
Highest-paying jobs in Washington, D.C. that don't require a college degree
Highest-paying jobs in Washington, D.C. that don't require a college degree
From the moment they arrive on campus, today’s high school students are inundated with messages about the importance of receiving a college education. They hear it from their guidance counselors, teachers, parents, family members, neighbors, and coaches. While graduation from a four-year college can certainly work wonders for students’ future careers, it’s not necessary for all fields — something admissions officers and guidance counselors sometimes fail to mention.
To find the highest paying jobs that don’t require a college degree, Stacker consulted the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook to compile a list of all jobs that don’t require higher education. All professions that listed a high school diploma, some college education (without a degree conferred), postsecondary nondegree award, or no formal education requirements for entry-level positions were considered. Jobs that didn’t list any entry-level education requirement were excluded, as were job titles that grouped several positions together. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage.
Keep reading to discover the highest paying jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV that don’t require a college degree.
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#50. Photographers
- Annual mean salary: $70,440
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 650
National
- Annual mean salary: $48,210
- Employment: 38,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($76,810)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($71,160)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($70,440)

#49. Construction and building inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $70,580
- #73 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,000
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,480
- Employment: 117,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New Haven, CT ($121,510)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($107,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($106,190)

#48. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $70,710
- #45 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,240
National
- Annual mean salary: $62,250
- Employment: 101,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($90,680)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($90,370)
--- Salinas, CA ($88,050)

#47. Advertising sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $71,350
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,470
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,540
- Employment: 96,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($97,840)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($97,720)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($83,050)

#46. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $72,760
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,390
National
- Annual mean salary: $52,540
- Employment: 155,250
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($78,320)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($77,210)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($72,760)
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#45. Crane and tower operators
- Annual mean salary: $73,200
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540
National
- Annual mean salary: $65,270
- Employment: 43,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($131,160)
--- Syracuse, NY ($103,350)
--- Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV ($99,990)
#44. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Annual mean salary: $73,550
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 25,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,380
- Employment: 1,443,630
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($82,050)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($79,520)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($78,430)

#43. Insurance appraisers, auto damage
- Annual mean salary: $73,900
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 230
National
- Annual mean salary: $68,180
- Employment: 11,430
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($89,810)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($86,970)
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($86,050)

#42. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Annual mean salary: $74,190
- #67 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 640
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,310
- Employment: 44,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA ($98,380)
--- Salt Lake City, UT ($94,070)
--- Santa Rosa, CA ($92,800)

#41. Real estate sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $74,570
- #31 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,100
National
- Annual mean salary: $61,480
- Employment: 175,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Midland, TX ($100,060)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($99,880)
--- Worcester, MA-CT ($93,400)
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#40. Rail car repairers
- Annual mean salary: $74,740
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,210
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,400
- Employment: 22,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($86,690)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($76,530)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($74,740)

#39. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $75,480
- #212 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,650
National
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- Employment: 123,940
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($117,700)
--- Salinas, CA ($110,180)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($109,490)

#38. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Annual mean salary: $76,710
- #37 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,780
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,330
- Employment: 629,420
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Baton Rouge, LA ($98,170)
--- Lake Charles, LA ($97,910)
--- Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI ($90,410)

#37. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Annual mean salary: $77,230
- #25 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,510
- Employment: 29,820
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($106,300)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,930)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($99,740)
#36. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment
- Annual mean salary: $77,520
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 690
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,650
- Employment: 10,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($89,080)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($87,130)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($86,160)
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#35. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $77,910
- #39 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,770
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,960
- Employment: 278,140
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($104,350)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($95,200)
--- Salinas, CA ($90,800)
#34. Fire inspectors and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $78,070
- #21 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 190
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,680
- Employment: 14,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Dayton, OH ($116,740)
--- Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA ($112,040)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($107,220)
#33. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Annual mean salary: $78,200
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 13,850
National
- Annual mean salary: $66,870
- Employment: 466,910
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($94,590)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($87,760)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($87,420)

#32. Food service managers
- Annual mean salary: $78,250
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,820
National
- Annual mean salary: $63,970
- Employment: 210,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($91,320)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($89,860)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($87,750)

#31. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Annual mean salary: $79,060
- #80 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 15,300
National
- Annual mean salary: $75,060
- Employment: 665,870
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($112,020)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,820)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($101,210)
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#30. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment
- Annual mean salary: $80,080
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 760
National
- Annual mean salary: $64,230
- Employment: 50,780
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($87,890)
--- Fresno, CA ($86,230)
--- Fairbanks, AK ($85,640)

#29. Insurance sales agents
- Annual mean salary: $80,790
- #27 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,350
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,340
- Employment: 422,600
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($104,230)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($103,470)
--- Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA ($95,620)

#28. Petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers
- Annual mean salary: $81,020
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $80,500
- Employment: 34,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($105,090)
--- St. Louis, MO-IL ($97,860)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($96,520)

