Jobs that actually got a raise in District of Columbia

Consumer prices rose about 26% between May 2019 and May 2025, so a wage that grew less than that lost ground while appearing to rise. The column on the right is the inflation-adjusted change; the nominal figure beneath it is what a paycheck comparison would have shown. Limited to occupations employing at least 50,000 people, so the ranking is not dominated by tiny, noisy ones.

Cost of living: prices in District of Columbia run 9.9% above the national average (2024), so a District of Columbia salary is worth about 0.91× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order. To see where a job pays a real premium, use jobs that pay more in District of Columbia.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in District of Columbia

OccupationMedian, District of Columbia · Real change since 2019

1Real Estate Sales Agents$123,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,450 – $129,760+113.2%+168.5% nominal
2Air Traffic Controllers$47,760
Associate's degree
$47,760 – $196,310+57.5%+98.3% nominal
3Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$167,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,810 – $304,510+42.8%+79.9% nominal
4Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$54,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,400 – $130,950+35.6%+70.7% nominal
5Counter and Rental Clerks$53,760
No formal educational credential
$45,160 – $62,500+35.0%+70.0% nominal
6Business Teachers, Postsecondary$128,370
Doctoral or professional degree
$62,930 – $265,940+29.8%+63.5% nominal
7Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$62,150
Associate's degree
$40,240 – $108,270+29.6%+63.3% nominal
8Cooks, Fast Food$44,670
No formal educational credential
$36,480 – $51,260+25.5%+58.1% nominal
9Security Guards$64,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,600 – $78,910+25.3%+57.8% nominal
10Dental Assistants$60,580
Postsecondary nondegree award
$47,530 – $74,960+23.4%+55.3% nominal
11Economics Teachers, Postsecondary$161,860
Doctoral or professional degree
$94,510 – $217,850+21.4%+52.9% nominal
12General Internal Medicine Physicians$223,250
Doctoral or professional degree
$48,710 – $513,990+20.9%+52.2% nominal
13Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$73,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $100,850+20.2%+51.4% nominal
14Cooks, Short Order$42,450
No formal educational credential
$39,650 – $47,060+19.2%+50.2% nominal
15Film and Video Editors$98,830
Bachelor's degree
$59,990 – $130,350+18.0%+48.6% nominal
16Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$68,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,690 – $156,730+17.7%+48.2% nominal
17Childcare Workers$47,340
High school diploma or equivalent
$39,050 – $56,790+17.7%+48.2% nominal
18Landscaping and Groundskeeping Workers$48,790
No formal educational credential
$38,980 – $66,500+16.9%+47.3% nominal
19First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving Workers$57,170
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,360 – $77,630+15.8%+45.9% nominal
20Nursing Assistants$47,700
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,900 – $57,500+15.5%+45.4% nominal
21Marine Engineers and Naval Architects$172,330
Bachelor's degree
$107,030 – $195,190+14.6%+44.3% nominal
