Average Salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Explore salaries across 713 occupations in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. The average median wage across all tracked occupations is $82.7K, +25.8% 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: 713 occupations and 3,084,640 total jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV.
How the metro compares
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is one of the higher-paying metros in the country. Average wages here run meaningfully above the national level, though local cost of living often offsets some of that premium.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is one of the largest metro labor markets in the country.
The highest-paid occupation tracked here is Radiologists. 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Occupation | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Radiologists | $443K | N/A |
| Anesthesiologists | $397.2K | 200 |
| Dermatologists | $330K | N/A |
| Cardiologists | $253.6K | N/A |
| Orthodontists | $248.1K | N/A |
| Psychiatrists | $247K | 550 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $237.2K | 90 |
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $226.6K | N/A |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $225.1K | 1,470 |
| Surgeons, All Other | $224.9K | 340 |
Largest occupations in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Occupation | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| General And Operations Managers | 112,530 | $156.5K |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 76,600 | $104.8K |
| Software Developers | 69,060 | $154.9K |
| Retail Salespersons | 66,920 | $36.6K |
| Management Analysts | 62,360 | $126.8K |
| Fast Food And Counter Workers | 60,560 | $34.6K |
| Janitors And Cleaners, Except Maids And Housekeeping Cleaners | 59,090 | $37.8K |
| Cashiers | 50,600 | $35.5K |
| Home Health And Personal Care Aides | 50,450 | $38.5K |
| Lawyers | 46,840 | $195.2K |
What Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV than in the country as a whole, which signals what this metro is known for.
Most concentrated occupations in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Occupation | Location quotient | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Political Scientists | 33.11 | $156.7K |
| Economists | 12.74 | $156.8K |
| Astronomers | 12.12 | $156.8K |
| Healthcare Diagnosing Or Treating Practitioners, All Other | 10.35 | $166.2K |
| Artists And Related Workers, All Other | 10.06 | $125.1K |
| Geographers | 9.85 | $118.3K |
| Social Scientists And Related Workers, All Other | 8.31 | $138.3K |
| Legal Support Workers, All Other | 6.82 | $169.7K |
| Public Relations Managers | 6.27 | $195.2K |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | 6.08 | $171K |
Comparable metros
| Metro | Average median | Highest-paid occupation |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $98.7K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $95.7K | Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $92.6K | Cardiologists |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $87.1K | Cardiologists |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $83.8K | Radiologists |
| Boulder, CO | $82.3K | Surgeons, All Other |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $82.3K | Radiologists |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | $81.8K | Cardiologists |
Common salary questions for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
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 metros 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.