Washington, DC
Salary intelligence, cost of living, and affordability data
Avg Salary
$84,361
across all roles
Cost Index
132
Expensive
Avg Rent
$2,180/mo
1-bed apartment
Affordability
5/10
Low Affordability
How affordable is Washington?
Low Affordability
Purchasing power score: 1.44× (take-home ÷ living costs)
With a cost of living index of 132 (US avg = 100) and average disposable income of $1,577/mo, Washington is a high-cost market — salaries need to be competitive to maintain a comfortable lifestyle.
Cost of Living Benchmarks
Cost Index
132
US avg = 100
Est. Monthly Rent
$2,180
1-bed, city avg
Avg Disposable
$1,577
after taxes + living costs
Median Salary
$74,061
across all tracked roles
Purchasing Power
1.44×
take-home ÷ costs
Jobs Tracked
791
job titles with data
Highest-Paying Jobs in Washington
By gross annual salary
- $265,315
- $263,962
- $262,121
- $257,451
- $254,597
- $254,583
- $252,001
- $248,309
- $238,885
- $235,964
Best Jobs for Disposable Income
After taxes and living costs
- $12,585/mo
- $12,503/mo
- $12,391/mo
- $12,107/mo
- $11,933/mo
- $11,932/mo
- $11,775/mo
- $11,551/mo
- $10,977/mo
- $10,800/mo
Jobs With Tightest Budgets in Washington
These roles leave the least disposable income after living costs — worth knowing before accepting an offer.
Explore Washington Further
All data derived from BLS OEWS metro data and regional cost-of-living indices. Figures are estimates; verify with local sources before making decisions.