Highest-paying jobs in Seattle that don't require a college degree

Written by:
January 5, 2021
Flamingo Images // Shutterstock

Highest-paying jobs in Seattle that don't require a college degree

From the moment they first set foot 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, coaches—the list goes on and on. 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 non-degree 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 2019 annual mean wage.

Keep reading to discover the highest-paying jobs in Seattle that don’t require a college degree.

You may also like: 100 Highest paying jobs in America

1 / 50
Nagy-Bagoly Arpad // Shutterstock

#50. Insulation workers, mechanical

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $74,880
- Employment: 410

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,120
- Employment: 26,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
2 / 50
Canva

#49. Cement masons and concrete finishers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $75,020
- Employment: 2,690

National
- Annual mean salary: $48,330
- Employment: 196,120
- Entry level education requirements: No formal educational credential
3 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $75,450
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,830
- Employment: 40,370
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
4 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#47. Lodging managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $75,590
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,570
- Employment: 38,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
5 / 50
Hulton Archive // Getty Images

#46. Electricians

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $75,940
- Employment: 10,420

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,370
- Employment: 688,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
6 / 50
John Leung // Shutterstock

#45. Brickmasons and blockmasons

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $76,080
- Employment: 670

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,470
- Employment: 60,650
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
7 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $76,160
- Employment: 7,640

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,550
- Employment: 485,700
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
8 / 50
Canva

#43. Operating engineers and other construction equipment operators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $76,260
- Employment: 4,700

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,210
- Employment: 405,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
9 / 50
Tim Goode/PA Images // Getty Images

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $76,280
- Employment: 12,710

National
- Annual mean salary: $66,760
- Employment: 1,039,670
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
10 / 50
kittirat roekburi // Shutterstock

#41. Stationary engineers and boiler operators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $76,800
- Employment: 210

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,970
- Employment: 32,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
11 / 50
Oleg Golovnev // Shutterstock

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $77,260
- Employment: 8,470

National
- Annual mean salary: $65,220
- Employment: 631,100
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
12 / 50
ryanivy308 // Pixabay

#39. Electrical and electronics repairers, commercial and industrial equipment

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $77,550
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,360
- Employment: 58,930
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
13 / 50
Paolo Bona // Shutterstock

#38. Food service managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $77,560
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,820
- Employment: 235,470
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
14 / 50
Canva

#37. Tool grinders, filers, and sharpeners

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $78,710
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $41,970
- Employment: 6,440
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
15 / 50
4 PM production // Shutterstock

#36. Flight attendants

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $78,840
- Employment: 4,170

National
- Annual mean salary: $56,230
- Employment: 120,840
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
16 / 50
Stock Rocket // Shutterstock

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $78,960
- Employment: 22,680

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,110
- Employment: 1,344,530
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
17 / 50
Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#34. Claims adjusters, examiners, and investigators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $79,080
- Employment: 3,530

National
- Annual mean salary: $68,940
- Employment: 287,960
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
18 / 50
Unsplash

#33. Crane and tower operators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $79,170
- Employment: 950

National
- Annual mean salary: $60,530
- Employment: 45,480
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
19 / 50
Canva

#32. Construction and building inspectors

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $79,890
- Employment: 1,670

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,390
- Employment: 110,420
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
20 / 50
Viewfoto studio

#31. Signal and track switch repairers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $79,930
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $72,690
- Employment: 6,860
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
21 / 50
Andrey_Popov // Shutterstock

#30. Plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $80,220
- Employment: 5,040

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,800
- Employment: 442,870
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
22 / 50
Jat306 // Shutterstock

#29. Millwrights

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $81,740
- Employment: 300

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,050
- Employment: 47,320
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
23 / 50
Oil and Gas Photographer // Shutterstock

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $83,180
- Employment: 150

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,920
- Employment: 52,270
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
24 / 50
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock

#27. Postmasters and mail superintendents

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $83,260
- Employment: 60

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,220
- Employment: 13,850
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
25 / 50
Gorodenkoff // Shutterstock

#26. Model makers, metal and plastic

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $83,350
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $57,420
- Employment: 4,300
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
26 / 50
Rebekah Zemansky // Shutterstock

