Accountant Salary in Washington, DC
Accountants in Washington, DC earn a median of $88,000/year, ranging from $67,000 (25th percentile) to $143,000 (90th percentile). After District of Columbia state taxes (6.5%) and cost-of-living adjustments (COL index 152), this is equivalent to $57,895 in purchasing power vs the US average.
On the ground in Washington, DC
Notable employers include Grant Thornton, Deloitte, Baker Tilly, and the federal contracting practices that work for Booz Allen, Leidos, and a long list of agency clients. A one-bedroom in Logan Circle or Columbia Heights runs around $2,000 to $2,400 monthly, with cheaper options in Arlington or Alexandria. The Metro is genuinely useful here - many accountants commute on the Red, Orange, or Blue lines and skip the car. DC's combined district income tax tops near 10.75% for higher earners. Federal-contracting client work means accountants here learn FAR/CAS cost accounting, indirect-rate proposals, and DCAA audit prep - a specialty unique to this metro and government contractor hubs nearby.
1Salary Distribution in Washington, DC
2Estimated Take-Home & Purchasing Power
* Estimates only. Does not include federal income tax, 401k, health insurance, or local taxes. Use the Salary Calculator for a detailed breakdown.
How Does Washington, DC Compare?
| City | Median | COL Index | COL-Adjusted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC (current) | $88,000 | 152 | $57,895 |
| San Francisco, CA | $95,000 | 186 | $51,075 |
| New York, NY | $98,000 | 187 | $52,406 |
| Seattle, WA | $85,000 | 162 | $52,469 |
| Boston, MA | $88,000 | 162 | $54,321 |
| Austin, TX | $75,000 | 124 | $60,484 |
4Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Accountant salary in Washington, DC?
The median Accountant salary in Washington, DC is $88,000 per year as of 2026 BLS OEWS data. The 25th percentile is $67,000 and the 90th percentile is $143,000.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a Accountant?
Washington, DC has a cost of living index of 152 (US average = 100). After adjusting for cost of living, a $88,000 Accountant salary in Washington, DC is equivalent to $57,895 in purchasing power compared to the US average.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Washington, DC?
Washington, DC has a cost of living index of 152, meaning it is 52% more expensive than the US average. The state income tax rate in District of Columbia is approximately 6.5%.
What is the Accountant salary range in Washington, DC?
In Washington, DC, Accountants earn between $67,000 (25th percentile) and $143,000 (90th percentile), with a median of $88,000 per year.
How many Accountant jobs are there in Washington, DC?
According to BLS OEWS data, there are approximately 25,000 Accountant positions in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.
What do Accountants earn in Washington, DC?
Based on BLS OEWS 2026 data, Accountants in Washington, DC earn a median annual wage of $88,000. The middle 50% earn between $67,000 and $114,000. The top 10% earn more than $143,000. There are approximately 25,000 Accountants employed in the Washington, DC metro area, with annual job growth estimated at 2%.
Is Washington, DC a good place for a Accountant?
Washington, DC has a cost of living index of 152 (US average = 100), making it 52% more expensive than the national average. After adjusting for cost of living, a Accountant in Washington, DC earning $88,000has the equivalent purchasing power of $57,895 relative to the US median. District of Columbia has a state income tax rate of approximately 6.5%.
What is the cost of living adjustment for Washington, DC?
Washington, DC's cost of living index is 152, based on composite data including housing, food, transportation, healthcare, and utilities. This means that $88,000 in Washington, DChas the same purchasing power as $57,895 in a city at exactly the US average cost of living. Housing is typically the largest driver of cost of living differences between metros.
Compare Washington, DC with Another City
See a detailed side-by-side comparison of salary, taxes, and purchasing power.
5Should You Work as a Accountant in Washington, DC?
The headline median of $88,000 is only part of the picture. Washington, DC's cost of living index is 152 (US average = 100), meaning a dollar here buys roughly 66¢ of what it buys in an average US city. The $88,000 salary effectively purchases $57,895 worth of goods and services at national-average prices.
Housing is the single biggest driver of cost-of-living differences between metros. In Washington, DC, the median household typically spends 35–45% of gross income on housing — significantly above the 28% "affordable" threshold most lenders use. For a $88,000 salary, that translates to roughly $35,200/year on housing alone.
State tax plays a meaningful but smaller role. District of Columbia levies a state income tax of approximately 6.5%, which reduces take-home by roughly $5,720 per year on this salary. States with zero income tax (Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada) offer a structural advantage, but often offset it with higher sales tax or property tax. After state tax and approximate federal FICA (~7.6%), the estimated take-home is $76,027. This excludes federal income tax, which varies by filing status and deductions.
For comparison, here are nearby alternatives: San Francisco, CA ($95,000 median, COL 186); New York, NY ($98,000 median, COL 187); Seattle, WA ($85,000 median, COL 162). If you're optimizing for purchasing power, compare the COL-adjusted column in the table above and pick the highest number. If you're optimizing for career progression, weight total employment and yearly growth in the role — larger markets offer more lateral moves and promotion velocity, even when nominal pay is lower.
The 2% year-over-year growth rate for Accountants in Washington, DC is a leading indicator of market health. A mature, slower-growth market — often higher-paid in absolute terms but with fewer open roles and slower lateral moves. For side-by-side comparisons, try the full city ranking for Accountants or the District of Columbia state overview.
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Program. All figures are approximate annual estimates based on the most recent available BLS data. Actual salaries may vary based on experience, education, employer size, and specific role. Cost-of-living data represents composite indices from publicly available metropolitan area data.