Jobs, pay and daily life in Washington, from official statistics with source and year on every table.
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By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Washington is a city in District of Columbia with 702,250 residents. The median household earns $109,707 a year and the median rent is $1,931 a month, which is 21.1% of the median household income. It is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area, where BLS counts 3,136,190 jobs.
Federal jobs in District of Columbia (1,456) →State guide: District of ColumbiaCountry guide
There are 1,456 federal postings open in District of Columbia (USAJOBS, state level; we do not have a city filter for them). Private-sector jobs are not in this feed.
Open federal jobs in District of Columbia →
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General and Operations Managers | 112,530 | 1.59 | $156,460 | $67,600 | $291,420 | +48% |
| Business Operations Specialists, All Other | 76,600 | 3.49 | $104,770 | $59,010 | $184,020 | +26% |
| Software Developers | 69,060 | 2.03 | $154,930 | $96,450 | $213,660 | +14% |
| Retail Salespersons | 66,920 | 0.85 | $36,610 | $30,640 | $47,800 | +3% |
| Management Analysts | 62,360 | 3.44 | $126,830 | $78,970 | $181,280 | +25% |
| Fast Food and Counter Workers | 60,560 | 0.78 | $34,600 | $30,460 | $42,490 | +11% |
| Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 59,090 | 1.33 | $37,840 | $31,720 | $48,780 | +3% |
| Cashiers | 50,600 | 0.81 | $35,470 | $30,330 | $44,710 | +8% |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | 50,450 | 0.58 | $38,530 | $30,670 | $46,080 | +8% |
| Lawyers | 46,840 | 3.08 | $195,190 | $106,520 | $382,890 | +22% |
| Registered Nurses | 46,830 | 0.69 | $102,710 | $80,750 | $132,900 | +5% |
| Waiters and Waitresses | 46,160 | 1.01 | $46,040 | $31,880 | $81,060 | +31% |
| Managers, All Other | 42,010 | 3.35 | $170,980 | $128,610 | $221,230 | +20% |
| Accountants and Auditors | 41,470 | 1.42 | $102,140 | $67,530 | $170,980 | +22% |
| Security Guards | 40,950 | 1.58 | $46,830 | $36,530 | $78,790 | +23% |
| Office Clerks, General | 39,410 | 0.79 | $51,880 | $36,230 | $76,240 | +15% |
| Project Management Specialists | 38,230 | 1.78 | $127,030 | $74,110 | $192,450 | +24% |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 37,010 | 1.08 | $53,660 | $37,890 | $79,660 | +13% |
| Customer Service Representatives | 36,750 | 0.70 | $46,220 | $35,640 | $73,150 | +3% |
| Stockers and Order Fillers | 35,340 | 0.62 | $37,870 | $31,280 | $50,050 | +1% |
| Occupation ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay (year) ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychiatrists | 550 | 0.97 | $246,990 | $45,150 | $377,060 | -12% |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | 770 | 1.17 | ≥ $239,200 | ≥ $239,200 | ≥ $239,200 | n/a |
| Family Medicine Physicians | 1,470 | 0.68 | $225,140 | $125,150 | $329,200 | -8% |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | 1,370 | 1.01 | $223,250 | $60,580 | $423,610 | -13% |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | 5,100 | 2.44 | $209,750 | $94,790 | $358,480 | -10% |
| Physicians, All Other | 10,650 | 1.54 | $208,710 | $77,430 | $402,900 | -22% |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | 20,800 | 1.54 | $195,190 | $133,100 | $295,960 | +11% |
| Lawyers | 46,840 | 3.08 | $195,190 | $106,520 | $382,890 | +22% |
| Public Relations Managers | 9,470 | 6.27 | $195,190 | $117,350 | $340,440 | +33% |
| Financial Managers | 26,430 | 1.56 | $185,270 | $122,670 | $327,470 | +11% |
| Architectural and Engineering Managers | 5,500 | 1.24 | $185,220 | $138,180 | $259,680 | +8% |
| Dentists, General | 3,040 | 1.21 | $184,540 | $105,610 | $324,370 | +8% |
| Marketing Managers | 8,900 | 1.12 | $181,260 | $106,860 | $296,500 | +9% |
| Human Resources Managers | 6,280 | 1.41 | $177,960 | $111,720 | $282,330 | +19% |
| Sales Managers | 8,780 | 0.68 | $175,820 | $83,560 | $306,700 | +19% |
| Air Traffic Controllers | 1,800 | 3.96 | $174,870 | $47,760 | $225,680 | +18% |
| Pediatricians, General | 550 | 0.69 | $172,520 | $79,240 | $354,030 | -18% |
| Purchasing Managers | 4,180 | 2.46 | $172,150 | $132,890 | $217,790 | +16% |
| Compensation and Benefits Managers | 590 | 1.27 | $171,950 | $116,580 | $281,000 | +15% |
| Physicists | 1,520 | 3.69 | $171,580 | $98,950 | $225,680 | -0% |
These figures are for the whole Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metropolitan area, not the city alone.
