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 $141,700 a year across all industries — about $74,173 above the national average. Roughly 715,766 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 (2026 Q1). 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.
Can't find the exact calculator you need?
Describe it in one sentence — get a working, math-verified calculator in seconds. Free, no signup.
Build your own calculatorRelated Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average salary in District of Columbia?
The average annual wage in District of Columbia is about $141,700, based on the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2026 Q1) — the average across all covered industries.
What is the average hourly wage in District of Columbia?
About $68.13 per hour, assuming a 40-hour week (2,080 hours a year) — that's $2,725 a week or $11,808 a month. Part-time and overtime patterns shift the true hourly figure for any individual job.
What is a good salary in District of Columbia?
Anything above the state's average wage of $141,700 exceeds what the average job in District of Columbia pays — and since averages are pulled up by top earners, the typical (median) worker earns somewhat less than that. What counts as comfortable also depends heavily on local housing costs, so weigh the figure against your rent or mortgage.
What is the unemployment rate in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 5.9% (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.