Jobs that pay the biggest premium in District of Columbia

Each occupation's median wage in District of Columbia compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where District of Columbia pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

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 · vs. national

1Printing Press Operators$116,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$48,840 – $138,590+154.8%
2Photographers$110,970
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,080 – $148,360+148.5%
3Real Estate Sales Agents$123,770
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,450 – $129,760+134.3%
4Financial Examiners$198,720
Bachelor's degree
$84,050 – $256,820+111.0%
5Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other$69,870
No formal educational credential
$55,140 – $72,220+87.9%
6Interpreters and Translators$109,970
Bachelor's degree
$58,720 – $128,610+82.8%
7Broadcast Technicians$108,270
Associate's degree
$45,220 – $133,880+81.8%
8Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers$60,400
No formal educational credential
$36,400 – $74,080+79.9%
9Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants$99,280
High school diploma or equivalent
$60,680 – $123,060+78.7%
10Detectives and Criminal Investigators$160,760
High school diploma or equivalent
$94,220 – $195,190+71.4%
11News Analysts, Reporters, and Journalists$105,390
Bachelor's degree
$64,600 – $222,040+69.4%
12Security Guards$64,210
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,600 – $78,910+68.9%
13Writers and Authors$129,300
Bachelor's degree
$74,990 – $172,480+68.1%
14Chemists$149,860
Bachelor's degree
$101,400 – $195,190+64.2%
15Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$83,130
Bachelor's degree
$49,500 – $118,770+63.4%
16Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education$62,150
Associate's degree
$40,240 – $108,270+63.0%
17Health Education Specialists$103,330
Bachelor's degree
$63,250 – $170,980+61.3%
18Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$132,620
Bachelor's degree
$78,270 – $185,220+61.3%
19Buyers and Purchasing Agents$124,090
Bachelor's degree
$69,910 – $182,310+59.7%
20General and Operations Managers$168,000
Bachelor's degree
$88,590 – $312,070+58.8%
21Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$101,020
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,310 – $117,180+58.3%
22Bartenders$53,920
No formal educational credential
$36,400 – $95,560+57.0%
23Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary$167,520
Doctoral or professional degree
$66,810 – $304,510+56.1%
24Financial Specialists, All Other$125,110
Bachelor's degree
$69,910 – $195,190+54.3%
25Historians$118,290
Master's degree
$60,160 – $156,750+54.1%
26Marine Engineers and Naval Architects$172,330
Bachelor's degree
$107,030 – $195,190+53.6%
27Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing Officers$181,060
Doctoral or professional degree
$107,050 – $207,480+53.6%
28Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists$54,570
Postsecondary nondegree award
$36,400 – $130,950+52.5%
29Healthcare Support Workers, All Other$73,590
High school diploma or equivalent
$46,560 – $100,850+52.0%
30Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$96,580
Bachelor's degree
$63,950 – $128,370+51.0%
31Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$97,910
Bachelor's degree
$65,450 – $128,370+50.4%
32Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other$68,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,690 – $156,730+50.2%
33First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers$83,710
High school diploma or equivalent
$52,050 – $105,230+49.6%
34Psychiatric Technicians$67,430
Postsecondary nondegree award
$42,440 – $78,460+49.4%
35Museum Technicians and Conservators$76,110
Bachelor's degree
$36,420 – $118,290+48.0%
36Architectural and Civil Drafters$97,880
Associate's degree
$67,850 – $120,190+48.0%
37Education Administrators, All Other$140,670
Bachelor's degree
$79,380 – $185,790+47.8%
38Interior Designers$98,450
Bachelor's degree
$66,930 – $140,870+46.5%
39Human Resources Specialists$110,970
Bachelor's degree
$65,280 – $170,330+46.1%
40Nuclear Engineers$195,190
Bachelor's degree
$128,960 – $207,480+45.7%
41Cooks, Fast Food$44,670
No formal educational credential
$36,480 – $51,260+44.6%
42Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance$72,260
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,000 – $99,870+43.5%
43Paralegals and Legal Assistants$89,750
Associate's degree
$59,770 – $131,650+42.7%
44Information and Record Clerks, All Other$70,490
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,440 – $91,790+42.4%
45Self-Enrichment Teachers$66,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,470 – $96,380+41.9%
46Switchboard Operators, Including Answering Service$54,700
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,140 – $63,420+41.6%
47Librarians and Media Collections Specialists$96,550
Master's degree
$63,540 – $126,660+41.4%
48Medical Records Specialists$72,040
Postsecondary nondegree award
$46,300 – $128,010+40.9%
49Teachers and Instructors, All Other$93,040
Bachelor's degree
$46,730 – $172,040+40.7%
50Dental Hygienists$137,220
Associate's degree
$86,120 – $155,840+39.9%

