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Highest paying jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

The best paying occupations in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, ranked by median annual wage. Metro wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure that too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Cost of living: prices here run 8.9% above the national average (2024).

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025

#OccupationMedianWashington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darkerEmployed
1RadiologistsDoctoral or professional degree$443,020$125,210 – $626,320—
2AnesthesiologistsDoctoral or professional degree$397,210$72,040 – $517,100200
3DermatologistsDoctoral or professional degree$329,990$127,250 – $661,540—
4CardiologistsDoctoral or professional degree$253,610$74,450 – $590,090—
5OrthodontistsDoctoral or professional degree$248,110$98,300 – $403,620—
6PsychiatristsDoctoral or professional degree$246,990$45,150 – $377,060550
7Physicians, PathologistsDoctoral or professional degree$237,190$134,790 – $329,56090
8Ophthalmologists, Except PediatricDoctoral or professional degree$226,640$107,870 – $309,730—
9Family Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree$225,140$125,150 – $329,2001,470
10Surgeons, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree$224,860$107,720 – $498,050340
11General Internal Medicine PhysiciansDoctoral or professional degree$223,250$60,580 – $423,6101,370
12Nurse AnesthetistsMaster's degree$223,150$107,850 – $351,080440
13Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight EngineersBachelor's degree$209,750$94,790 – $358,4805,100
14Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree$208,710$77,430 – $402,90010,650
15Dentists, All Other SpecialistsDoctoral or professional degree$207,450$162,680 – $247,980—
16LawyersDoctoral or professional degree$195,190$106,520 – $382,89046,840
17Computer and Information Systems ManagersBachelor's degree$195,190$133,100 – $295,96020,800
18Public Relations ManagersBachelor's degree$195,190$117,350 – $340,4409,470
19Financial ManagersBachelor's degree$185,270$122,670 – $327,47026,430
20Architectural and Engineering ManagersBachelor's degree$185,220$138,180 – $259,6805,500
21Dentists, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree$184,540$105,610 – $324,3703,040
22Marketing ManagersBachelor's degree$181,260$106,860 – $296,5008,900
23Nuclear EngineersBachelor's degree$180,360$115,490 – $204,940840
24Human Resources ManagersBachelor's degree$177,960$111,720 – $282,3306,280
25Sales ManagersBachelor's degree$175,820$83,560 – $306,7008,780
26Air Traffic ControllersAssociate's degree$174,870$47,760 – $225,6801,800
27Pediatricians, GeneralDoctoral or professional degree$172,520$79,240 – $354,030550
28Purchasing ManagersBachelor's degree$172,150$132,890 – $217,7904,180
29Compensation and Benefits ManagersBachelor's degree$171,950$116,580 – $281,000590
30PhysicistsDoctoral or professional degree$171,580$98,950 – $225,6801,520
31Managers, All OtherBachelor's degree$170,980$128,610 – $221,23042,010
32Physical Scientists, All OtherBachelor's degree$170,980$95,870 – $263,5802,740
33Legal Support Workers, All OtherAssociate's degree$169,690$76,140 – $195,1906,430
34Natural Sciences ManagersBachelor's degree$169,060$123,920 – $232,3405,890
35Aerospace EngineersBachelor's degree$166,420$104,030 – $249,9902,420
36Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All OtherMaster's degree$166,230$111,530 – $195,1905,970
37MathematiciansMaster's degree$164,470$74,980 – $207,480200
38Emergency Management DirectorsBachelor's degree$163,220$89,990 – $195,190310
39Database ArchitectsBachelor's degree$162,870$107,070 – $216,3704,740
40NeurologistsDoctoral or professional degree$161,560$161,560 – $332,130190
41Computer and Information Research ScientistsMaster's degree$161,090$103,440 – $223,8003,420
42Computer Network ArchitectsBachelor's degree$159,820$102,110 – $216,5609,370
43Marine Engineers and Naval ArchitectsBachelor's degree$159,700$104,210 – $195,190710
44Computer Hardware EngineersBachelor's degree$159,480$95,780 – $221,0901,790
45Financial ExaminersBachelor's degree$157,560$77,630 – $254,090890
46PodiatristsDoctoral or professional degree$157,500$99,490 – $312,270300
47Detectives and Criminal InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent$156,750$90,310 – $195,1904,830
48EconomistsMaster's degree$156,750$93,440 – $259,2904,570
49AstronomersDoctoral or professional degree$156,750$105,870 – $195,190520
50Political ScientistsMaster's degree$156,730$118,290 – $195,1903,700