Average Salaries in District of Columbia
Explore salaries across 475 occupations in District of Columbia. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $89.7K, +36.4% vs the national average. See the highest-paying roles, where the jobs are, and how local wages compare to the rest of the country.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates. Coverage: 475 occupations and 684,180 total jobs in District of Columbia.
How the state compares
District of Columbia is one of the higher-paying states in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
District of Columbia has a smaller labor market. Some occupations may have limited local demand or a narrower range of employers.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Neurologists. Drill into any occupation below to see its local pay distribution, employment, and how it compares to the national market.
Top-paying and largest occupations in District of Columbia
Two different lenses on the local labor market: which occupations pay the most, and which employ the most workers. The highest-paid list tends to favor specialized professional and technical roles. The largest list reflects where the everyday jobs actually are.
Highest-paid occupations in District of Columbia
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Neurologists | $332K | 50 |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | $318.2K | 120 |
| Podiatrists | $265.7K | N/A |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $233.4K | 150 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $223.3K | 490 |
| Anesthesiologists | $202.6K | 100 |
| Financial Examiners | $198.7K | 470 |
| Public Relations Managers | $197.6K | 7,410 |
| Lawyers | $195.2K | 33,070 |
| Computer And Information Systems Managers | $195.2K | 5,690 |
Largest occupations in District of Columbia
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 37,790 | $108.2K |
| General And Operations Managers | 36,150 | $168K |
| Lawyers | 33,070 | $195.2K |
| Management Analysts | 19,000 | $126.1K |
| Managers, All Other | 18,570 | $175.7K |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 17,200 | $156.6K |
| Public Relations Specialists | 16,720 | $102.7K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 16,400 | $38.5K |
| Security Guards | 15,880 | $64.2K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 12,810 | $42.7K |
What District of Columbia specializes in
The location quotient measures how concentrated an occupation is here compared to the national average. A value above 1.00 means the occupation is more common in District of Columbia than in the country as a whole, which signals what this state is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in District of Columbia
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Political Scientists | 122.81 | $152.5K |
| Economists | 37.34 | $167.6K |
| Public Relations Managers | 21.92 | $197.6K |
| Historians | 16.30 | $118.3K |
| Social Scientists And Related Workers, All Other | 14.81 | $128.4K |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 14.67 | $102.3K |
| Concierges | 13.48 | $38.2K |
| Marine Engineers And Naval Architects | 13.28 | $172.3K |
| Public Relations Specialists | 13.07 | $102.7K |
| Social Science Research Assistants | 11.25 | $65.3K |
Comparable states
| State | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $86.5K | Cardiologists |
| New York | $83.2K | Cardiologists |
| California | $83.2K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Massachusetts | $81.2K | Radiologists |
| New Jersey | $80.4K | Radiologists |
| Minnesota | $79.9K | Radiologists |
| Alaska | $79.6K | Emergency Medicine Physicians |
| Maryland | $79.5K | Radiologists |
Metros inside District of Columbia
Salaries can vary a lot within a single state. Urban metro areas typically pay more than rural regions, and specific industries cluster in particular cities. Drill into any metro below for its own full salary breakdown.
Major metros in District of Columbia
| Metro | Average median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $82.7K | 3,084,640 |
Common salary questions for District of Columbia
What does "average median" mean? +
It is the average of all occupation-level medians in this area. It gives a rough sense of the overall wage level here compared to other states or metros, but it is not the same as a household income figure or a single blended salary.
What is a location quotient? +
A location quotient (LQ) compares how concentrated an occupation is in this area versus the national average. An LQ of 2.0 means the occupation is twice as concentrated here as it is nationally. High-LQ occupations are what this area specializes in.
How are comparable areas selected? +
Peer areas are other states with a similar overall wage level and employment size. They give you a quick sense of how this area ranks among places with a comparable labor market.