Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Washington

Each occupation's median wage in Washington compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Washington pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$107,920
High school diploma or equivalent
$54,590 – $116,670+112.9%
2Skincare Specialists$79,320
Postsecondary nondegree award
$48,620 – $119,040+75.0%
3Paramedics$104,310
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,010 – $133,040+72.1%
4Gambling Dealers$58,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,700 – $132,370+71.0%
5Tool and Die Makers$109,390
Postsecondary nondegree award
$58,560 – $116,850+70.8%
6Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers$119,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,370 – $172,050+70.5%
7Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers$110,470
High school diploma or equivalent
$63,110 – $110,470+69.0%
8Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$59,510
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,830 – $99,970+66.3%
9Bartenders$55,830
No formal educational credential
$39,380 – $90,130+62.6%
10Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$102,350
Bachelor's degree
$64,610 – $127,570+60.0%
11Barbers$61,150
Postsecondary nondegree award
$52,540 – $76,480+60.0%
12Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special Education$99,960
Bachelor's degree
$65,400 – $125,990+59.5%
13Sheet Metal Workers$98,550
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,650 – $149,260+59.5%
14Firefighters$94,520
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,640 – $123,980+59.4%
15Waiters and Waitresses$56,130
No formal educational credential
$36,710 – $94,930+59.3%
16Chief Executives$339,810
Bachelor's degree
$160,110 – $607,100+58.8%
17Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,140
Bachelor's degree
$65,250 – $128,170+58.7%
18Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$166,590
Master's degree
$111,830 – $205,500+57.4%
19Advertising Sales Agents$101,320
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,510 – $183,700+56.3%
20Sales and Related Workers, All Other$75,100
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,130 – $114,590+55.6%
21Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$101,180
Bachelor's degree
$69,270 – $127,890+52.7%
22Logging Equipment Operators$75,140
High school diploma or equivalent
$61,300 – $83,750+51.1%
23Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and Technicians$125,160
Associate's degree
$108,200 – $125,160+51.0%
24Electricians$95,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,170 – $133,950+50.7%
25Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors$74,620
No formal educational credential
$54,070 – $88,990+50.2%
26Real Estate Sales Agents$79,130
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,680 – $114,090+49.8%
27Massage Therapists$87,360
Postsecondary nondegree award
$61,850 – $115,800+49.5%
28Special Education Teachers, Middle School$99,520
Bachelor's degree
$67,650 – $127,390+49.0%
29Public Safety Telecommunicators$78,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$56,920 – $96,130+48.7%
30Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$100,030
Master's degree
$64,440 – $129,690+46.5%
31Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$95,040
Bachelor's degree
$65,950 – $126,570+45.9%
32Computer and Information Research Scientists$202,400
Master's degree
$95,890 – $281,050+44.3%
33Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$102,670
Bachelor's degree
$62,950 – $128,410+42.5%
34Tour and Travel Guides$54,160
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,540 – $76,790+42.1%
35Web Developers$130,440
Bachelor's degree
$70,520 – $172,060+40.8%
36Library Technicians$62,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$50,310 – $76,860+40.4%
37Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers$133,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$80,640 – $147,810+39.6%
38Manicurists and Pedicurists$49,900
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,660 – $63,430+39.5%
39First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers$129,350
Postsecondary nondegree award
$79,440 – $160,630+38.3%
40Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and Wall$67,750
No formal educational credential
$45,380 – $132,770+37.9%
41Food Service Managers$95,190
High school diploma or equivalent
$68,240 – $138,210+37.2%
42First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$109,570
High school diploma or equivalent
$73,410 – $167,120+37.1%
43Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators$81,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,200 – $125,490+36.5%
44Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$101,120
Bachelor's degree
$67,880 – $128,090+36.2%
45Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers$77,520
No formal educational credential
$49,710 – $125,720+36.0%
46Data Scientists$163,350
Bachelor's degree
$79,930 – $220,040+35.9%
47Construction Managers$155,070
Bachelor's degree
$105,770 – $217,920+34.9%
48Correctional Officers and Jailers$79,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$64,460 – $95,430+34.8%
49First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$59,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$44,110 – $81,820+34.8%
50Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$80,800
High school diploma or equivalent
$57,720 – $106,270+34.6%

