District of ColumbiaCOL index: 152

Salaries in Washington, DC

Washington, District of Columbia offers career opportunities with 8.5% state income tax. Browse salary data for every major occupation below — all figures are Washington-specific, updated quarterly from BLS and H-1B disclosures.

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Population

689,545

COL index

152 / 100

Avg 1BR rent

$2,700/mo

State income tax

8.5%

Technology salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Software Engineer	$95K	$130K	$165K	$210K	+4.2%
Data Scientist	$100K	$138K	$175K	$220K	+5.1%
Product Manager	$110K	$148K	$190K	$240K	+3.8%
DevOps Engineer	$105K	$140K	$178K	$215K	+6.2%
Cybersecurity Analyst	$85K	$115K	$148K	$185K	+7.3%
UX Designer	$72K	$99K	$130K	$165K	+3.1%
Machine Learning Engineer	$125K	$168K	$215K	$275K	+8.4%
Cloud Architect	$130K	$170K	$215K	$265K	+6.8%
Frontend Developer	$82K	$112K	$145K	$185K	+4.5%
Backend Developer	$90K	$125K	$160K	$200K	+4.3%
Full Stack Developer	$88K	$120K	$155K	$195K	+4.6%
Mobile Developer	$90K	$125K	$162K	$205K	+5.2%
Data Engineer	$98K	$132K	$168K	$210K	+6.5%
Data Analyst	$60K	$82K	$108K	$140K	+4%
Database Administrator	$78K	$105K	$135K	$170K	+2.8%
Systems Administrator	$62K	$86K	$112K	$142K	+2.2%
Network Engineer	$75K	$100K	$130K	$165K	+3%
IT Manager	$100K	$135K	$172K	$215K	+3.5%
Scrum Master	$88K	$115K	$145K	$180K	+3.2%
Solutions Architect	$120K	$158K	$200K	$250K	+5.8%
AI Engineer	$130K	$175K	$225K	$290K	+12%
Blockchain Developer	$110K	$150K	$195K	$250K	+7.5%
QA Engineer	$70K	$95K	$125K	$158K	+3%
Site Reliability Engineer	$115K	$152K	$192K	$238K	+7%
Embedded Systems Engineer	$85K	$112K	$142K	$178K	+3.8%
Technical Writer	$58K	$79K	$102K	$130K	+2.5%
IT Support Specialist	$42K	$58K	$76K	$98K	+2%
Information Security Manager	$115K	$152K	$195K	$245K	+7.8%
Penetration Tester	$88K	$118K	$152K	$195K	+8.2%
Computer Vision Engineer	$120K	$162K	$208K	$265K	+9.5%
NLP Engineer	$125K	$168K	$215K	$272K	+10.2%
Game Developer	$72K	$98K	$132K	$172K	+4.8%
Salesforce Developer	$90K	$120K	$155K	$195K	+5.5%
ERP Consultant	$85K	$115K	$150K	$190K	+3.8%

Healthcare salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Registered Nurse	$85K	$107K	$135K	$169K	+3.5%
Physician Assistant	$140K	$169K	$202K	$241K	+4.8%
Physical Therapist	$98K	$124K	$150K	$182K	+3.2%
Healthcare Administrator	$94K	$135K	$182K	$241K	+4.1%
Nurse Practitioner	$130K	$157K	$189K	$228K	+5.2%
Pharmacist	$153K	$172K	$192K	$215K	+1.2%
Medical Doctor	$254K	$322K	$416K	$546K	+2.8%
Dentist	$192K	$234K	$293K	$377K	+2.5%
Occupational Therapist	$94K	$117K	$143K	$172K	+3.8%
Radiologist	$377K	$494K	$611K	$728K	+2.2%
Surgeon	$364K	$494K	$650K	$845K	+2.5%
Anesthesiologist	$390K	$507K	$624K	$754K	+2.1%
Medical Lab Technician	$55K	$73K	$94K	$117K	+3.2%
Respiratory Therapist	$75K	$94K	$117K	$146K	+3.8%
Speech-Language Pathologist	$88K	$111K	$137K	$166K	+4.2%
Clinical Psychologist	$94K	$124K	$163K	$211K	+3.5%
Psychiatrist	$254K	$322K	$403K	$520K	+3.8%
Medical Coder	$55K	$72K	$91K	$114K	+2.8%
ICU Nurse	$101K	$127K	$159K	$195K	+4%
Surgical Technologist	$59K	$75K	$94K	$117K	+3.5%
Paramedic	$49K	$65K	$85K	$107K	+3.2%
Registered Dietitian	$68K	$88K	$112K	$140K	+3.5%
Optometrist	$146K	$179K	$218K	$273K	+2.8%
Genetic Counselor	$94K	$117K	$143K	$176K	+5.8%