Median pay across all occupations: $71,060 (US $50,980); unemployment 3.7% (2026M09).
| Industry (residents) ⇅ | Share of employed residents ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, management, administrative | 24.8% |
| Public administration | 18.3% |
| Education and health care | 18.1% |
| Other services | 10.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, accommodation, food | 7.7% |
| Finance, insurance, real estate | 5.4% |
| Retail trade | 4.5% |
| Information | 4.2% |
| Transportation, warehousing, utilities | 2.2% |
| Construction | 1.9% |
| Manufacturing | 1.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 0.6% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining | 0.3% |
| How residents get to work ⇅ | Share ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Drive alone | 29.3% |
| Public transit | 26.6% |
| Walk | 10.7% |
| Work from home | 22.9% |
| Commute of 45 minutes or more | 19.8% |
Shares are of workers aged 16 and over; they describe residents, wherever they work.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $109,707 |
| Income per person | $76,604 |
| Median gross rent per month | $1,931 |
| Yearly rent as share of median household income | 21.1% |
| Median home value | $733,400 |
| Homeowners | 40.9% |
| Poverty rate | 17.3% |
| Price level of the metro area (US = 100) | 108.9 |
| Metro median pay, all occupations | $71,060 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set; graduated states show 0 until you enter your own estimate. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
State tax: Graduated, top rate 10.75%.
| Indicator ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 |
| High school or higher (25+) | 92.0% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (25+) | 65.5% |
| Born abroad | 15.5% |
| Labour force participation (16+) | 70.5% |
Work permits are federal: see permits and first steps.
| Month ⇅ | Mean temperature (°C) ⇅ | Mean temperature (°F) ⇅ | Precipitation (mm) ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 0.1 | 32 | 67 |
| Feb | 1.3 | 34 | 70 |
| Mar | 5.8 | 42 | 84 |
| Apr | 12.2 | 54 | 92 |
| May | 17.6 | 64 | 109 |
| Jun | 22.8 | 73 | 118 |
| Jul | 25.8 | 78 | 116 |
| Aug | 25.1 | 77 | 109 |
| Sep | 21.3 | 70 | 107 |
| Oct | 14.4 | 58 | 105 |
| Nov | 7.8 | 46 | 80 |
| Dec | 2.8 | 37 | 95 |
Satellite-reanalysis climatology on a grid of roughly 50 km, so it smooths local effects (hills, coast, city heat). It is not a weather-station record.
| City ⇅ | State ⇅ | Distance (straight line) ⇅ | Population ⇅ | Median household income ⇅ | Median rent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington | VA | 5 mi | 236,254 | $142,114 | $2,322 |
| Alexandria | VA | 7 mi | 156,976 | $119,681 | $2,089 |
| Baltimore | MD | 35 mi | 568,271 | $64,778 | $1,345 |
| Richmond | VA | 98 mi | 229,359 | $64,587 | $1,372 |
| Philadelphia | PA | 126 mi | 1,573,916 | $60,521 | $1,500 |
| Newport News | VA | 129 mi | 184,216 | $69,634 | $1,339 |
| Hampton | VA | 134 mi | 137,557 | $69,621 | $1,427 |
| Allentown | PA | 142 mi | 125,976 | $55,494 | $1,317 |
| Norfolk | VA | 143 mi | 233,596 | $66,109 | $1,321 |
| Virginia Beach | VA | 156 mi | 454,808 | $94,579 | $1,753 |
Straight-line distance in miles, not driving distance.
Pick two cities.
vs
702,250 (Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimate).
$1,931 a month (ACS 2020–2024), which is 21.1% of the median household income.
$109,707 (ACS 2020–2024, in 2024 dollars).
3.7% (BLS metro area 2026M09).
District of Columbia. See the state guide for minimum wage, taxes and pay.