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No Bachelor's Degree Required

24 Jobs Paying Over $100K Without a Degree in District of Columbia (2025)

Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:

There are 24 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 $168,000/year (typical entry: High School Diploma or Equivalent). Based on 2025 BLS salary data combined with O*NET education requirements.

Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 + O*NET 28.3

24
$100K+ Jobs, No Degree
$168,000
#1: General and Operations Managers
$117,173
Avg Median of Listed Jobs
44,940
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.

Associate's Degree
12 jobs
Top: Dental Hygienists — $137,220
High School Diploma or Equivalent
10 jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $168,000
Some College Courses
1 job
Top: Photographers — $110,970
Post-Secondary Certificate
1 job
Top: Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters — $101,020

All 24 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 $168,000 36,150
2 Dental Hygienists Associate's $137,220 320
3 First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives HS Diploma $134,760 1,230
4 Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologists Associate's $128,710 150
5 Administrative Services Managers HS Diploma $128,610 1,030
6 First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers HS Diploma $126,560 380
7 Real Estate Sales Agents HS Diploma $123,770 590
8 Surgical Assistants Associate's $123,390 90
9 Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $122,570 N/A
10 Technical Writers Associate's $117,810 440
11 Nuclear Medicine Technologists Associate's $116,630 30
12 Printing Press Operators HS Diploma $116,630 350
13 Diagnostic Medical Sonographers Associate's $112,020 160
14 Respiratory Therapists Associate's $111,950 430
15 Photographers Some College $110,970 260
16 Broadcast Technicians Associate's $108,270 290
17 Print Binding and Finishing Workers HS Diploma $108,080 200
18 Sound Engineering Technicians Associate's $106,630 90
19 Health Education Specialists Associate's $103,330 680
20 Radiologic Technologists and Technicians Associate's $102,770 660
21 Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers HS Diploma $101,240 150
22 Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters Certificate $101,020 1,010
23 Prepress Technicians and Workers HS Diploma $100,980 180
24 Radiation Therapists Associate's $100,250 70

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

Healthcare Practitioners
8 qualifying jobs
Top: Dental Hygienists — $137,220
Arts & Media
4 qualifying jobs
Top: Technical Writers — $117,810
Production
3 qualifying jobs
Top: Printing Press Operators — $116,630
Management
2 qualifying jobs
Top: General and Operations Managers — $168,000
Protective Service
2 qualifying jobs
Top: First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives — $134,760
Construction
2 qualifying jobs
Top: Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers — $122,570
Sales
1 qualifying job
Top: Real Estate Sales Agents — $123,770
Community & Social Service
1 qualifying job
Top: Health Education Specialists — $103,330

Frequently Asked Questions

How many jobs pay over $100K without a degree in District of Columbia?
According to 2025 BLS data combined with O*NET education requirements, there are 24 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 $168,000. 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 24 qualifying occupations in DC, the average median salary is $117,173/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.

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$100K+ Jobs Without a Degree in Other States

$100K+ No Degree in Washington (42) $100K+ No Degree in New Jersey (38) $100K+ No Degree in California (37) $100K+ No Degree in New York (36) $100K+ No Degree in Massachusetts (31) $100K+ No Degree in Illinois (29) $100K+ No Degree in Hawaii (23) $100K+ No Degree in Maryland (22) $100K+ No Degree in Oregon (22) $100K+ No Degree in Connecticut (18) $100K+ No Degree in Alaska (17) $100K+ No Degree in Texas (17) $100K+ No Degree in Colorado (16) $100K+ No Degree in Nevada (15) $100K+ No Degree in Rhode Island (15) $100K+ No Degree in Minnesota (14)

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 · 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 2025 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

More About District of Columbia

Salary Data
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Salary Thresholds
Jobs Over $100K in District Of Columbia Jobs Over $50K in District Of Columbia $100K+ Jobs Without a Degree in District Of Columbia
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