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	vs. national
1	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$107,920	$54,590 – $116,670	+112.9%
2	Skincare SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$79,320	$48,620 – $119,040	+75.0%
3	ParamedicsPostsecondary nondegree award	$104,310	$61,010 – $133,040	+72.1%
4	Gambling DealersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,700	$34,700 – $132,370	+71.0%
5	Tool and Die MakersPostsecondary nondegree award	$109,390	$58,560 – $116,850	+70.8%
6	Property, Real Estate, and Community Association ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$119,320	$73,370 – $172,050	+70.5%
7	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems AssemblersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,470	$63,110 – $110,470	+69.0%
8	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$59,510	$36,830 – $99,970	+66.3%
9	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$55,830	$39,380 – $90,130	+62.6%
10	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$102,350	$64,610 – $127,570	+60.0%
11	BarbersPostsecondary nondegree award	$61,150	$52,540 – $76,480	+60.0%
12	Kindergarten Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$99,960	$65,400 – $125,990	+59.5%
13	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$98,550	$57,650 – $149,260	+59.5%
14	FirefightersPostsecondary nondegree award	$94,520	$47,640 – $123,980	+59.4%
15	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$56,130	$36,710 – $94,930	+59.3%
16	Chief ExecutivesBachelor's degree	$339,810	$160,110 – $607,100	+58.8%
17	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$102,140	$65,250 – $128,170	+58.7%
18	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$166,590	$111,830 – $205,500	+57.4%
19	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,320	$52,510 – $183,700	+56.3%
20	Sales and Related Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,100	$48,130 – $114,590	+55.6%
21	Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$101,180	$69,270 – $127,890	+52.7%
22	Logging Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,140	$61,300 – $83,750	+51.1%
23	Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$125,160	$108,200 – $125,160	+51.0%
24	ElectriciansHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,220	$52,170 – $133,950	+50.7%
25	Refuse and Recyclable Material CollectorsNo formal educational credential	$74,620	$54,070 – $88,990	+50.2%
26	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,130	$48,680 – $114,090	+49.8%
27	Massage TherapistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$87,360	$61,850 – $115,800	+49.5%
28	Special Education Teachers, Middle SchoolBachelor's degree	$99,520	$67,650 – $127,390	+49.0%
29	Public Safety TelecommunicatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,850	$56,920 – $96,130	+48.7%
30	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$100,030	$64,440 – $129,690	+46.5%
31	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$95,040	$65,950 – $126,570	+45.9%
32	Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree	$202,400	$95,890 – $281,050	+44.3%
33	Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$102,670	$62,950 – $128,410	+42.5%
34	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,160	$37,540 – $76,790	+42.1%
35	Web DevelopersBachelor's degree	$130,440	$70,520 – $172,060	+40.8%
36	Library TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,570	$50,310 – $76,860	+40.4%
37	Electrical Power-Line Installers and RepairersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$133,060	$80,640 – $147,810	+39.6%
38	Manicurists and PedicuristsPostsecondary nondegree award	$49,900	$38,660 – $63,430	+39.5%
39	First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention WorkersPostsecondary nondegree award	$129,350	$79,440 – $160,630	+38.3%
40	Insulation Workers, Floor, Ceiling, and WallNo formal educational credential	$67,750	$45,380 – $132,770	+37.9%
41	Food Service ManagersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$95,190	$68,240 – $138,210	+37.2%
42	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$109,570	$73,410 – $167,120	+37.1%
43	Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$81,700	$57,200 – $125,490	+36.5%
44	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$101,120	$67,880 – $128,090	+36.2%
45	Cement Masons and Concrete FinishersNo formal educational credential	$77,520	$49,710 – $125,720	+36.0%
46	Data ScientistsBachelor's degree	$163,350	$79,930 – $220,040	+35.9%
47	Construction ManagersBachelor's degree	$155,070	$105,770 – $217,920	+34.9%
48	Correctional Officers and JailersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$79,460	$64,460 – $95,430	+34.8%
49	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,400	$44,110 – $81,820	+34.8%
50	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,800	$57,720 – $106,270	+34.6%

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.

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Washington

More for Washington

Metro areas in Washington

By field in Washington

Without a degree

Jobs that pay the biggest premium in each state