Cost of living

Cost of living in District of Columbia: what jobs pay vs rent

Typical rent in District of Columbia is about $1,900/mo (population-weighted Census gross rent, utilities included). Here's how 259 common jobs' estimated take-home pay compares.

JobEst. take-homeRent share
Chief Executive$13,435/mo14%
Lawyer$11,928/mo16%
Public Relations Manager$11,928/mo16%
IT Manager$11,807/mo16%
Financial Examiner$11,719/mo16%
Financial Manager$11,184/mo17%
Architectural and Engineering Manager$11,133/mo17%
Human Resources Manager$11,129/mo17%
Purchasing Manager$10,611/mo18%
Operations Manager$10,594/mo18%
Marketing Manager$10,189/mo19%
Natural Sciences Manager$10,037/mo19%
Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Manager$9,859/mo19%
Optometrist$9,749/mo19%
Actuary$9,464/mo20%
Healthcare Manager$9,383/mo20%
Chemist$9,222/mo21%
Software Developer$9,123/mo21%
Pharmacist$9,121/mo21%
Computer Hardware Engineer$9,014/mo21%
Sales Manager$9,014/mo21%
Network Architect$8,703/mo22%
Nurse Practitioner$8,663/mo22%
Information Security Analyst$8,611/mo22%
Veterinarian$8,503/mo22%
Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$8,500/mo22%
Electrical Engineer$8,429/mo23%
Industrial Production Manager$8,348/mo23%
Construction Manager$8,251/mo23%
Physician Assistant$8,083/mo24%
Mechanical Engineer$8,070/mo24%
Police and Detective$8,024/mo24%
Data Scientist$7,931/mo24%
Software Quality Assurance Analysts and Tester$7,928/mo24%
Database Administrator$7,814/mo24%
Labor Relations Specialist$7,807/mo24%
Dental Hygienist$7,781/mo24%
Administrative Services Manager$7,766/mo24%
Management Consultant$7,766/mo24%
Facilities Manager$7,736/mo25%
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$7,522/mo25%
Medical Scientist$7,427/mo26%
Buyers and Purchasing Agent$7,342/mo26%
Speech Pathologist$7,320/mo26%
Web Developer$7,312/mo26%
Printing Press Operator$7,212/mo26%
Network Administrator$7,159/mo27%
Operations Research Analyst$7,149/mo27%
Career/Technical Education Teachers, Secondary School$7,022/mo27%
Occupational Health and Safety Specialist$6,939/mo27%
Respiratory Therapist$6,921/mo27%
Logistician$6,846/mo28%
Registered Nurse$6,839/mo28%
Insurance Underwriter$6,787/mo28%
Web and Digital Interface Designer$6,787/mo28%
Systems Analyst$6,757/mo28%
Financial Analyst$6,688/mo28%
Architect$6,678/mo28%
Industrial Engineer$6,644/mo29%
Accountant$6,626/mo29%
Project Management Specialist$6,625/mo29%
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistant$6,576/mo29%
HR Specialist$6,564/mo29%
Instructional Coordinator$6,559/mo29%
Physical Therapist$6,555/mo29%
Compliance Officer$6,523/mo29%
Loan Officer$6,514/mo29%
Social and Community Service Manager$6,429/mo30%
Civil Engineer$6,401/mo30%
Financial Advisor$6,361/mo30%
Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairer$6,352/mo30%
Producers and Director$6,352/mo30%
Occupational Therapist$6,319/mo30%
Graphic Designer$6,293/mo30%
Public Relations Specialist$6,273/mo30%
Editor$6,237/mo30%
Paralegals and Legal Assistant$6,206/mo31%
Writer$6,129/mo31%
Telecommunications Line Installers and Repairer$6,059/mo31%
Sonographer$6,038/mo31%
Construction and Building Inspector$5,916/mo32%
Librarian$5,916/mo32%
Production and Operating Worker$5,868/mo32%
Computer Network Support Specialist$5,762/mo33%
Industrial Machinery Mechanic$5,744/mo33%
Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialist$5,740/mo33%
Special Education Teachers, Middle School$5,702/mo33%
Training and Development Specialist$5,673/mo33%
