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

Every occupation here pays well in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, 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 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
3Artists and Related Workers, All Other$125,050
No formal educational credential
$84,590 – $152,7301,410
4Dental Hygienists$119,170
Associate's degree
$94,290 – $132,0002,200
5Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other$107,650
Postsecondary nondegree award
$43,060 – $170,9801,030
6Diagnostic Medical Sonographers$105,290
Associate's degree
$87,820 – $131,5001,550
7Respiratory Therapists$101,990
Associate's degree
$79,410 – $127,4001,850
8Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other$99,540
Associate's degree
$43,910 – $140,6701,660
9Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$97,390
Associate's degree
$70,820 – $124,2003,170
10Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairers$95,560
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,510 – $103,2302,860
11Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$95,480
High school diploma or equivalent
$59,000 – $124,6301,530
12Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians$93,910
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,060 – $131,0701,440
13Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians$93,030
Associate's degree
$48,670 – $136,7901,390
14Computer Network Support Specialists$92,400
Associate's degree
$61,190 – $147,5905,100
15Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$84,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$55,960 – $125,0502,600
16Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technicians$84,090
Associate's degree
$60,200 – $125,6402,590
17Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers$84,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,530 – $119,24014,630
18Paralegals and Legal Assistants$81,590
Associate's degree
$57,160 – $126,02012,990
19Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$80,600
Associate's degree
$47,840 – $134,7502,110
20Physical Therapist Assistants$78,790
Associate's degree
$50,910 – $103,5401,340
21Surgical Technologists$78,750
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,240 – $102,4201,430
22Real Estate Sales Agents$78,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,030 – $123,7703,250
23Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel$78,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,930 – $173,47029,300
24Computer User Support Specialists$77,860
Some college, no degree
$50,390 – $120,19018,510
25Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$77,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,920 – $121,2102,970
26Architectural and Civil Drafters$76,020
Associate's degree
$55,730 – $116,0001,610
27Electricians$75,930
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,690 – $121,57016,580
28Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,860
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,880 – $87,4707,170
29Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products$74,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$43,640 – $157,0507,740
30Industrial Machinery Mechanics$74,720
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,450 – $97,2502,060
31Audio and Video Technicians$74,380
Postsecondary nondegree award
$45,950 – $120,6902,210
32Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$73,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,240 – $101,2601,630
33Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists$72,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,200 – $97,0602,910
34Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$71,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,920 – $105,1808,730
35Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$71,860
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,480 – $114,4009,420
36Advertising Sales Agents$71,620
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,250 – $159,3401,190
37Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines$71,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,810 – $93,5501,560
38Correctional Officers and Jailers$70,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,560 – $97,3403,200
39Transportation Security Screeners$69,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,230 – $76,9001,360
40Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$69,800
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,010 – $101,5102,720
41Structural Iron and Steel Workers$68,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,720 – $85,3701,060
42Firefighters$66,980
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,360 – $98,7707,610
43Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers$66,790
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,960 – $94,1601,610
44Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$66,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,760 – $94,1402,150
45Insurance Sales Agents$65,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$42,480 – $139,5404,030
46Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity$65,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$50,360 – $92,3204,070
47Massage Therapists$65,220
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,140 – $132,2501,540
48Postal Service Clerks$64,630
No formal educational credential
$53,290 – $76,3601,130
49Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$64,600
No formal educational credential
$36,140 – $72,2001,510
50Postal Service Mail Carriers$64,250
No formal educational credential
$43,120 – $81,0406,250

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	Artists and Related Workers, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$125,050	$84,590 – $152,730	1,410
4	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$119,170	$94,290 – $132,000	2,200
5	Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All OtherPostsecondary nondegree award	$107,650	$43,060 – $170,980	1,030
6	Diagnostic Medical SonographersAssociate's degree	$105,290	$87,820 – $131,500	1,550
7	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$101,990	$79,410 – $127,400	1,850
8	Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All OtherAssociate's degree	$99,540	$43,910 – $140,670	1,660
9	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$97,390	$70,820 – $124,200	3,170
10	Telecommunications Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,560	$50,510 – $103,230	2,860
11	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,480	$59,000 – $124,630	1,530
12	Aircraft Mechanics and Service TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$93,910	$61,060 – $131,070	1,440
13	Cardiovascular Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$93,030	$48,670 – $136,790	1,390
14	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$92,400	$61,190 – $147,590	5,100
15	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,590	$55,960 – $125,050	2,600
16	Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$84,090	$60,200 – $125,640	2,590
17	Police and Sheriff's Patrol OfficersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$84,000	$63,530 – $119,240	14,630
18	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$81,590	$57,160 – $126,020	12,990
19	Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherAssociate's degree	$80,600	$47,840 – $134,750	2,110
20	Physical Therapist AssistantsAssociate's degree	$78,790	$50,910 – $103,540	1,340
21	Surgical TechnologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$78,750	$46,240 – $102,420	1,430
22	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,160	$38,030 – $123,770	3,250
23	Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and TravelHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,110	$40,930 – $173,470	29,300
24	Computer User Support SpecialistsSome college, no degree	$77,860	$50,390 – $120,190	18,510
25	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$77,220	$52,920 – $121,210	2,970
26	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$76,020	$55,730 – $116,000	1,610
27	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,930	$44,690 – $121,570	16,580
28	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,860	$61,880 – $87,470	7,170
29	Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific ProductsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,730	$43,640 – $157,050	7,740
30	Industrial Machinery MechanicsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$74,720	$51,450 – $97,250	2,060
31	Audio and Video TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$74,380	$45,950 – $120,690	2,210
32	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,600	$50,240 – $101,260	1,630
33	Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine SpecialistsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,580	$51,200 – $97,060	2,910
34	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$71,920	$46,920 – $105,180	8,730
35	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,860	$47,480 – $114,400	9,420
36	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,620	$40,250 – $159,340	1,190
37	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except EnginesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$71,540	$49,810 – $93,550	1,560
38	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,570	$54,560 – $97,340	3,200
39	Transportation Security ScreenersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$69,910	$52,230 – $76,900	1,360
40	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$69,800	$48,010 – $101,510	2,720
41	Structural Iron and Steel WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,320	$50,720 – $85,370	1,060
42	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$66,980	$48,360 – $98,770	7,610
43	Security and Fire Alarm Systems InstallersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,790	$47,960 – $94,160	1,610
44	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,130	$49,760 – $94,140	2,150
45	Insurance Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,260	$42,480 – $139,540	4,030
46	Bus Drivers, Transit and IntercityHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,220	$50,360 – $92,320	4,070
47	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$65,220	$46,140 – $132,250	1,540
48	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$64,630	$53,290 – $76,360	1,130
49	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$64,600	$36,140 – $72,200	1,510
50	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$64,250	$43,120 – $81,040	6,250

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 experience

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By field in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Without a degree

High paying jobs in each state that need no experience