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	vs. national
1	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$116,630	$48,840 – $138,590	+154.8%
2	PhotographersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$110,970	$46,080 – $148,360	+148.5%
3	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$123,770	$38,450 – $129,760	+134.3%
4	Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree	$198,720	$84,050 – $256,820	+111.0%
5	Motor Vehicle Operators, All OtherNo formal educational credential	$69,870	$55,140 – $72,220	+87.9%
6	Interpreters and TranslatorsBachelor's degree	$109,970	$58,720 – $128,610	+82.8%
7	Broadcast TechniciansAssociate's degree	$108,270	$45,220 – $133,880	+81.8%
8	Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service WorkersNo formal educational credential	$60,400	$36,400 – $74,080	+79.9%
9	Legal Secretaries and Administrative AssistantsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$99,280	$60,680 – $123,060	+78.7%
10	Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$160,760	$94,220 – $195,190	+71.4%
11	News Analysts, Reporters, and JournalistsBachelor's degree	$105,390	$64,600 – $222,040	+69.4%
12	Security GuardsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$64,210	$36,600 – $78,910	+68.9%
13	Writers and AuthorsBachelor's degree	$129,300	$74,990 – $172,480	+68.1%
14	ChemistsBachelor's degree	$149,860	$101,400 – $195,190	+64.2%
15	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$83,130	$49,500 – $118,770	+63.4%
16	Preschool Teachers, Except Special EducationAssociate's degree	$62,150	$40,240 – $108,270	+63.0%
17	Health Education SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$103,330	$63,250 – $170,980	+61.3%
18	Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthBachelor's degree	$132,620	$78,270 – $185,220	+61.3%
19	Buyers and Purchasing AgentsBachelor's degree	$124,090	$69,910 – $182,310	+59.7%
20	General and Operations ManagersBachelor's degree	$168,000	$88,590 – $312,070	+58.8%
21	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$101,020	$52,310 – $117,180	+58.3%
22	BartendersNo formal educational credential	$53,920	$36,400 – $95,560	+57.0%
23	Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondaryDoctoral or professional degree	$167,520	$66,810 – $304,510	+56.1%
24	Financial Specialists, All OtherBachelor's degree	$125,110	$69,910 – $195,190	+54.3%
25	HistoriansMaster's degree	$118,290	$60,160 – $156,750	+54.1%
26	Marine Engineers and Naval ArchitectsBachelor's degree	$172,330	$107,030 – $195,190	+53.6%
27	Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators, and Hearing OfficersDoctoral or professional degree	$181,060	$107,050 – $207,480	+53.6%
28	Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and CosmetologistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$54,570	$36,400 – $130,950	+52.5%
29	Healthcare Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$73,590	$46,560 – $100,850	+52.0%
30	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$96,580	$63,950 – $128,370	+51.0%
31	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$97,910	$65,450 – $128,370	+50.4%
32	Office and Administrative Support Workers, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$68,600	$40,690 – $156,730	+50.2%
33	First-Line Supervisors of Security WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$83,710	$52,050 – $105,230	+49.6%
34	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$67,430	$42,440 – $78,460	+49.4%
35	Museum Technicians and ConservatorsBachelor's degree	$76,110	$36,420 – $118,290	+48.0%
36	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$97,880	$67,850 – $120,190	+48.0%
37	Education Administrators, All OtherBachelor's degree	$140,670	$79,380 – $185,790	+47.8%
38	Interior DesignersBachelor's degree	$98,450	$66,930 – $140,870	+46.5%
39	Human Resources SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$110,970	$65,280 – $170,330	+46.1%
40	Nuclear EngineersBachelor's degree	$195,190	$128,960 – $207,480	+45.7%
41	Cooks, Fast FoodNo formal educational credential	$44,670	$36,480 – $51,260	+44.6%
42	Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and AmbulanceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$72,260	$45,000 – $99,870	+43.5%
43	Paralegals and Legal AssistantsAssociate's degree	$89,750	$59,770 – $131,650	+42.7%
44	Information and Record Clerks, All OtherHigh school diploma or equivalent	$70,490	$51,440 – $91,790	+42.4%
45	Self-Enrichment TeachersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$66,430	$49,470 – $96,380	+41.9%
46	Switchboard Operators, Including Answering ServiceHigh school diploma or equivalent	$54,700	$47,140 – $63,420	+41.6%
47	Librarians and Media Collections SpecialistsMaster's degree	$96,550	$63,540 – $126,660	+41.4%
48	Medical Records SpecialistsPostsecondary nondegree award	$72,040	$46,300 – $128,010	+40.9%
49	Teachers and Instructors, All OtherBachelor's degree	$93,040	$46,730 – $172,040	+40.7%
50	Dental HygienistsAssociate's degree	$137,220	$86,120 – $155,840	+39.9%

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 pay the biggest premium 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 pay the biggest premium in each state