Highest-Paying Jobs Without a College Degree in Spokane (2025 BLS Data)
- The median wage for all jobs in Spokane was $54,660 in May 2025, above the U.S. median of $50,980.
- The best-paid job here that typically needs only a high school diploma or less was police and sheriff's patrol officers, at a median of $95,660.
- Short training programs and associate’s degrees open another tier, led by dental hygienists at $116,690.
You don’t need a four-year degree to earn well in Spokane. Using the federal government’s most recent occupational wage survey (BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA)) and the education level BLS lists as typical for entry into each job (BLS Employment Projections, 2025–35), here are the best-paying jobs in the metro area that don’t require a bachelor’s degree. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA had about 255,820 wage and salary jobs in the survey.
Top-paying jobs that need a high school diploma or less
Jobs with at least 300 positions in the metro area, ranked by median annual wage. The last column shows the national median for comparison.
| Occupation | Spokane median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Police and Sheriff's Patrol Officers | $95,660 | 600 | $76,210 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers | $92,780 | 1,150 | $79,920 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers | $90,380 | 340 | $87,520 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers, and Repairers | $84,280 | 1,050 | $79,860 |
| Electricians | $79,830 | 1,290 | $63,190 |
| Correctional Officers and Jailers | $79,460 | 630 | $58,940 |
| Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics, Except Engines | $75,960 | 330 | $65,510 |
| Cement Masons and Concrete Finishers | $75,210 | 400 | $57,020 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers | $75,160 | 1,280 | $74,450 |
| Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators | $74,360 | 700 | $59,850 |
| Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | $73,710 | 2,220 | $72,080 |
| Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters | $72,800 | 810 | $63,800 |
Many of these jobs pay well because they come with long on-the-job training, licensing, physical risk or irregular hours. Several are skilled trades that train through paid apprenticeships.
Top-paying jobs that need a certificate or associate’s degree
Jobs where BLS lists a postsecondary certificate, some college or an associate’s degree as the typical entry credential:
| Occupation | Spokane median | Jobs | U.S. median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dental Hygienists | $116,690 | 500 | $98,100 |
| First-Line Supervisors of Firefighting and Prevention Workers | $109,990 | 370 | $93,530 |
| Firefighters | $83,310 | 750 | $59,280 |
| Radiologic Technologists and Technicians | $83,050 | 520 | $80,110 |
| Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses | $78,950 | 670 | $64,400 |
| Massage Therapists | $77,150 | 370 | $58,450 |
| Computer User Support Specialists | $63,460 | 990 | $61,860 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $62,980 | 3,890 | $58,640 |
The most common jobs in Spokane, for context
The largest occupations by employment, and what they pay locally:
| Occupation | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $47,410 | 10,580 |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | $35,780 | 7,870 |
| Retail Salespersons | $36,880 | 7,400 |
| Registered Nurses | $111,750 | 6,850 |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | $40,510 | 5,330 |
| Cashiers | $36,290 | 4,470 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | $40,070 | 4,090 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $44,510 | 4,050 |
How to use these numbers
- Medians are midpoints. Half of workers in each job earn more and half earn less; new workers usually start well below the median.
- Overtime is not included. BLS wage estimates exclude overtime pay and shift differentials, so jobs with heavy overtime often pay more in practice (see the OEWS technical notes).
- Check the training path. “Typical entry education” is what most new workers have; licenses and apprenticeships may still be required.
Published November 9, 2026. Sources are linked in the text.
Header image: original chart by JobPayRaise.com using BLS OEWS May 2025 data.
Comments (1)
One more data point from the same survey: the occupation most concentrated in Spokane relative to the nation is rehabilitation counselors, with a location quotient of 6.9. That means those jobs make up about 6.9 times as large a share of local employment as they do nationally. There are about 1,080 of them locally, at a median of $55,600. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 metropolitan-area data (includes Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA). Location quotients compare each job’s share of local employment with its share nationally (see BLS OEWS overview).
— JobPayRaise Data Desk