Mechanics, Installers, and Repairer$5,664/mo34%
Radiologic Technologist$5,662/mo34%
Journalist$5,598/mo34%
Special Education Teachers, Secondary School$5,587/mo34%
Elementary School Teacher$5,565/mo34%
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technologists and Technician$5,561/mo34%
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Social Worker$5,496/mo35%
Plumber$5,491/mo35%
Construction Supervisor$5,486/mo35%
Cost Estimator$5,435/mo35%
Healthcare Social Worker$5,425/mo35%
Office and Administrative Support Worker$5,394/mo35%
Non-Retail Sales Worker$5,355/mo35%
High School Teacher$5,338/mo36%
Executive Secretaries and Executive Administrative Assistant$5,335/mo36%
Special Ed Teacher$5,333/mo36%
Architectural and Civil Drafter$5,331/mo36%
Credit Analyst$5,280/mo36%
Dietitian$5,279/mo36%
Interior Designer$5,278/mo36%
Computer Programmer$5,231/mo36%
Police Officer$5,203/mo37%
Market Research Analyst$5,176/mo37%
Electrician$5,169/mo37%
HVAC Technician$5,119/mo37%
Food Service Manager$5,084/mo37%
Machinist$5,084/mo37%
Fundraiser$5,080/mo37%
Photographer$5,052/mo38%
Property Manager$5,051/mo38%
Sports Coach$5,003/mo38%
IT Support Specialist$4,984/mo38%
Paramedic$4,901/mo39%
Security Worker$4,841/mo39%
Social Worker$4,781/mo40%
Sheet Metal Worker$4,759/mo40%
Eligibility Interviewers, Government Program$4,736/mo40%
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Product$4,728/mo40%
Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operator$4,598/mo41%
School Counselor$4,588/mo41%
Meeting, Convention, and Event Planner$4,549/mo42%
Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk$4,532/mo42%
Physical Therapist Assistant$4,527/mo42%
Chef$4,512/mo42%
Billing and Posting Clerk$4,503/mo42%
Surgical Technologist$4,454/mo43%
Loan Interviewers and Clerk$4,452/mo43%
Licensed Practical Nurse$4,401/mo43%
Landscaping, Lawn Service, and Groundskeeping Worker$4,329/mo44%
Equipment Operator$4,306/mo44%
Claims Adjuster$4,258/mo45%
Audio and Video Technician$4,228/mo45%
Welder$4,226/mo45%
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weigher$4,217/mo45%
Sales Representative$4,201/mo45%
Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselor$4,178/mo45%
Bookkeeper$4,118/mo46%
Carpenter$4,114/mo46%
Advertising Sales Agent$4,108/mo46%
Auto Mechanic$4,091/mo46%
Postal Service Clerk$4,066/mo47%
Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technician$4,063/mo47%
Rehabilitation Counselor$4,011/mo47%
Truck Driver$3,996/mo48%
Medical Records Specialist$3,986/mo48%
Self-Enrichment Teacher$3,968/mo48%
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator$3,961/mo48%
Opticians, Dispensing$3,936/mo48%
Psychiatric Technician$3,934/mo48%
Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agent$3,926/mo48%
Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installer$3,921/mo48%
Bill and Account Collector$3,911/mo49%
Clergy$3,902/mo49%
Massage Therapist$3,894/mo49%
Biological Technician$3,892/mo49%
Automotive Body and Related Repairer$3,870/mo49%
Ophthalmic Medical Technician$3,862/mo49%
Insurance Claims and Policy Processing Clerk$3,843/mo49%
File Clerk$3,840/mo49%
Postal Service Mail Carrier$3,835/mo50%
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmer$3,779/mo50%
Cement Masons and Concrete Finisher$3,765/mo50%
Food Service Supervisor$3,739/mo51%
Roofer$3,731/mo51%
Medical Equipment Repairer$3,712/mo51%
Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerk$3,697/mo51%
Library Technician$3,683/mo52%
Social and Human Service Assistant$3,624/mo52%
