Top 20 in-demand jobs in Washington State - Required career training or college education

Sep 20, 2026

Guide for students, parents, and adults comparing Washington career paths by highlighting which occupations are projected to have the most openings. Explains that many Washington jobs require education beyond high school and summarizes the midlevel (non-bachelor) and bachelor’s-level options. For each job, the guide provides median hourly wages, typical qualifications and certifications, and projected job outlook up to 2033, using HELM data. Notes that WA Grant can support free or low-cost training.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Top 20 in-demand jobs in Washington State

Midlevel in-demand jobs (top 10)

Bachelor’s degree in-demand jobs (top 10)

Top 20 in-demand jobs in Washington State And the career training or college education required to obtain them. 70% of Washington jobs require education beyond highschool—and that number is on the rise. But which job is right for you or your student? Which job is likely to have the most job openings, and what do employers want to see? This guide will help students, parents, and adults looking for a new career path make informed choices about the future. It details which Washington jobs are projected to have the most openings over the next several years—according to the latest Washington State Higher Education & Labor Market Report (HELM)—and what type of college or career training is required to obtain these in-demand jobs. You’ll learn: • The top 10 in-demand jobs at the midlevel—requiring some education or training • The top 10 in-demand jobs at the bachelor’s level—requiring a four-year degree • The median hourly wage for each job • What type of qualifications are needed for each job • The benefits of obtaining additional qualifications Remember: Free or low-cost college or career training is possible with WA Grant. [Learn more atWAgrant.org](Learn more atWAgrant.org) The top 10 in-demand jobs at the midlevel This midlevel category includes jobs requiring education or training beyond high school but less than a bachelor’s degree. Credentials include short-term or long-term certificates, apprenticeships, and associate degrees. Note: Facts below are statewide and may vary by city or county. | Top 10 indemand jobs | Median
hourly wage | Education requirements | Certification | Number of
job openings
predicted by 2033 | Projected job outlook | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Heavy TractorTrailer Truck
Driver* | $28.21 | Postsecondary certificate | Commercial driver’s license (CDL) | 50,102 | 5% growth | | 2. Bookkeeping & Accounting
Clerk | $23.59 | Postsecondary certificate | QuickBooks Certified User (QBCU), payroll certification, Uniform Bookkeeper Certification, accounting software certification | 42,479 | 5% decline—but still one of the jobs with the highest number of projected job openings | | 3. Teaching Assistant
(K-12) | $20.68 | Some college/ certificate | Teaching assistant certificate | 41,398 | Expected to stay the same | | 4. Nursing Assistant | $19.58 | Postsecondary certificate | Nursing Assistant Certification (NAC) | 30,995 | 4% growth | | 5. Computer User Support
Specialist | $31.91 | Associate
degree | None required but helpful ones are CompTIAA+, CompTIA Network+, Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), CompTIA Security+, Google IT Support Professional Certificate, Microsoft certifications | 24,497 | 6% growth | | 6. Medical Assistant | $23.44 | Postsecondary certificate | Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) | 22,267 | 15% growth | | 7. Automotive Technician or
Mechanic | $23.85 | Postsecondary certificate | Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certificate | 15,407 | 3% growth | | 8. Preschool
Teacher | $18.06 | Some college/ certificate | Washington State Teaching Certificate with endorsement in early childhood education or early childhood special education | 14,720 | 4% growth | | 9. Dental Assistant | $23.70 | Associate
degree | Certified Dental Assistant (CDA) | 12,870 | 8% growth | | 10. HVAC Mechanic
and Installer | $29.29 | Postsecondary certificate | EPA 608 Certification, North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification, state license | 10,489 | 9% growth | *Training is not covered by WA Grant The top 10 in-demand jobs at the bachelor’s degree level This category includes jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree, many of which also have professional certifications. | Top 10 indemand jobs | Median
hourly wage | Certification | Number of
job openings
predicted by 2033 | Projected job outlook | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1. Software Developer | $72.95 | Common ce

FAQs

What data source does the guide use for job projections in Washington State?

The guide bases projected openings and outlook on the latest Washington State Higher Education & Labor Market Report (HELM).

What kinds of education and training qualify someone for midlevel in-demand jobs?

Midlevel roles require education or training beyond high school but less than a bachelor’s degree, typically via certificates, apprenticeships, or associate degrees.

How can readers access free or low-cost career training mentioned in the guide?

The guide states that Free or low-cost college or career training is possible with WA Grant, referenced at WAgrant.org.

Sep 20, 2026

Uploaded by Emma Mercer