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Washington, D.C. engineer salary

Estimate

Updated March 2025

What engineers earn in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro, with a full breakdown by role.

Typical pay

$144,482

Washington, D.C.

Top earners

$203,111

Higher end

vs national

+20% vs national

U.S. $120,395

State

DC

District of Columbia

Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro earn an estimated $144,482, +20% vs national, with top earners near $203,111. See the full breakdown by role below, or estimate your own total compensation — the number sharpens as local engineers contribute.

Engineering pay by role in Washington, D.C.

Estimated pay for each discipline in Washington, D.C.. Filter the list or open a role for the full picture.

21results

What affects engineering pay in Washington, D.C.

  • ▹Local market. Washington, D.C. pay runs +20% vs national for the typical engineer, usually above the District of Columbia statewide estimate.
  • ▹Industry concentration.A metro's dominant employers (tech, defense, energy, healthcare) shift which engineering disciplines command a premium locally.
  • ▹Experience & specialization. Seniority and in-demand skills swing pay well beyond the metro median — see the role table above and the calculator.
  • ▹Remote work.Remote offers may anchor to a company's HQ market rather than Washington, D.C., raising or lowering local pay.

Engineer salaries in Washington, D.C. — FAQ

How much do engineers make in Washington, D.C.?
Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro earn a blended median of $144,482 per year — 20% above the national average — across 12 engineering occupations and 101,110 local jobs. There is no single BLS "engineer" occupation, so this blends the published medians of the engineering occupations reported for the area, weighted by local employment (BLS OEWS May 2024).
What is the highest-paying engineering role in Washington, D.C.?
Nuclear Engineers have the highest published median in Washington, D.C., at $189,770 per year (BLS OEWS May 2024). Local industry concentration shifts which disciplines command the biggest premium.
How does engineering pay in Washington, D.C. compare to the national average?
The Washington, D.C. engineering median of $144,482 is 20% above the national average of $120,395, against a District of Columbia statewide blend of $138,532.
Source details

BLS publishes no single "engineer" occupation. This blends the published medians of 12 engineering occupations in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, weighted by local employment (101,110 jobs).

Benchmarks come from published government wage data via BLS OEWS. Local and emerging-role figures are labeled estimates. Full methodology →

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