Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
The highest paying job in District of Columbia is Neurologists, with a median salary of $332,000 per year. Below is the complete ranking of the top 25 careers in DC based on 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025
See how District of Columbia compares to other states. Click any state for its top-paying jobs.
Ranked by median annual salary. Click any job to see the full salary breakdown including percentile data and state-by-state comparisons.
| Rank | Occupation | Median Salary | Mean Salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neurologists | $332,000 | $276,260 | 50 |
| 2 | Emergency Medicine Physicians | $318,200 | $292,750 | 120 |
| 3 | Podiatrists | $265,740 | $231,170 | N/A |
| 4 | Family Medicine Physicians | $233,390 | $321,950 | 150 |
| 5 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | $223,250 | $207,560 | 490 |
| 6 | Anesthesiologists | $202,570 | $239,320 | 100 |
| 7 | Financial Examiners | $198,720 | $187,240 | 470 |
| 8 | Public Relations Managers | $197,600 | $217,060 | 7,410 |
| 9 | Computer and Information Systems Managers | $195,190 | $200,760 | 5,690 |
| 10 | Lawyers | $195,190 | $242,800 | 33,070 |
| 11 | Nuclear Engineers | $195,190 | $180,480 | 230 |
| 12 | Financial Managers | $188,880 | $210,420 | 8,930 |
| 13 | Architectural and Engineering Managers | $185,220 | $185,230 | 1,290 |
| 14 | Emergency Management Directors | $184,350 | $165,390 | 150 |
| 15 | Human Resources Managers | $184,350 | $187,830 | 2,250 |
| 16 | Psychiatrists | $183,080 | $181,090 | 310 |
| 17 | Radiologists | $182,450 | $268,900 | 80 |
| 18 | Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers | $181,060 | $171,730 | 300 |
| 19 | Marketing Managers | $177,170 | $194,070 | 3,470 |
| 20 | Purchasing Managers | $175,720 | $175,130 | 1,110 |
| 21 | Marine Engineers and Naval Architects | $172,330 | $156,300 | 490 |
| 22 | General and Operations Managers | $168,000 | $179,130 | 36,150 |
| 23 | Economists | $167,590 | $175,100 | 3,000 |
| 24 | Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $167,520 | $163,940 | 1,460 |
| 25 | Actuaries | $166,230 | $164,460 | 160 |
The top-paying careers in District of Columbia are concentrated in Healthcare Practitioners fields. The #1 job, Neurologists, pays $237,526 more than the state average of $94,473 per year.
At the 90th percentile, experienced Neurologists professionals in DC can earn up to $332,130 annually — making it one of the most lucrative career paths in the state.
Among the top 25, the minimum median salary is $166,230, meaning all jobs on this list pay significantly above the national average.
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See how District of Columbia's top salaries compare to other states.
Rankings are based on median annual salary from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 estimates. We use median rather than mean salary because it better represents typical earnings and is less affected by outliers.
Only occupations with state-level data published by BLS are included. Some specialized or rare occupations may not have data for every state. For full methodology details, see our Methodology page.