Highest-paying jobs in Washington, D.C. for high school graduates

For decades, common wisdom held that earning a bachelor's degree would guarantee a high-paying career. Higher education does still seem to be an advantage: A college graduate's average annual salary of $60,000 in 2024 is roughly $20,000 more than that of a high school graduate, and those with bachelor's degrees can typically expect to earn between $630,000 and $900,000 more over the course of a lifetime. However, recent shifts in higher education and the job market have people wondering—with good reason—whether or not a bachelor's degree will really pay off.

According to a 2024 study from the Pew Research Center, 29% of Americans believe obtaining a college degree isn't worthwhile, a trend reflected in shrinking attendance at universities across the nation. Meanwhile, annual college costs have skyrocketed to an average of $38,270 per student in 2025, often necessitating student loans with steep interest rates.

With these factors in mind, it's natural for recent high school graduates to consider vocational opportunities outside of college. Those who do may be pleasantly surprised—many companies have stopped requiring bachelor's degrees for entry-, mid-, and even senior-level positions. And while college graduates' average earnings may be higher, a 2024 report from Launchpad Jobs found that around 1 in 5 nondegree holders out-earn the $70,000 median wages of someone with a bachelor's degree.

Of course, salaries for high school grads vary widely based on job, industry, and location. Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Washington, D.C. for high school graduates. The analysis included jobs that listed a high school diploma or had no formal education requirement. Jobs are ranked by their median annual pay as of May 2024, so any jobs without annual compensation figures available were excluded from this analysis.

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1 / 50

#50. Hearing aid specialists

- Median annual wage: $72,590
- Median hourly wage: $34.90
- Total employment: 100 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

2 / 50

#49. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products

- Median annual wage: $72,690
- Median hourly wage: $34.95
- Total employment: 7,480 people (2.4 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

3 / 50

#48. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door

- Median annual wage: $72,940
- Median hourly wage: $35.07
- Total employment: 580 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

welcomia // Shutterstock

4 / 50

#47. Mobile heavy equipment mechanics, except engines

- Median annual wage: $72,970
- Median hourly wage: $35.08
- Total employment: 1,720 people (0.55 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BearFotos // Shutterstock

5 / 50

#46. First-line supervisors of protective service workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $73,330
- Median hourly wage: $35.26
- Total employment: 600 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kawin Ounprasertsuk // Shutterstock

6 / 50

#45. Locksmiths and safe repairers

- Median annual wage: $73,770
- Median hourly wage: $35.47
- Total employment: 390 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

BigPixel Photo // Shutterstock

7 / 50

#44. Machinists

- Median annual wage: $74,780
- Median hourly wage: $35.95
- Total employment: 950 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Joey Chung // Shutterstock

8 / 50

#43. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel

- Median annual wage: $74,800
- Median hourly wage: $35.96
- Total employment: 30,020 people (9.63 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

9 / 50

#42. Lodging managers

- Median annual wage: $75,080
- Median hourly wage: $36.10
- Total employment: 630 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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10 / 50

#41. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers

- Median annual wage: $75,280
- Median hourly wage: $36.19
- Total employment: 22,260 people (7.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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11 / 50

#40. Electricians

- Median annual wage: $75,460
- Median hourly wage: $36.28
- Total employment: 16,520 people (5.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

ImYanis // Shutterstock

12 / 50

#39. Credit authorizers, checkers, and clerks

- Median annual wage: $75,530
- Median hourly wage: $36.31
- Total employment: Not available

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13 / 50

#38. First-line supervisors of security workers

- Median annual wage: $76,380
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Total employment: 1,760 people (0.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

14 / 50

#37. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers

- Median annual wage: $76,750
- Median hourly wage: $36.90
- Total employment: 3,980 people (1.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Photostriker // Shutterstock

15 / 50

#36. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other

- Median annual wage: $77,020
- Median hourly wage: $37.03
- Total employment: 80 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

16 / 50

#35. Chemical plant and system operators

- Median annual wage: $77,030
- Median hourly wage: $37.04
- Total employment: 130 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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17 / 50

#34. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

- Median annual wage: $77,540
- Median hourly wage: $37.28
- Total employment: Not available

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18 / 50

#33. Food service managers

- Median annual wage: $77,620
- Median hourly wage: $37.32
- Total employment: 3,490 people (1.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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19 / 50

#32. Rail car repairers

- Median annual wage: $77,910
- Median hourly wage: $37.46
- Total employment: 560 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kmpzzz // Shutterstock