22Respiratory Therapists$111,950
Associate's degree
$77,240 – $127,400+13.4%+42.8% nominal
23Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$60,400
No formal educational credential
$36,400 – $74,080+13.2%+42.6% nominal
24Architectural and Civil Drafters$97,880
Associate's degree
$67,850 – $120,190+13.1%+42.5% nominal
25Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses$75,740
Postsecondary nondegree award
$62,880 – $87,470+12.0%+41.0% nominal
26Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$101,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,310 – $117,180+11.7%+40.7% nominal
27Tour and Travel Guides$49,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,940 – $76,790+11.4%+40.3% nominal
28Home Health and Personal Care Aides$42,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,290 – $45,840+11.2%+40.0% nominal
29Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$101,150
High school diploma or equivalent
$70,240 – $144,680+11.0%+39.8% nominal
30Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$72,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,000 – $99,870+10.5%+39.1% nominal
31Driver/Sales Workers$41,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $57,650+9.9%+38.4% nominal
32Cooks, Restaurant$46,130
No formal educational credential
$36,440 – $53,020+8.7%+36.9% nominal
33Bakers$44,040
No formal educational credential
$38,720 – $51,430+8.5%+36.6% nominal
34Legal Support Workers, All Other$88,480
Associate's degree
$63,290 – $173,920+8.0%+36.0% nominal
35Camera Operators, Television, Video, and Film$98,300
Bachelor's degree
$62,450 – $134,450+6.9%+34.6% nominal
36Teaching Assistants, Except Postsecondary$46,920
Some college, no degree
$38,370 – $58,100+6.6%+34.2% nominal
37Receptionists and Information Clerks$49,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,050 – $64,270+6.4%+34.0% nominal
38Passenger Attendants$52,730
High school diploma or equivalent
$41,480 – $54,810+6.0%+33.5% nominal
39Tellers$45,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,400 – $47,480+6.0%+33.5% nominal
40Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$99,670
Bachelor's degree
$80,640 – $127,940+6.0%+33.5% nominal
41Self-Enrichment Teachers$66,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,470 – $96,380+5.9%+33.3% nominal
42Advertising Sales Agents$75,030
High school diploma or equivalent
$58,990 – $176,270+5.8%+33.2% nominal
43Economists$167,590
Master's degree
$98,350 – $299,110+5.6%+33.0% nominal
44Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks$72,660
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,980 – $96,730+5.5%+32.8% nominal
45Waiters and Waitresses$47,850
No formal educational credential
$36,400 – $100,240+5.1%+32.4% nominal
46Social and Human Service Assistants$59,460
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,930 – $86,090+5.1%+32.3% nominal
47Broadcast Technicians$108,270
Associate's degree
$45,220 – $133,880+4.9%+32.1% nominal
48Statisticians$140,670
Master's degree
$80,980 – $185,220+4.7%+31.9% nominal
49Computer Occupations, All Other$156,590
Bachelor's degree
$87,400 – $207,700+4.5%+31.6% nominal
50Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerks$47,060
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,540 – $61,620+4.5%+31.6% nominal