Finance salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Financial Analyst	$94K	$131K	$179K	$248K	+3.6%
Accountant	$76K	$108K	$145K	$193K	+2.2%
Investment Banker	$166K	$248K	$386K	$621K	+3.9%
Actuary	$131K	$173K	$224K	$283K	+5.5%
Financial Advisor	$80K	$131K	$204K	$317K	+3.8%
Portfolio Manager	$159K	$224K	$311K	$442K	+4.2%
Risk Analyst	$94K	$127K	$168K	$218K	+4.5%
Tax Manager	$131K	$177K	$228K	$290K	+3%
Financial Controller	$145K	$193K	$251K	$324K	+3.2%
Chief Financial Officer	$241K	$345K	$497K	$718K	+3.5%
Credit Analyst	$72K	$97K	$127K	$166K	+2.8%
Mortgage Loan Officer	$66K	$99K	$149K	$224K	+2.5%
Compliance Officer	$99K	$135K	$179K	$237K	+4.8%
Hedge Fund Analyst	$159K	$228K	$331K	$524K	+3.5%
Private Equity Analyst	$152K	$218K	$311K	$483K	+4%
Quantitative Analyst	$173K	$237K	$317K	$442K	+6.2%
Bookkeeper	$52K	$66K	$83K	$105K	+1%
Budget Analyst	$86K	$113K	$144K	$179K	+2.5%
Insurance Underwriter	$80K	$108K	$141K	$182K	+2%
Venture Capital Analyst	$131K	$186K	$255K	$359K	+5.5%

Engineering salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Mechanical Engineer	$95K	$127K	$164K	$205K	+2.8%
Petroleum Engineer	$145K	$191K	$248K	$317K	+1.5%
Civil Engineer	$90K	$119K	$156K	$198K	+3.4%
Electrical Engineer	$103K	$139K	$180K	$224K	+3.1%
Chemical Engineer	$106K	$143K	$185K	$235K	+2.5%
Aerospace Engineer	$119K	$161K	$209K	$261K	+3.8%
Industrial Engineer	$95K	$127K	$164K	$209K	+3.5%
Environmental Engineer	$90K	$121K	$158K	$201K	+4.2%
Biomedical Engineer	$95K	$129K	$169K	$214K	+5.2%
Structural Engineer	$92K	$121K	$158K	$201K	+3.2%
Nuclear Engineer	$125K	$165K	$209K	$261K	+2.2%
Materials Engineer	$95K	$129K	$169K	$214K	+3%
Geotechnical Engineer	$90K	$119K	$156K	$198K	+3.5%
Controls Engineer	$103K	$137K	$177K	$222K	+4%
Manufacturing Engineer	$92K	$125K	$161K	$205K	+3.2%
Process Engineer	$95K	$129K	$169K	$214K	+3.5%
Quality Engineer	$86K	$116K	$152K	$195K	+3%

