Is District of Columbia a good state for your salary to go far?

District of Columbia ranks #4 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 109.1 across 324 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 109.9 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.

What is the cost of living in District of Columbia?

District of Columbia's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 109.9, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

GeraJobs / US Real Pay Index / District of Columbia

Where Your Salary Goes Furthest in District of Columbia

District of Columbia ranks #4 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index (mean 109.1, base = 100). Cost of living 109.9 (US = 100); top income tax 10.75%.

Does a salary go further in District of Columbia? (cost of living + state tax)

In District of Columbia, the cost of living is 109.9 on the BEA index (US = 100) and the Gera US Real Pay Index averages 109.1 across 324 occupations, ranking it #4 of 51 states for how far pay goes after 2025 state income tax and 2024 BEA cost of living. Real BLS OEWS; re-dated annually.

Source:U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)·As of May 2025 state estimates · updated annually · last refreshed 19 June 2026

Gera US Real Pay Index

District of Columbia ranks #4 of 51 states. Mean across 324 occupations; 100 = the average state, 109.1 means pay goes 9.1% further after tax and cost of living.

How this is calculated

109.1

Real pay by occupation in District of Columbia (best first)

Occupation	BLS median	Real pay	Index
Printing Press Operators	$116,630	$99,718	219.0
Photographers	$110,970	$95,006	217.1
Production Workers, All Other	$109,470	$93,757	217.0
Print Binding and Finishing Workers	$108,080	$92,600	208.1
Financial Examiners	$198,720	$168,064	191.1
Lifeguards, Ski Patrol, and Other Recreational Protective Service Workers	$60,400	$52,637	164.4
Legal Secretaries and Administrative Assistants	$99,280	$85,273	161.0
Protective Service Workers, All Other	$88,570	$76,356	156.0
Detectives and Criminal Investigators	$160,760	$136,460	152.8
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators	$83,720	$72,319	148.4
Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other	$69,870	$60,694	147.3
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Workers, All Other	$113,640	$97,229	145.7
Skincare Specialists	$77,480	$67,123	144.9
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	$132,620	$113,031	142.3
Library Assistants, Clerical	$59,390	$51,778	141.9
Security Guards	$64,210	$55,879	141.7
Urban and Regional Planners	$137,000	$116,678	140.5
Bartenders	$53,920	$47,119	140.1
Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other	$83,130	$71,827	139.8
Credit Analysts	$132,590	$113,006	139.8
Chemists	$149,860	$127,385	139.5
Buyers and Purchasing Agents	$124,090	$105,929	138.5
Property Appraisers and Assessors	$107,980	$92,517	138.4
Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education	$62,150	$54,126	135.8
Paving, Surfacing, and Tamping Equipment Operators	$91,280	$78,613	135.7
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	$167,520	$142,088	135.3
Health Education Specialists	$103,330	$88,645	135.1
Healthcare Support Workers, All Other	$73,590	$63,859	134.1
Financial Specialists, All Other	$125,110	$106,779	133.5
General and Operations Managers	$168,000	$142,487	133.3
Human Resources Specialists	$110,970	$95,006	131.6
Psychiatric Technicians	$67,430	$58,618	131.3
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists	$54,570	$47,675	131.0
Loan Interviewers and Clerks	$77,080	$66,790	130.4
Self-Enrichment Teachers	$66,430	$57,767	129.7
First-Line Supervisors of Security Workers	$83,710	$72,310	129.2
Interior Designers	$98,450	$84,582	128.7
Curators	$93,310	$80,303	128.4
Producers and Directors	$104,270	$89,428	128.3
Architectural and Civil Drafters	$97,880	$84,108	128.0

Showing the 40 highest real-pay occupations of 324 BLS publishes for District of Columbia. Real pay = BLS median − 2025 state income tax, divided by the 2024 BEA cost of living (109.9, US = 100).

Where does your salary go furthest?

Enter a salary and a state. We adjust for 2025 state income tax and the 2024 BEA cost of living to show your real, purchasing-power-equivalent pay — then rank every state.

Gross annual salary (USD)Compare against state

In District of Columbia, a $85,000 salary is worth about $69,028 in cost-of-living-and-tax-adjusted terms.

State income tax $9,138 (≈ top marginal 10.75% (upper bound)) · take-home $75,863 · BEA cost of living 109.9 (US = 100).

The same salary goes furthest in South Dakota — worth $95,952, a $26,924 gain over District of Columbia.

#	State	Real value	Cost (RPP)
1	South Dakota	$95,952	88.6
2	Arkansas	$93,959	86.9
3	Louisiana	$93,473	88.2
4	Mississippi	$93,453	87.0
5	Iowa	$93,172	87.8
6	North Dakota	$93,161	89.0
7	Tennessee	$92,522	91.9
8	Oklahoma	$92,167	87.8
9	Wyoming	$91,703	92.7
10	Alabama	$90,911	88.8
11	Kentucky	$90,507	90.2
12	West Virginia	$90,397	89.5

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Estimate only. State income tax is approximated from each state's 2025 flat rate (or top marginal rate as an upper bound for graduated states) and ignores federal tax, deductions and credits. The pre-published occupation and state pages use exact 2025 bracket math. Cost of living is the 2024 BEA Regional Price Parity (All Items).

District of Columbia real pay — FAQ

Is District of Columbia a good state for your salary to go far?: District of Columbia ranks #4 of 51 states on the Gera US Real Pay Index, with a mean index of 109.1 across 324 occupations (100 = the average state). Its 2024 BEA cost of living is 109.9 (US = 100), and its 2025 state income tax schedule is applied to each occupation's median wage.
What is the cost of living in District of Columbia?: District of Columbia's Regional Price Parity (All Items) for 2024 is 109.9, where the US average is 100. That is above the national average, so a dollar buys less than it does nationally. The Gera US Real Pay Index divides take-home pay by this figure to express salaries in purchasing-power-equivalent dollars.

Compare other states

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Related on GeraJobs

Gera US Real Pay Index — all states ranked
Methodology — the exact BLS + BEA + tax computation.
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Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) (May 2025 state estimates); U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis — Regional Price Parities (All Items), by state (2024 (US = 100)); Tax Foundation — 2025 State Individual Income Tax Rates and Brackets. The Gera US Real Pay Index for District of Columbia is computed by GeraJobs from these figures; no figure is modelled or interpolated.