Median DOL Salary
$89,337
Total DOL Filings
27,616
Companies Hiring
6,009
Cost of Living Index
146.0
National avg = 100Location vs National
Washington, DC$89,337
National Average$60,917
The weighted median salary in Washington, DC is 46.7% above the national average across all occupations.
Top Employers in Washington
Highest-Paying Occupations in Washington
| Job Title | Median Salary | vs National | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $175,000 | N/A | 67 |
| Lawyers | $171,000 | -10.9% | 406 |
| Financial Managers | $169,790 | -6.3% | 55 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $150,000 | +13.6% | 47 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $131,820 | -25.5% | 6 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $130,387 | -32.1% | 72 |
| Managers, All Other | $127,293 | -26% | 19 |
| Optometrists | $124,300 | -19.4% | 10 |
| Nuclear Engineers | $120,000 | -36.8% | 6 |
| Medical and Health Services Managers | $120,000 | -25.5% | 37 |
| Financial Examiners | $117,936 | -33.6% | 5 |
| Dentists, General | $117,114 | N/A | 10 |
| Marketing Managers | $115,000 | -31.6% | 40 |
| Pharmacists | $112,923 | -20.2% | 38 |
| Sales Engineers | $111,738 | -37.8% | 11 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $110,250 | -33% | 34 |
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $110,000 | -32% | 16 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $110,000 | -18.3% | 29 |
| Economists | $109,866 | -32.4% | 474 |
| Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers | $106,205 | -26.3% | 5 |
BLS Wage Survey Data - District of Columbia
Independent Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey - all workers, not just sponsored positions.BLS metro-level data is not available for this area. Showing state-level data for District of Columbia.
| Occupation | BLS Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $236,610 | 90 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $228,300 | 70 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | $212,830 | N/A |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $209,250 | 620 |
| Psychiatrists | $193,470 | 240 |
| Lawyers | $191,880 | 33,430 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $191,880 | 5,060 |
| Legal Occupations | $191,800 | 41,650 |
| Nuclear Engineers | $189,800 | 240 |
| Public Relations Managers | $185,810 | 8,640 |
Salary Trend in Washington, DC
Median DOL-filed salary by fiscal yearCost of Living Comparison
Washington, DC has a cost of living index of 146.0, which is 46% more expensive than the national average. A salary of $100,000 here has the purchasing power equivalent of $68,493 in an average-cost city.
Top-Paying Occupations - COL-Adjusted
| Job Title | Median Salary | COL-Adjusted Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Executives | $175,000 | $119,863 |
| Lawyers | $171,000 | $117,123 |
| Financial Managers | $169,790 | $116,295 |
| Business Teachers, Postsecondary | $150,000 | $102,740 |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | $131,820 | $90,288 |
Compare to Other Cities
See how Washington, DC stacks up against other major hiring markets.Popular Salary Pages in Washington, DC
Source: US Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) public disclosure files (PERM Form ETA-9089 and LCA Form ETA-9035), and US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Salary figures represent employer filings and government survey estimates, not individual worker pay.