Highest paying jobs in Washington, D.C. for high school graduates
Highest paying jobs in Washington, D.C. for high school graduates
A high school diploma gives graduates a leg up in the workforce, even if they don't pursue any further education.
The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that workers over age of 25 with a high school diploma or equivalent earned about 25% more than those without one—$853 a week compared to $682. Diploma holders also faced lower unemployment rates, at 4% in 2022, compared to 5.5% for those who never completed high school.
There are many reasons high-school graduates may choose to not continue on to college—for instance, the cost. Average tuition costs continue to rise, increasing by 1% to 4% last year, depending on the institution type. While higher degrees of education typically pave the way for higher earnings, a college degree isn't necessary for many high-paying jobs. And for many careers, it doesn't make sense to pay to study for years when there are paid apprenticeship or learn-on-the-job programs.
Stacker used Bureau of Labor Statistics data to find the highest-paying jobs in Washington, D.C. for those with a high school diploma or equivalent. Jobs are ranked by their annual median salaries as of May 2022. Jobs without available data for annual pay were excluded from this analysis.
Keep reading to see which jobs in your city pay high school graduates the most.
This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 366 metros.
#50. Chemical equipment operators and tenders
- Median annual wage: $63,520
- Median hourly wage: $30.54
- Total employment: 460 people (0.15 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#49. Traffic technicians
- Median annual wage: $63,610
- Median hourly wage: $30.58
- Total employment: 260 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#48. First-line supervisors of security workers
- Median annual wage: $64,470
- Median hourly wage: $30.99
- Total employment: 1,850 people (0.61 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#47. Machinists
- Median annual wage: $64,890
- Median hourly wage: $31.20
- Total employment: 860 people (0.28 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#46. Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators
- Median annual wage: $65,180
- Median hourly wage: $31.34
- Total employment: 370 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#45. Private detectives and investigators
- Median annual wage: $66,070
- Median hourly wage: $31.77
- Total employment: 910 people (0.3 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#44. Precision instrument and equipment repairers, all other
- Median annual wage: $66,190
- Median hourly wage: $31.82
- Total employment: 130 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#43. Explosives workers, ordnance handling experts, and blasters
- Median annual wage: $66,310
- Median hourly wage: $31.88
- Total employment: 110 people (0.04 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#42. First-line supervisors of office and administrative support workers
- Median annual wage: $67,930
- Median hourly wage: $32.66
- Total employment: 26,680 people (8.81 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#41. Real estate brokers
- Median annual wage: $69,640
- Median hourly wage: $33.48
- Total employment: Not available
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#40. Sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing, except technical and scientific products
- Median annual wage: $69,900
- Median hourly wage: $33.60
- Total employment: 8,970 people (2.96 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#39. Communications equipment operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $70,200
- Median hourly wage: $33.75
- Total employment: 30 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#38. Plant and system operators, all other
- Median annual wage: $72,510
- Median hourly wage: $34.86
- Total employment: 400 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#37. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators
- Median annual wage: $72,810
- Median hourly wage: $35.01
- Total employment: 2,790 people (0.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#36. Control and valve installers and repairers, except mechanical door
- Median annual wage: $72,910
- Median hourly wage: $35.06
- Total employment: 660 people (0.22 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#35. Riggers
- Median annual wage: $73,280
- Median hourly wage: $35.23
- Total employment: 180 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#34. Property, real estate, and community association managers
- Median annual wage: $73,930
- Median hourly wage: $35.54
- Total employment: 6,840 people (2.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#33. Construction and building inspectors
- Median annual wage: $74,320
- Median hourly wage: $35.73
- Total employment: 2,680 people (0.88 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#32. Subway and streetcar operators
- Median annual wage: $74,610
- Median hourly wage: $35.87
- Total employment: 780 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#31. First-line supervisors of production and operating workers
- Median annual wage: $74,760
- Median hourly wage: $35.94
- Total employment: 3,860 people (1.27 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#30. First-line supervisors of gambling services workers
- Median annual wage: $74,990
- Median hourly wage: $36.05
- Total employment: 230 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#29. Sales representatives of services, except advertising, insurance, financial services, and travel
- Median annual wage: $75,390
