District of Columbia Salary Data
Salary comparisons across 1 metropolitan area in District of Columbia. State income tax rate: approximately 6.5%.
Metro Areas in District of Columbia
| Metro Area | COL Index | vs US Avg | State Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 152 | +52% | 6.5% |
Top Paying Occupations in District of Columbia
| Occupation | DC Avg | National Avg | vs National | Top City |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | $188,000 | $136,800 | +$51,200 | Washington, DC |
| Software Developer | $152,000 | $127,433 | +$24,567 | Washington, DC |
| Financial Analyst | $108,000 | $89,367 | +$18,633 | Washington, DC |
| Registered Nurse | $95,000 | $80,900 | +$14,100 | Washington, DC |
| Electrician | $80,000 | $65,367 | +$14,633 | Washington, DC |
Salary by City — District of Columbia
4Working in District of Columbia: The Bigger Picture
District of Columbia hosts 1 major metropolitan area covered in this dataset: Washington. The range of cost-of-living indices across these metros — 152 to 152 — shows how much intra-state variance matters. Costs are fairly uniform across metros — relocation within the state won't dramatically shift purchasing power.
District of Columbia's state income tax rate of approximately 6.5% is near the national average. On a $100,000 salary, state tax takes roughly $6,500 per year. Deductions for retirement contributions, state-specific credits, and itemized deductions can reduce the effective rate.
Economic drivers shape which occupations pay well in District of Columbia. The state's highest-paying of our featured occupations is Lawyer at an average of $188,000, concentrated in Washington, DC. Metros with larger technology, healthcare, or financial-services concentrations tend to pay above national average for those roles; metros with primarily manufacturing, tourism, or agriculture tend to pay closer to national medians but with lower cost of living offsetting the difference.
For relocation planning, run the math both ways: (1) compare your current salary to the DC median for your occupation — if it's lower, you have negotiating leverage; and (2) compare the COL-adjusted figure, which tells you how much purchasing power you'd have. A 10% nominal pay cut in a 20% lower COL city is effectively a 12% raise in real terms. For a specific role, browse all occupations and drill into each one to see side-by-side city differences within District of Columbia.