20 / 50

#31. Construction and building inspectors

- Median annual wage: $78,200
- Median hourly wage: $37.60
- Total employment: 3,540 people (1.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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21 / 50

#30. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators

- Median annual wage: $78,280
- Median hourly wage: $37.64
- Total employment: 480 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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22 / 50

#29. Gas plant operators

- Median annual wage: $80,070
- Median hourly wage: $38.50
- Total employment: Not available

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23 / 50

#28. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers

- Median annual wage: $81,100
- Median hourly wage: $38.99
- Total employment: 14,500 people (4.65 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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24 / 50

#27. Real estate brokers

- Median annual wage: $81,460
- Median hourly wage: $39.17
- Total employment: 440 people (0.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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25 / 50

#26. Plant and system operators, all other

- Median annual wage: $81,930
- Median hourly wage: $39.39
- Total employment: 390 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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26 / 50

#25. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

- Median annual wage: $83,060
- Median hourly wage: $39.94
- Total employment: 2,050 people (0.66 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

27 / 50

#24. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $83,130
- Median hourly wage: $39.97
- Total employment: 12,610 people (4.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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28 / 50

#23. Police and sheriff's patrol officers

- Median annual wage: $83,430
- Median hourly wage: $40.11
- Total employment: 14,590 people (4.68 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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29 / 50

#22. Transit and railroad police

- Median annual wage: $86,650
- Median hourly wage: $41.66
- Total employment: 260 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Nicola Forenza // Shutterstock

30 / 50

#21. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants

- Median annual wage: $88,600
- Median hourly wage: $42.60
- Total employment: 2,800 people (0.9 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

31 / 50

#20. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

- Median annual wage: $89,190
- Median hourly wage: $42.88
- Total employment: 830 people (0.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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32 / 50

#19. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers

- Median annual wage: $89,250
- Median hourly wage: $42.91
- Total employment: 9,210 people (2.95 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

DenisKlimov // Shutterstock

33 / 50

#18. Aircraft cargo handling supervisors

- Median annual wage: $89,480
- Median hourly wage: $43.02
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

34 / 50

#17. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $89,640
- Median hourly wage: $43.10
- Total employment: 1,560 people (0.5 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

michaeljung // Shutterstock

35 / 50

#16. Power plant operators

- Median annual wage: $92,530
- Median hourly wage: $44.48
- Total employment: 310 people (0.1 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

36 / 50

#15. Postmasters and mail superintendents

- Median annual wage: $92,790
- Median hourly wage: $44.61
- Total employment: 130 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

37 / 50

#14. Property, real estate, and community association managers

- Median annual wage: $93,030
- Median hourly wage: $44.73
- Total employment: 6,510 people (2.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Kitawit Jitaton // Shutterstock

38 / 50

#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $93,920
- Median hourly wage: $45.15
- Total employment: 3,160 people (1.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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39 / 50

#12. Transportation inspectors

- Median annual wage: $95,420
- Median hourly wage: $45.88
- Total employment: 390 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

40 / 50

#11. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers

- Median annual wage: $97,680
- Median hourly wage: $46.96
- Total employment: 50 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

41 / 50

#10. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

- Median annual wage: $98,500
- Median hourly wage: $47.36
- Total employment: 550 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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42 / 50

#9. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers

- Median annual wage: $100,140
- Median hourly wage: $48.14
- Total employment: 4,860 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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43 / 50

#8. Power distributors and dispatchers

- Median annual wage: $100,710
- Median hourly wage: $48.42
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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44 / 50

#7. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters

- Median annual wage: $104,210
- Median hourly wage: $50.10
- Total employment: 600 people (0.19 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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45 / 50

#6. Media and communication equipment workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $119,020
- Median hourly wage: $57.22
- Total employment: 740 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

Dmitry Kalinovsky // Shutterstock

46 / 50

#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

- Median annual wage: $119,200
- Median hourly wage: $57.31
- Total employment: 630 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

kojala // Shutterstock

47 / 50

#4. Artists and related workers, all other

- Median annual wage: $122,320
- Median hourly wage: $58.81
- Total employment: 1,540 people (0.49 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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48 / 50

#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

- Median annual wage: $124,770
- Median hourly wage: $59.99
- Total employment: 4,960 people (1.59 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

goodluz // Shutterstock

49 / 50

#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

- Median annual wage: $132,510
- Median hourly wage: $63.71
- Total employment: 2,420 people (0.78 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

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50 / 50

#1. Detectives and criminal investigators

- Median annual wage: $153,340
- Median hourly wage: $73.72
- Total employment: 4,760 people (1.53 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cu Fleshman, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 364 metros.