- Median hourly wage: $36.25
- Total employment: 29,860 people (9.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#28. Lodging managers
- Median annual wage: $75,660
- Median hourly wage: $36.38
- Total employment: 600 people (0.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#27. Police and sheriff's patrol officers
- Median annual wage: $76,380
- Median hourly wage: $36.72
- Total employment: 14,920 people (4.93 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#26. First-line supervisors of construction trades and extraction workers
- Median annual wage: $76,870
- Median hourly wage: $36.96
- Total employment: 15,230 people (5.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#25. Food service managers
- Median annual wage: $77,100
- Median hourly wage: $37.07
- Total employment: 3,450 people (1.14 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#24. Crane and tower operators
- Median annual wage: $77,440
- Median hourly wage: $37.23
- Total employment: 270 people (0.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#23. Electrical power-line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $77,980
- Median hourly wage: $37.49
- Total employment: 1,760 people (0.58 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#22. Executive secretaries and executive administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $79,470
- Median hourly wage: $38.21
- Total employment: 13,570 people (4.48 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#21. Stationary engineers and boiler operators
- Median annual wage: $79,790
- Median hourly wage: $38.36
- Total employment: 990 people (0.33 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#20. Legal secretaries and administrative assistants
- Median annual wage: $80,450
- Median hourly wage: $38.68
- Total employment: 3,310 people (1.09 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#19. Rail car repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,660
- Median hourly wage: $38.78
- Total employment: 800 people (0.26 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#18. First-line supervisors of mechanics, installers, and repairers
- Median annual wage: $80,920
- Median hourly wage: $38.90
- Total employment: 8,830 people (2.92 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#17. Rail transportation workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $81,450
- Median hourly wage: $39.16
- Total employment: 40 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#16. Postmasters and mail superintendents
- Median annual wage: $81,810
- Median hourly wage: $39.33
- Total employment: 140 people (0.05 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#15. Boilermakers
- Median annual wage: $81,940
- Median hourly wage: $39.39
- Total employment: 60 people (0.02 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#14. Transportation inspectors
- Median annual wage: $82,590
- Median hourly wage: $39.71
- Total employment: 390 people (0.13 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#13. Telecommunications line installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $82,730
- Median hourly wage: $39.78
- Total employment: 2,610 people (0.86 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#12. First-line supervisors of correctional officers
- Median annual wage: $85,100
- Median hourly wage: $40.91
- Total employment: 560 people (0.18 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#11. Gas plant operators
- Median annual wage: $86,770
- Median hourly wage: $41.72
- Total employment: 350 people (0.12 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#10. Power distributors and dispatchers
- Median annual wage: $89,080
- Median hourly wage: $42.83
- Total employment: 90 people (0.03 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#9. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers
- Median annual wage: $100,150
- Median hourly wage: $48.15
- Total employment: 750 people (0.25 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Apprenticeship
#8. Gambling managers
- Median annual wage: $101,350
- Median hourly wage: $48.73
- Total employment: 40 people (0.01 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#7. Transit and railroad police
- Median annual wage: $101,720
- Median hourly wage: $48.90
- Total employment: 260 people (0.08 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#6. Power plant operators
- Median annual wage: $102,870
- Median hourly wage: $49.46
- Total employment: 180 people (0.06 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Long-term on-the-job training
#5. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
- Median annual wage: $104,460
- Median hourly wage: $50.22
- Total employment: 6,670 people (2.2 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#4. Media and communication equipment workers, all other
- Median annual wage: $110,360
- Median hourly wage: $53.06
- Total employment: 740 people (0.24 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Short-term on-the-job training
#3. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
- Median annual wage: $110,700
- Median hourly wage: $53.22
- Total employment: 4,300 people (1.42 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
#2. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
- Median annual wage: $117,500
- Median hourly wage: $56.49
- Total employment: 2,380 people (0.79 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: None
#1. Detectives and criminal investigators
- Median annual wage: $137,970
- Median hourly wage: $66.33
- Total employment: 4,730 people (1.56 of every 1,000 jobs in the area)
- Required on-the-job training to attain competency: Moderate-term on-the-job training