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Worker$3,591/mo53%
Admin Assistant$3,561/mo53%
Tutor$3,518/mo54%
Retail Supervisor$3,497/mo54%
Painter$3,486/mo55%
Public Safety Telecommunicator$3,461/mo55%
Dental Assistant$3,437/mo55%
Housekeeping and Janitorial Worker$3,426/mo55%
Medical Equipment Preparer$3,371/mo56%
Maintenance Worker$3,360/mo57%
Personal Service Worker$3,327/mo57%
Security Guard$3,322/mo57%
Customer Service Rep$3,303/mo58%
Office Clerk$3,291/mo58%
Hairdresser$3,250/mo58%
Veterinary Technologists and Technician$3,206/mo59%
Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerk$3,203/mo59%
Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector$3,199/mo59%
Library Assistants, Clerical$3,189/mo60%
Preschool Teacher$3,187/mo60%
Medical Assistant$3,166/mo60%
Butchers and Meat Cutter$3,119/mo61%
Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerk$3,114/mo61%
Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretaker$3,113/mo61%
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistant$3,107/mo61%
Bus Drivers, School$3,098/mo61%
Delivery Driver$3,091/mo61%
EMT$3,084/mo62%
Construction Laborer$3,082/mo62%
Bartender$3,069/mo62%
Data Entry Keyer$3,062/mo62%
Pharmacy Technician$3,024/mo63%
Sewing Machine Operator$3,024/mo63%
Landscaper$3,011/mo63%
Skincare Specialist$3,007/mo63%
Nursing Assistant$3,004/mo63%
Computer, Automated Teller, and Office Machine Repairer$2,948/mo64%
Couriers and Messenger$2,906/mo65%
Warehouse Worker$2,887/mo66%
Maids and Housekeeping Cleaner$2,866/mo66%
Fitness Trainer$2,824/mo67%
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria$2,808/mo68%
Counter and Rental Clerk$2,788/mo68%
Teller$2,750/mo69%
Teaching Assistant$2,714/mo70%
Residential Advisor$2,676/mo71%
Tire Repairers and Changer$2,636/mo72%
Receptionist$2,597/mo73%
Crossing Guards and Flagger$2,578/mo74%
Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse$2,545/mo75%
Ushers, Lobby Attendants, and Ticket Taker$2,543/mo75%
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helper$2,528/mo75%
Hotel, Motel, and Resort Desk Clerk$2,519/mo75%
Stockers and Order Filler$2,514/mo76%
Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$2,491/mo76%
Recreation Worker$2,490/mo76%
Animal Caretaker$2,486/mo76%
Restaurant Cook$2,478/mo77%
Food Batchmaker$2,465/mo77%
Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Worker$2,457/mo77%
Janitor$2,448/mo78%
Food Preparation Worker$2,446/mo78%
Childcare Worker$2,436/mo78%
Packers and Packagers, Hand$2,430/mo78%
Retail Salesperson$2,430/mo78%
Server$2,430/mo78%
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant$2,423/mo78%
Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeur$2,408/mo79%
Cooks, Short Order$2,406/mo79%
Fast Food and Counter Worker$2,406/mo79%
Home Health Aide$2,406/mo79%
Baker$2,402/mo79%
Cashier$2,345/mo81%
Hosts and Hostesses, Restaurant, Lounge, and Coffee Shop$2,341/mo81%
Dishwasher$2,337/mo81%
Driver/Sales Worker$2,316/mo82%
Cooks, Fast Food$2,291/mo83%
Parking Attendant$2,289/mo83%
Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$2,239/mo85%
Automotive and Watercraft Service Attendant$2,227/mo85%
Amusement and Recreation Attendant$2,177/mo87%
Manicurists and Pedicurist$2,177/mo87%
Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmer$2,177/mo87%

Pay is BLS OEWS 2023 state median wages after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. It doesn't include state taxes, insurance, transport, or the cost of moving.

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