In the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, aerospace and defense emerge as the highest-paying job fields, with an average salary of $107,000, as per Glassdoor data.
This revelation shouldn’t come as a shock, considering the predominant influence of the government on the local economy. With the United States actively pursuing advancements in defense and artificial intelligence, the aerospace and defense sector appears to be a promising domain for future growth.
Breaking down the figures further, financial services also command substantial salaries, averaging around $100,000. Notably, the presence of major financial institutions like Capital One, nestled in the towering structures of Tysons, contributes significantly to this sector’s robust performance.
Information technology (IT) stands at the brink of the six-figure mark, boasting an average salary of $99,000. Moreover, several other industries in the D.C. area offer salaries that surpass the national average, including government and public administration, and management and consulting.
Contrary to the stereotype that every individual in D.C. practices law, the legal profession secures the fifth spot on the list, with an average salary of $94,000.
However, despite these impressive figures, the purchasing power of a $100,000 salary has been somewhat diminished by the recent period of high inflation, as noted by my colleague Emily Peck in earlier coverage.
The soaring cost of living in the D.C. region has led to nearly 17% of millennials opting to reside with their parents, according to census data from 2022.
Delving into the bottom of the salary spectrum, we find food service jobs occupying the lowest rung, with an average salary of $37,500. Interestingly, there has been a recent surge in efforts among restaurant workers to unionize in the D.C. area.
Two other industries—retail and wholesale, and personal consumer services—register average salaries slightly below the national average, at $42,300 and $44,700, respectively.