Business salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Marketing Manager	$108K	$152K	$210K	$276K	+3.3%
Human Resources Manager	$103K	$144K	$193K	$248K	+2.9%
Project Manager	$99K	$135K	$182K	$235K	+3.7%
Operations Manager	$94K	$135K	$186K	$248K	+2.5%
Business Analyst	$86K	$117K	$155K	$200K	+3.8%
Management Consultant	$110K	$159K	$224K	$311K	+4.2%
Supply Chain Manager	$108K	$149K	$196K	$251K	+4.5%
Sales Manager	$99K	$145K	$210K	$297K	+3.5%
Account Executive	$76K	$108K	$155K	$224K	+3.8%
Chief Executive Officer	$214K	$324K	$524K	$856K	+3.2%
Chief Operating Officer	$200K	$290K	$442K	$662K	+3%
Chief Marketing Officer	$200K	$290K	$425K	$635K	+3.5%
General Manager	$103K	$149K	$210K	$290K	+2.8%
Logistics Coordinator	$58K	$77K	$99K	$127K	+3.5%
Purchasing Manager	$108K	$149K	$193K	$246K	+2.5%
Digital Marketing Manager	$94K	$131K	$177K	$232K	+5.5%
SEO Specialist	$66K	$90K	$121K	$163K	+5.8%
Content Strategist	$76K	$103K	$138K	$179K	+5.2%
Brand Manager	$99K	$135K	$182K	$237K	+3.5%
Recruiter	$66K	$90K	$121K	$166K	+3.2%
Executive Assistant	$72K	$94K	$121K	$155K	+1.8%
Public Relations Manager	$94K	$131K	$179K	$237K	+3%
Event Planner	$58K	$77K	$103K	$138K	+3.8%

Education salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
K-12 Teacher	$56K	$78K	$103K	$131K	+1.8%
University Professor	$81K	$113K	$163K	$238K	+2.1%
School Principal	$103K	$128K	$156K	$190K	+2.2%
Instructional Designer	$73K	$95K	$123K	$156K	+4.5%
School Counselor	$60K	$78K	$100K	$125K	+3%
Special Education Teacher	$60K	$81K	$105K	$135K	+3.5%
Curriculum Developer	$69K	$90K	$115K	$148K	+3.8%
Education Administrator	$90K	$119K	$153K	$194K	+2.5%
Librarian	$60K	$78K	$100K	$125K	+1.5%
Academic Advisor	$50K	$65K	$85K	$108K	+3%

Legal salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Attorney	$113K	$186K	$302K	$508K	+3.5%
Paralegal	$61K	$81K	$107K	$138K	+3.8%
Corporate Lawyer	$167K	$254K	$406K	$653K	+3.8%
Patent Attorney	$196K	$268K	$360K	$493K	+4.2%
Compliance Lawyer	$145K	$210K	$287K	$384K	+5%
Judge	$138K	$196K	$264K	$348K	+1.5%
Legal Operations Manager	$138K	$189K	$247K	$319K	+6.5%

Construction salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Construction Manager	$103K	$139K	$182K	$238K	+4.5%
Electrician	$69K	$90K	$116K	$152K	+6.2%
Plumber	$69K	$90K	$119K	$156K	+5.5%
HVAC Technician	$63K	$82K	$106K	$135K	+5.8%
Welder	$50K	$66K	$84K	$108K	+3.5%
Carpenter	$55K	$74K	$98K	$125K	+4%
Land Surveyor	$77K	$103K	$135K	$172K	+3.8%
Construction Estimator	$82K	$111K	$145K	$187K	+4.2%

Real Estate salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Real Estate Agent	$38K	$62K	$105K	$180K	+3.5%
Real Estate Broker	$55K	$95K	$162K	$275K	+3.5%
Property Manager	$48K	$65K	$88K	$118K	+3.2%
Real Estate Appraiser	$52K	$72K	$98K	$132K	+2.8%
Commercial Real Estate Analyst	$62K	$88K	$120K	$162K	+4%

Government salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Urban Planner	$87K	$116K	$148K	$189K	+3.8%
Social Worker	$58K	$80K	$104K	$133K	+3.5%
Firefighter	$61K	$84K	$113K	$148K	+2.8%
Police Officer	$70K	$94K	$128K	$167K	+2.5%
Military Officer	$80K	$119K	$167K	$225K	+2%
Public Health Official	$99K	$133K	$174K	$225K	+4.5%
Policy Analyst	$84K	$113K	$148K	$191K	+3.5%
Government Budget Officer	$90K	$119K	$152K	$196K	+2.5%

