they will look at you. Several of these do involve months of training — but the employer provides it, and pays you during it, which is a feature rather than a barrier. 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

1Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$134,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$74,570 – $151,8201,010
2Dental Hygienists$133,740
Associate's degree
$127,620 – $162,8503,500
3Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$129,960
Associate's degree
$60,930 – $162,0301,190
4Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$125,160
Associate's degree
$108,200 – $125,1601,570
5Tool and Die Makers$116,850
Postsecondary nondegree award
$77,730 – $116,8501,090
6Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$115,120
High school diploma or equivalent
$94,290 – $136,1104,520
7Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$110,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,110 – $110,4704,010
8Sheet Metal Workers$109,830
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,330 – $149,2602,190
9Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$109,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$67,870 – $116,6701,960
10Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment$109,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$80,000 – $122,440910
11Advertising Sales Agents$105,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,000 – $205,1502,770
12Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$105,200
Associate's degree
$80,110 – $134,2202,130
13Computer Network Support Specialists$104,610
Associate's degree
$61,660 – $191,2702,320
14Respiratory Therapists$104,220
Associate's degree
$78,450 – $128,6101,130
15Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$103,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,520 – $119,0403,950
16Electricians$101,780
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,690 – $151,2909,750
17Firefighters$101,090
Postsecondary nondegree award
$73,360 – $124,0003,760
18Avionics Technicians$100,200
Postsecondary nondegree award
$70,740 – $116,9202,880
19Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$99,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,540 – $119,000830
20Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$98,180
Associate's degree
$60,920 – $127,0201,570
21Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$95,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,830 – $128,4204,860
22Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$95,230
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,930 – $153,5006,350
23Mechanical Drafters$94,470
Associate's degree
$59,670 – $137,6901,020
24Massage Therapists$94,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$65,850 – $128,5002,230
25Paralegals and Legal Assistants$92,900
Associate's degree
$59,320 – $119,8206,310
26Industrial Engineering Technologists and Technicians$90,620
Associate's degree
$55,850 – $136,250660
27Legal Support Workers, All Other$87,110
Associate's degree
$56,090 – $156,860700
28Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$85,690
Postsecondary nondegree award
$70,380 – $103,3103,470
29Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,660
Associate's degree
$60,410 – $118,630860
30Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$83,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,750 – $93,1804,430
31Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$83,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,990 – $125,8403,840
32Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$82,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,280 – $158,99012,450
33Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$82,330
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,410 – $115,5503,740
34Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$82,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,460 – $149,00016,510
35Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$81,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,270 – $81,85013,160
36Correctional Officers and Jailers$81,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,600 – $100,9602,170
37Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$81,090
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,850 – $116,7901,930
38Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$81,030
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,260 – $103,2401,750
39Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$80,860
No formal educational credential
$56,890 – $132,6302,140
40Skincare Specialists$80,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,800 – $139,1601,330
41Tapers$80,340
No formal educational credential
$52,730 – $104,0301,120
42Public Safety Telecommunicators$80,180
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,030 – $97,1301,040
43Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$80,100
Postsecondary nondegree award
$51,380 – $129,3903,940
44Real Estate Sales Agents$79,990
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,310 – $114,0903,790
45Industrial Machinery Mechanics$79,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,890 – $117,5504,600
46Surgical Technologists$79,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$59,260 – $104,7101,460
47Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$79,750
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,450 – $105,720860
48Computer User Support Specialists$78,330
Some college, no degree
$50,010 – $131,57015,030
49Court, Municipal, and License Clerks$77,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$62,800 – $83,3001,240
50Medical Equipment Repairers$77,020
Associate's degree
$48,250 – $110,480930

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	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$134,150	$74,570 – $151,820	1,010
2	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$133,740	$127,620 – $162,850	3,500
3	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$129,960	$60,930 – $162,030	1,190
4	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$125,160	$108,200 – $125,160	1,570
5	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$116,850	$77,730 – $116,850	1,090
6	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$115,120	$94,290 – $136,110	4,520
7	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,470	$63,110 – $110,470	4,010
8	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,830	$61,330 – $149,260	2,190
9	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,600	$67,870 – $116,670	1,960
10	Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial EquipmentPostsecondary nondegree award	$109,570	$80,000 – $122,440	910
11	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$105,320	$61,000 – $205,150	2,770
12	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$105,200	$80,110 – $134,220	2,130
13	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$104,610	$61,660 – $191,270	2,320
14	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$104,220	$78,450 – $128,610	1,130
15	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$103,900	$59,520 – $119,040	3,950
16	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,780	$55,690 – $151,290	9,750
17	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$101,090	$73,360 – $124,000	3,760
18	Avionics TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$100,200	$70,740 – $116,920	2,880
19	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,010	$62,540 – $119,000	830
20	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$98,180	$60,920 – $127,020	1,570
21	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,750	$59,830 – $128,420	4,860
22	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,230	$51,930 – $153,500	6,350
23	Mechanical DraftersAssociate's degree	$94,470	$59,670 – $137,690	1,020
24	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,220	$65,850 – $128,500	2,230
25	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$92,900	$59,320 – $119,820	6,310
26	Industrial Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$90,620	$55,850 – $136,250	660
27	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$87,110	$56,090 – $156,860	700
28	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$85,690	$70,380 – $103,310	3,470
29	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,660	$60,410 – $118,630	860
30	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,430	$59,750 – $93,180	4,430
31	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,200	$51,990 – $125,840	3,840
32	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,540	$48,280 – $158,990	12,450
33	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,330	$61,410 – $115,550	3,740
34	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$82,260	$53,460 – $149,000	16,510
35	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,850	$59,270 – $81,850	13,160
36	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,550	$70,600 – $100,960	2,170
37	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,090	$59,850 – $116,790	1,930
38	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$81,030	$58,260 – $103,240	1,750
39	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$80,860	$56,890 – $132,630	2,140
40	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,510	$51,800 – $139,160	1,330
41	TapersNo formal educational credential	$80,340	$52,730 – $104,030	1,120
42	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,180	$68,030 – $97,130	1,040
43	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$80,100	$51,380 – $129,390	3,940
44	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,990	$49,310 – $114,090	3,790
45	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,920	$55,890 – $117,550	4,600
46	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,900	$59,260 – $104,710	1,460
47	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,750	$49,450 – $105,720	860
48	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$78,330	$50,010 – $131,570	15,030
49	Court, Municipal, and License ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,860	$62,800 – $83,300	1,240
50	Medical Equipment RepairersAssociate's degree	$77,020	$48,250 – $110,480	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 experience

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