#25. First-line supervisors of correctional officers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $83,400
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $69,000
- Employment: 46,430
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
27 / 50
Christian Lagerek // Shutterstock

#24. Gas plant operators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $83,530
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,050
- Employment: 14,410
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
28 / 50
Daniel Tausis // Unsplash

#23. Firefighters

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $84,610
- Employment: 4,430

National
- Annual mean salary: $54,650
- Employment: 324,620
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
29 / 50
Luisa Leal Photography // Shutterstock

#22. Electrical power-line installers and repairers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $85,490
- Employment: 960

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,960
- Employment: 111,660
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
30 / 50
Canva

#21. Electrical and electronics installers and repairers, transportation equipment

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $86,050
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $63,670
- Employment: 9,790
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
31 / 50
Unsplash

#20. Structural iron and steel workers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $86,550
- Employment: 1,020

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,170
- Employment: 76,570
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
32 / 50
michaeljung // Shutterstock

#19. Power plant operators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $88,400
- Employment: 270

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,370
- Employment: 33,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
33 / 50
Canva

#18. Court reporters and simultaneous captioners

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $90,760
- Employment: 50

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,990
- Employment: 14,530
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
34 / 50
APChanel // Shutterstock

#17. Locomotive engineers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $91,470
- Employment: 370

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,570
- Employment: 35,520
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
35 / 50
curraheeshutter // Shutterstock

#16. Ship engineers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $91,760
- Employment: 1,100

National
- Annual mean salary: $79,540
- Employment: 8,410
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
36 / 50
sculpies // Shutterstock

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $92,420
- Employment: 9,850

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,440
- Employment: 626,180
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
37 / 50
g-stockstudio // Shutterstock

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $94,280
- Employment: 3,810

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,180
- Employment: 249,090
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
38 / 50
Suwin // Shutterstock

#13. Electrical and electronics repairers, powerhouse, substation, and relay

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $96,430
- Employment: 140

National
- Annual mean salary: $81,280
- Employment: 22,650
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
39 / 50
Leszek Glasner // Shutterstock

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

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $99,540
- Employment: 1,880

National
- Annual mean salary: $71,720
- Employment: 220,750
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
40 / 50
Canva

#11. Transportation inspectors

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $99,840
- Employment: 420

National
- Annual mean salary: $77,530
- Employment: 30,020
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
41 / 50
Canva

#10. Computer numerically controlled tool programmers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $100,620
- Employment: 450

National
- Annual mean salary: $59,730
- Employment: 25,570
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
42 / 50
Igor Kardasov // Shutterstock

#9. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $100,800
- Employment: 1,800

National
- Annual mean salary: $87,420
- Employment: 33,370
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
43 / 50
Canva

#8. Fire inspectors and investigators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $100,960
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $64,730
- Employment: 13,710
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
44 / 50
U.S. Air Force

#7. First-line supervisors of firefighting and prevention workers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $109,890
- Employment: 1,500

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,010
- Employment: 69,590
- Entry level education requirements: Postsecondary nondegree award
45 / 50
Prath // Shutterstock

#6. Detectives and criminal investigators

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $109,950
- Employment: 700

National
- Annual mean salary: $86,030
- Employment: 105,620
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
46 / 50
Canva

#5. Elevator and escalator installers and repairers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $111,690
- Employment: data not available

National
- Annual mean salary: $83,250
- Employment: 28,350
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
47 / 50
Skycolors // Shutterstock

#4. Commercial pilots

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $115,510
- Employment: 670

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,870
- Employment: 37,830
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
48 / 50
Lovely Bird // Shutterstock

#3. Power distributors and dispatchers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $121,450
- Employment: 100

National
- Annual mean salary: $88,910
- Employment: 10,770
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
49 / 50
Canva

#2. First-line supervisors of police and detectives

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $122,690
- Employment: 1,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $94,950
- Employment: 121,340
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent
50 / 50
Kelly Ogden // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
- Annual mean salary: $123,920
- Employment: 1,870

National
- Annual mean salary: $103,320
- Employment: 132,040
- Entry level education requirements: High school diploma or equivalent

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