Science salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Biologist	$73K	$103K	$139K	$185K	+3.5%
Chemist	$77K	$106K	$143K	$187K	+3.2%
Physicist	$103K	$148K	$201K	$264K	+4%
Geologist	$82K	$116K	$156K	$205K	+3.8%
Epidemiologist	$90K	$119K	$156K	$201K	+4.5%
Biochemist	$82K	$116K	$161K	$214K	+4.2%
Environmental Scientist	$73K	$100K	$132K	$174K	+4.8%
Research Scientist	$95K	$129K	$174K	$231K	+4.5%
Pharmaceutical Data Scientist	$139K	$187K	$240K	$301K	+7.5%
Clinical Research Coordinator	$63K	$82K	$106K	$135K	+5.5%
Laboratory Manager	$86K	$116K	$152K	$195K	+3.8%

Creative salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Graphic Designer	$53K	$73K	$98K	$128K	+3%
Art Director	$90K	$125K	$169K	$223K	+2.8%
Video Producer	$60K	$85K	$119K	$169K	+4.2%
Copywriter	$56K	$78K	$106K	$144K	+3.5%
Photographer	$40K	$58K	$85K	$125K	+3%
Animator	$65K	$90K	$123K	$169K	+4.5%
Journalist	$48K	$65K	$90K	$128K	+1.5%
Social Media Manager	$56K	$75K	$103K	$138K	+6.5%
Interior Designer	$53K	$73K	$100K	$135K	+3.2%
Fashion Designer	$60K	$85K	$123K	$181K	+2.5%
Music Producer	$48K	$78K	$131K	$231K	+3.5%
UX Researcher	$103K	$140K	$181K	$231K	+5.5%

Hospitality salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Hotel Manager	$63K	$88K	$120K	$165K	+3.2%
Executive Chef	$63K	$83K	$112K	$156K	+3.8%
Restaurant Manager	$51K	$68K	$90K	$120K	+3.5%
Travel Agent	$43K	$56K	$76K	$104K	+3%
Sommelier	$51K	$71K	$100K	$140K	+3.2%

Retail salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Retail Store Manager	$50K	$70K	$94K	$126K	+2%
Sales Representative	$50K	$74K	$110K	$166K	+3.5%
Retail Buyer	$62K	$86K	$118K	$156K	+2.5%
E-Commerce Manager	$74K	$102K	$138K	$182K	+7.5%
Business Development Manager	$86K	$122K	$168K	$230K	+4.5%

Transportation salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Airline Pilot	$134K	$205K	$301K	$422K	+5.2%
Logistics Manager	$92K	$125K	$166K	$215K	+4.5%
Truck Driver (CDL)	$54K	$67K	$87K	$113K	+4.8%
Transportation Planner	$79K	$105K	$138K	$179K	+4.2%
Fleet Manager	$74K	$100K	$131K	$169K	+4%

Energy salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Energy Engineer	$94K	$126K	$166K	$210K	+6.5%
Solar Installer	$50K	$62K	$82K	$106K	+22%
Wind Turbine Technician	$58K	$72K	$91K	$118K	+45%
Oil & Gas Operations Manager	$132K	$178K	$230K	$298K	+2%
Energy Analyst	$74K	$102K	$134K	$174K	+6%

Nonprofit salaries in Washington

Job title	Entry (25th)	Median	Senior (75th)	Top (90th)	YoY
Nonprofit Executive Director	$79K	$109K	$151K	$211K	+3.2%
Grant Writer	$61K	$79K	$102K	$131K	+3.5%
Fundraising Manager	$67K	$90K	$122K	$166K	+3.8%
Case Manager	$49K	$64K	$82K	$105K	+3.5%
Community Outreach Coordinator	$49K	$64K	$83K	$108K	+3.8%

Working in Washington, District of Columbia: Salary Guide (2026)

Washington is home to the Washington–DC metropolitan area with a population of 689,545. The city has a cost of living index of 152 (US average = 100), meaning living costs are above the national average.

District of Columbia has a 8.5% state income tax rate. When comparing offers with cities in no-income-tax states like Texas, Washington, or Florida, factor in this difference.

Top-paying industries in Washington

Washington's economy spans multiple high-wage sectors. The city's diverse employer base creates strong demand across technology, healthcare, finance, and professional services.

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