No Bachelor's Degree Required

16 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in District of Columbia (2024)

There are 16 occupations in District of Columbia where the median salary exceeds $100,000 per year — and none of them typically require a bachelor's degree. The highest-paying is General and Operations Managers at $162,990/year (typical entry: High School Diploma or Equivalent). Based on 2024 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2024 + O*NET 28.3

16
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$162,990
#1: General and Operations Managers
$113,099
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
41,600
Workers in These Roles

Education Breakdown

These high-paying jobs span different education levels — from no formal education to associate's degrees and trade certifications.

High School Diploma or Equivalent
8 jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $162,990
Associate's Degree
5 jobs
Top: Dental Hygienists — $119,710
Post-Secondary Certificate
2 jobs
Top: Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance — $107,530
Some College Courses
1 job
Top: Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants — $101,170

All 16 Jobs Paying $100K+ Without a Bachelor's Degree

Ranked by median annual salary. Education level from O*NET (typical entry-level requirement). Click any job for the full salary breakdown.

# Occupation Education Median Salary Workers
1 General and Operations Managers HS Diploma $162,990 34,580
2 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $123,440 1,230
3 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $122,820 90
4 Dental Hygienists Associate's $119,710 230
5 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $119,480 750
6 Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers HS Diploma $113,410 40
7 Printing Press Operators HS Diploma $110,950 350
8 Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance Certificate $107,530 N/A
9 Respiratory Therapists Associate's $106,480 360
10 Radiation Therapists Associate's $105,760 80
11 Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other HS Diploma $103,600 290
12 Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other Certificate $103,490 120
13 Dental Laboratory Technicians HS Diploma $103,370 40
14 Technical Writers Associate's $102,970 410
15 Health Education Specialists Associate's $102,420 660
16 Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants Some College $101,170 2,370

Top Career Fields (No Degree, $100K+)

Healthcare Practitioners
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Dental Hygienists — $119,710
Management
2 qualifying jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $162,990
Production
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Printing Press Operators — $110,950
Protective Service
1 qualifying job
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $123,440
Construction
1 qualifying job
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $122,820
Installation & Maintenance
1 qualifying job
Top: Camera and Photographic Equipment Repairers — $113,410
Personal Care
1 qualifying job
Top: Makeup Artists, Theatrical and Performance — $107,530
Architecture & Engineering
1 qualifying job
Top: Engineering Technologists and Technicians, Except Drafters, All Other — $103,600

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in District of Columbia?
According to 2024 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 16 occupations in District of Columbia where the median salary exceeds $100,000/year and the typical entry-level education is below a bachelor's degree.
What is the highest-paying job without a degree in District of Columbia?
The highest-paying occupation in District of Columbia that doesn't typically require a bachelor's degree is General and Operations Managers, with a median annual salary of $162,990. Entry typically requires: High School Diploma or Equivalent.
What education do you need for a $100K job without a college degree?
The jobs on this list typically require one of: a high school diploma, a post-secondary certificate or trade certification, some college courses, or an associate's degree. Many of these roles value on-the-job training, apprenticeships, or industry certifications over formal degrees.
What's the average salary for $100K+ no-degree jobs in District of Columbia?
Among the 16 qualifying occupations in DC, the average median salary is $113,099/year. These jobs range from just over $100,000 to well above $200,000 in some fields like management and skilled trades.
How do I get a $100K job without a bachelor's degree?
Focus on high-demand fields like skilled trades (elevator installers, power plant operators), transportation (airline pilots, air traffic controllers), sales management, or tech roles that accept certifications. Build relevant experience through apprenticeships, on-the-job training, or industry certifications. Many employers value demonstrated skills and experience over formal education.

$100K+ Jobs Without a Degree in Other States

What's the actual take-home? These $100K+ salaries are before taxes.

More Salary Data for District of Columbia

All $100K+ Jobs in District of Columbia · Highest Paying Jobs in District of Columbia · Average Salary in District of Columbia · All District of Columbia Jobs

Data Source & Methodology

This page combines two authoritative data sources: salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 estimates, and education requirements from the O*NET 28.3 database maintained by the U.S. Department of Labor. Jobs are filtered to those where the typical education requirement is below a bachelor's degree (including high school diploma, post-secondary certificate, associate's degree, or some college courses) and the state-level median salary exceeds $100,000/year.

See our Methodology and Data Sources pages for details.

Sources: BLS OEWS · O*NET OnLine

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