Comprehensive salary overview for District of Columbia based on 671,060 workers across 477 occupations tracked by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
These are the highest paying occupations in District of Columbia based on median annual salary from BLS data.
| # | Occupation | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physicians, Pathologists | $234,320 | $225,150 | 40 |
| 2 | Chief Executives | $206,690 | $307,770 | 1,350 |
| 3 | Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $199,010 | $208,050 | 30 |
| 4 | Lawyers | $183,500 | $238,990 | 34,660 |
| 5 | Public Relations Managers | $183,500 | $224,110 | 8,220 |
| 6 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $181,650 | $189,220 | 4,550 |
| 7 | Financial Examiners | $180,290 | $170,530 | 460 |
| 8 | Emergency Management Directors | $176,450 | $167,680 | 140 |
| 9 | Art Directors | $175,440 | $146,630 | 600 |
| 10 | Nuclear Engineers | $174,390 | $163,610 | 260 |
| 11 | Financial Managers | $172,060 | $190,630 | 7,570 |
| 12 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $171,270 | $173,270 | 1,390 |
| 13 | Human Resources Managers | $171,220 | $180,750 | 2,160 |
| 14 | Aerospace Engineers | $166,310 | $152,400 | 410 |
| 15 | Compensation and Benefits Managers | $164,980 | $168,590 | 170 |
| 16 | Database Architects | $164,720 | $162,980 | 560 |
| 17 | Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $164,420 | $158,200 | 240 |
| 18 | Managers, All Other | $163,240 | $168,180 | 18,450 |
| 19 | Purchasing Managers | $163,240 | $162,040 | 1,220 |
| 20 | General and Operations Managers | $162,990 | $174,250 | 34,580 |
| 21 | Life Scientists, All Other | $160,140 | $172,440 | N/A |
| 22 | Economists | $158,830 | $163,540 | 3,290 |
| 23 | Engineers, All Other | $158,830 | $151,300 | 2,640 |
| 24 | Marketing Managers | $156,750 | $169,080 | 3,330 |
| 25 | Natural Sciences Managers | $154,420 | $149,960 | 1,500 |
The 10 lowest paying occupations in District of Columbia by median annual salary.
| Occupation | Median Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Amusement and Recreation Attendants | $33,490 | 320 |
| Manicurists and Pedicurists | $33,490 | 190 |
| Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers | $33,490 | 100 |
| Air Traffic Controllers | $34,130 | 610 |
| Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendants | $34,260 | 110 |
| Substitute Teachers, Short-Term | $34,440 | 160 |
| Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary | $35,070 | N/A |
| Parking Attendants | $35,210 | 1,930 |
| Cooks, Fast Food | $35,250 | 2,010 |
| Medical Transcriptionists | $35,580 | 220 |
The most common jobs in District of Columbia by total number of workers.
| Occupation | Workers | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 38,250 | $103,590 |
| Lawyers | 34,660 | $183,500 |
| General and Operations Managers | 34,580 | $162,990 |
| Management Analysts | 18,570 | $119,480 |
| Managers, All Other | 18,450 | $163,240 |
| Public Relations Specialists | 17,320 | $96,510 |
| Computer Occupations, All Other | 16,960 | $131,980 |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 14,640 | $37,660 |
| Security Guards | 14,570 | $51,110 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 12,260 | $54,790 |
See how average salaries in District of Columbia compare to other states across the country.
All salary data on this page comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 estimates. The average salary shown is the mean across all tracked occupations weighted by employment. For methodology details, see our Methodology page.