#27. Private detectives and investigators
- Annual mean salary: $81,530
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,030
National
- Annual mean salary: $60,970
- Employment: 28,860
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Jackson, MI ($93,360)
--- Bakersfield, CA ($91,080)
--- Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR-MO ($87,760)

#26. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Annual mean salary: $81,700
- #16 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,860
National
- Annual mean salary: $72,390
- Employment: 1,242,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($102,280)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($92,660)
--- Napa, CA ($92,620)
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#25. Gas plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $82,750
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 180
National
- Annual mean salary: $76,970
- Employment: 15,110
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($98,750)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($97,080)

#24. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $82,970
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,240
National
- Annual mean salary: $73,590
- Employment: 526,240
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Bremerton-Silverdale, WA ($93,830)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($93,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($92,870)

#23. Aircraft mechanics and service technicians
- Annual mean salary: $83,300
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,800
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,470
- Employment: 125,440
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($86,470)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($86,370)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($85,860)

#22. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Annual mean salary: $83,420
- #47 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 130
National
- Annual mean salary: $81,820
- Employment: 12,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL ($97,930)
--- Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ ($96,450)
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($94,460)

#21. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Annual mean salary: $84,930
- #35 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 530
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,750
- Employment: 54,470
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($114,400)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($113,220)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($112,950)
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#20. Power plant operators
- Annual mean salary: $85,020
- #68 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 210
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,740
- Employment: 28,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Fresno, CA ($129,650)
--- Wenatchee, WA ($123,180)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($114,660)

#19. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Annual mean salary: $85,310
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,000
National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)

#18. Lodging managers
- Annual mean salary: $86,160
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580
National
- Annual mean salary: $67,770
- Employment: 35,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)

#17. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
- Annual mean salary: $86,220
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,330
- Employment: 33,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($126,420)
--- Anchorage, AK ($118,620)
--- New Orleans-Metairie, LA ($110,750)

#16. Transit and railroad police
- Annual mean salary: $87,230
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340
National
- Annual mean salary: $69,570
- Employment: 3,590
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($87,230)
--- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD ($73,330)
--- Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD ($69,920)
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#15. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers
- Annual mean salary: $87,670
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70
National
- Annual mean salary: $78,440
- Employment: 5,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($104,810)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)

#14. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay
- Annual mean salary: $89,210
- #56 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 540
National
- Annual mean salary: $87,640
- Employment: 22,490
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($120,210)
--- Sacramento--Roseville--Arden-Arcade, CA ($118,510)
--- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA ($114,280)

#13. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Annual mean salary: $89,850
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 26,890
National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,026,390
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($103,810)
--- Boulder, CO ($101,630)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($97,360)

#12. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Annual mean salary: $91,970
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 820
National
- Annual mean salary: $91,320
- Employment: 22,510
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($130,290)
--- Kansas City, MO-KS ($113,590)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($113,480)

#11. Commercial divers
- Annual mean salary: $92,100
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 30
National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 2,670
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Diego-Carlsbad, CA ($155,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($110,130)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($92,100)
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#10. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Annual mean salary: $93,230
- #26 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 140
National
- Annual mean salary: $95,520
- Employment: 9,660
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($131,560)
--- Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA ($129,570)
--- Birmingham-Hoover, AL ($123,540)

#9. Transportation inspectors
- Annual mean salary: $95,170
- #10 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 490
National
- Annual mean salary: $77,620
- Employment: 25,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($112,260)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($111,930)
--- Anchorage, AK ($108,140)

#8. Real estate brokers
- Annual mean salary: $96,050
- #20 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,320
National
- Annual mean salary: $86,490
- Employment: 48,460
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT ($152,460)
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($133,810)
--- Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA ($132,320)

#7. Makeup artists, theatrical and performance
- Annual mean salary: $102,040
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 80
National
- Annual mean salary: $124,380
- Employment: 1,960
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($137,140)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($127,660)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($102,040)

#6. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers
- Annual mean salary: $102,630
- #28 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,580
National
- Annual mean salary: $83,270
- Employment: 80,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($171,060)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($145,740)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($135,860)
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#5. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Annual mean salary: $116,340
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,850
National
- Annual mean salary: $92,320
- Employment: 243,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Portland-South Portland, ME ($129,860)
--- Durham-Chapel Hill, NC ($121,360)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($121,250)
#4. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Annual mean salary: $119,660
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,380
National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Annual mean salary: $121,260
- #33 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,200
National
- Annual mean salary: $98,760
- Employment: 128,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($182,700)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($170,740)
--- Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA ($164,600)

#2. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Annual mean salary: $123,460
- #3 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,120
National
- Annual mean salary: $90,370
- Employment: 107,890
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($132,210)
--- Anchorage, AK ($127,070)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($123,460)

#1. Commercial pilots
- Annual mean salary: $138,770
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 480
National
- Annual mean salary: $115,080
- Employment: 42,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($185,920)
--- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA ($184,260)
--- Savannah, GA ($177,450)
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