Average Salary in District of Columbia
Average wage, unemployment, and how District of Columbia ranks — from official BLS data.
The average worker in District of Columbia earns about $134,524 a year across all industries — about $67,585 above the national average. Roughly 726,106 jobs are covered in the state.
How it works
The average annual wage for District of Columbia is the BLS QCEW average weekly wage across all covered industries, annualized (2025 Q4). The unemployment rate is the seasonally adjusted state figure from BLS LAUS. These are averages — a typical (median) worker usually earns less than the average, which is pulled up by high earners.
Good to know
- Average wage is employer-reported and covers ~95% of US jobs; it runs higher than the median.
- Weigh District of Columbia's wage against its cost of living and rent before comparing states.
- Figures refresh as BLS releases new quarters.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in District of Columbia?
The average annual wage in District of Columbia is about $134,524, based on the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2025 Q4) — the average across all covered industries.
What is the unemployment rate in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 6.2% (BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics).
How does District of Columbia rank for pay?
District of Columbia ranks #1 of 51 states (and DC) by average wage.