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianDistrict of Columbia	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	Real change since 2019
1	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,770	$38,450 – $129,760	+113.2%+168.5% nominal
2	Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree	$47,760	$47,760 – $196,310	+57.5%+98.3% nominal
3	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$167,520	$66,810 – $304,510	+42.8%+79.9% nominal
4	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,570	$36,400 – $130,950	+35.6%+70.7% nominal
5	Counter and Rental ClerksNo formal educational credential	$53,760	$45,160 – $62,500	+35.0%+70.0% nominal
6	Business Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$128,370	$62,930 – $265,940	+29.8%+63.5% nominal
7	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$62,150	$40,240 – $108,270	+29.6%+63.3% nominal
8	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$44,670	$36,480 – $51,260	+25.5%+58.1% nominal
9	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,210	$36,600 – $78,910	+25.3%+57.8% nominal
10	Dental AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$60,580	$47,530 – $74,960	+23.4%+55.3% nominal
11	Economics Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$161,860	$94,510 – $217,850	+21.4%+52.9% nominal
12	General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree	$223,250	$48,710 – $513,990	+20.9%+52.2% nominal
13	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,590	$46,560 – $100,850	+20.2%+51.4% nominal
14	Cooks, Short OrderNo formal educational credential	$42,450	$39,650 – $47,060	+19.2%+50.2% nominal
15	Film and Video EditorsBachelor's degree	$98,830	$59,990 – $130,350	+18.0%+48.6% nominal
16	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,600	$40,690 – $156,730	+17.7%+48.2% nominal
17	Childcare WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,340	$39,050 – $56,790	+17.7%+48.2% nominal
18	Landscaping and Groundskeeping WorkersNo formal educational credential	$48,790	$38,980 – $66,500	+16.9%+47.3% nominal
19	First-Line Supervisors of Food Preparation and Serving WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,170	$40,360 – $77,630	+15.8%+45.9% nominal
20	Nursing AssistantsPostsecondary nondegree award	$47,700	$38,900 – $57,500	+15.5%+45.4% nominal
21	Marine Engineers and Naval ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$172,330	$107,030 – $195,190	+14.6%+44.3% nominal
22	Respiratory TherapistsAssociate's degree	$111,950	$77,240 – $127,400	+13.4%+42.8% nominal
23	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$60,400	$36,400 – $74,080	+13.2%+42.6% nominal
24	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$97,880	$67,850 – $120,190	+13.1%+42.5% nominal
25	Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational NursesPostsecondary nondegree award	$75,740	$62,880 – $87,470	+12.0%+41.0% nominal
26	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,020	$52,310 – $117,180	+11.7%+40.7% nominal
27	Tour and Travel GuidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,210	$36,940 – $76,790	+11.4%+40.3% nominal
28	Home Health and Personal Care AidesHigh school diploma or equivalent	$42,700	$38,290 – $45,840	+11.2%+40.0% nominal
29	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,150	$70,240 – $144,680	+11.0%+39.8% nominal
30	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,260	$45,000 – $99,870	+10.5%+39.1% nominal
31	Driver/Sales WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,600	$36,400 – $57,650	+9.9%+38.4% nominal
32	Cooks, RestaurantNo formal educational credential	$46,130	$36,440 – $53,020	+8.7%+36.9% nominal
33	BakersNo formal educational credential	$44,040	$38,720 – $51,430	+8.5%+36.6% nominal
34	Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree	$88,480	$63,290 – $173,920	+8.0%+36.0% nominal
35	Camera Operators, Television, Video, and FilmBachelor's degree	$98,300	$62,450 – $134,450	+6.9%+34.6% nominal
36	Teaching Assistants, Except PostsecondarySome college, no degree	$46,920	$38,370 – $58,100	+6.6%+34.2% nominal
37	Receptionists and Information ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,060	$37,050 – $64,270	+6.4%+34.0% nominal
38	Passenger AttendantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,730	$41,480 – $54,810	+6.0%+33.5% nominal
39	TellersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,590	$36,400 – $47,480	+6.0%+33.5% nominal
40	Special Education Teachers, Secondary SchoolBachelor's degree	$99,670	$80,640 – $127,940	+6.0%+33.5% nominal
41	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,430	$49,470 – $96,380	+5.9%+33.3% nominal
42	Advertising Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$75,030	$58,990 – $176,270	+5.8%+33.2% nominal
43	EconomistsMaster's degree	$167,590	$98,350 – $299,110	+5.6%+33.0% nominal
44	Production, Planning, and Expediting ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,660	$47,980 – $96,730	+5.5%+32.8% nominal
45	Waiters and WaitressesNo formal educational credential	$47,850	$36,400 – $100,240	+5.1%+32.4% nominal
46	Social and Human Service AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$59,460	$40,930 – $86,090	+5.1%+32.3% nominal
47	Broadcast TechniciansAssociate's degree	$108,270	$45,220 – $133,880	+4.9%+32.1% nominal
48	StatisticiansMaster's degree	$140,670	$80,980 – $185,220	+4.7%+31.9% nominal
49	Computer Occupations, All OtherBachelor's degree	$156,590	$87,400 – $207,700	+4.5%+31.6% nominal
50	Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk ClerksHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,060	$38,540 – $61,620	+4.5%+31.6% nominal

More for District of Columbia

Metro areas in District of Columbia

Pay varies more between metros than between states — the spread inside one state is often wider than the gap between two.

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria

By field in District of Columbia

Without a degree

The same fields, narrowed to what you can enter without one. Fields missing here have too few such occupations in District of Columbia to rank honestly.

Jobs that actually got a raise in District of Columbia

More for District of Columbia

Metro areas in District of Columbia

By field in District of Columbia

Without a degree

Jobs that actually got a raise in each state