Washington, District of Columbia Income Statistics
Washington Wealth Score
The wealth index reflects the overall economic prosperity and financial well-being of an area's residents based on income levels, employment rates, and income inequality metrics.
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A
Washington Above average
Source: Map AI Methodology
Income Statistics Overview
| Metric | Washington | District of Columbia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $110,570 | $110,571 | $80,455 |
| Median Personal Income | $101,683 | $101,685 | $60,758 |
| Average Yearly Income Growth | 5.3% | 5.3% | 4.8% |
| Six-Figure Earners | 32.8% | 32.8% | 13.9% |
| $200k+ Households | 26.7% | 26.7% | 13.2% |
The median household income in Washington is about the same as in District of Columbia. Income has been growing slower in Washington (5.3%/yr) than in District of Columbia (5.3%/yr).
About 33% of adults in Washington earn six figures ($100,000 or more) a year, about the same as the District of Columbia average of 33%.
Median Household Income 2009–2024 Trend
Median Household Income Over Time
Median household income in Washington, District of Columbia grew by 94.0% from 2009 to 2024, reaching $110,570 in 2024. That's an average of about 5.3% per year.
Washington has stayed well above the U.S. median household income in every year from 2009 to 2024 and has never fallen below it. The gap has widened from 11% in 2009, the closest it has been, to 37% in 2024.
Income Distribution in Washington
How incomes are spread across brackets, compared with the U.S. Pick a range to count who falls in it.
Households by income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 173,183 households (53.7% of all households) have an income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 40.2% of all households.
In 2024, 19.1% of households in Washington had an income under $35,000 and 37.5% had $150,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 21.6% and 22.8%.
Compared with the U.S., Washington has a larger share of households earning $200,000 or more (26.7% vs 13.2%) and a smaller share earning $50,000 to $74,999 (10.8% vs 15.5%).
| Household income | Households | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $10,000 | 23,372 | 7.2% | 5.1% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 11,103 | 3.4% | 3.5% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 15,143 | 4.7% | 6.4% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 11,949 | 3.7% | 6.7% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 20,426 | 6.3% | 10.1% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 34,817 | 10.8% | 15.5% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 32,668 | 10.1% | 12.6% |
| $100,000 to $149,999 | 52,099 | 16.1% | 17.4% |
| $150,000 to $199,999 | 34,827 | 10.8% | 9.5% |
| $200,000 or more | 86,257 | 26.7% | 13.2% |
Shares are of all 322,662 households, one per occupied home whatever its size. Households with zero or negative income are counted in the lowest bracket. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19001).
Residents 15+ by personal income, 2024
Income range calculator
About 186,188 residents (32.8% of residents aged 15 and over) have a personal income of $100,000 or more.
Across the U.S.: 13.9% of residents aged 15 and over.
That is 36.5% of residents who have any income.
In 2024, 10.3% of Washington residents aged 15 and over reported no personal income, 21.2% had some income but less than $25,000, and 43.4% had $75,000 or more. Across the U.S., those shares were 12.8%, 28.7% and 22.0%.
Compared with the U.S., Washington has a larger share of residents earning $100,000 or more (32.8% vs 13.9%) and a smaller share earning $35,000 to $49,999 (7.6% vs 12.6%).
| Personal income | Residents | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| No income | 58,415 | 10.3% | 12.8% |
| $1 to $9,999 | 59,025 | 10.4% | 11.2% |
| $10,000 to $14,999 | 28,248 | 5.0% | 7.0% |
| $15,000 to $24,999 | 33,443 | 5.9% | 10.5% |
| $25,000 to $34,999 | 30,198 | 5.3% | 9.5% |
| $35,000 to $49,999 | 43,421 | 7.6% | 12.6% |
| $50,000 to $74,999 | 68,606 | 12.1% | 14.3% |
| $75,000 to $99,999 | 60,624 | 10.7% | 8.2% |
| $100,000 or more | 186,188 | 32.8% | 13.9% |
Shares are of the 568,167 residents aged 15 and over, the only people the Census Bureau asks about income, and include those who reported none. A share of the whole population would count children as people without income, while a share of earners alone would hide the 10.3% with no income; the calculator adds that second share whenever your range leaves out people with no income. Source: ACS 5-year estimates ending 2024 (table B19325).
Income Inequality and the Gender Pay Gap in Washington
| Metric | Washington | District of Columbia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gini Coefficient | 0.501 | 0.501 | 0.552 |
| Male Median Income | $113,819 | $113,820 | $69,667 |
| Female Median Income | $99,935 | $99,936 | $56,850 |
| Gender Pay Gap | 12.2% | 12.2% | 18.4% |
The Gini coefficient measures how evenly income is shared between richer and poorer households, from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns nearly everything). The lower the number, the more equally income is distributed. In Washington, it is 0.501, about the same as District of Columbia's 0.501, so income here is about as evenly distributed as there, and lower than the US's 0.552, so income is more evenly distributed here than there.
Men's income is about 14% more than women's income in Washington, District of Columbia. Over a 35-year career, a 14% wage gap accumulates to roughly $485,940 in unearned income for female workers in the area.
Income by Sex Over Time
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington, District of Columbia has widened from about 11% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 16% in 2019, and was narrowest at 10% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,300 since 2009.
Employment
| Metric | Washington | District of Columbia Avg | US Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unemployment Rate | 6.3% | 6.3% | 5.2% |
| Working from Home | 32.9% | 32.9% | 15.0% |
| Commute time (minutes) | 30 | 30 | 22 |
Approximately 25,405 people are unemployed in Washington, District of Columbia.
The average commute time in Washington is 30 minutes, about the same as in District of Columbia.
Unemployment Rate Over Time
Since 2011, the unemployment rate in Washington, District of Columbia has fallen from 9.9% to 6.3% in 2024. Over that period the rate peaked at 10.9% in 2013.
Washington has stayed above the U.S. unemployment rate in every year from 2011 to 2024 and has never dropped below it. It came closest in 2024, at 1.1 points higher. The gap has held fairly steady over the period.
Washington, DC Wealth Compared With Nearby Cities
How Washington, DC compares with the 1 cities closest to it.
| Area | Population | Median household income | Income growthAverage yearly change in median household income since 2016. Each year is measured in its own dollars, so this is growth before inflation. | Unemployment | Income inequalityGini coefficient: 0 would mean every household earns the same, 1 that a single household earns everything. The lower the number, the more equally income is shared here. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 678,327 | $110,570 #1/2 | 5.3%/yr #1/2 | 6.3% #1/2 | 0.501 #1/2 |
| Chillum, MD | 32,171 | $80,952 | 3.5%/yr | 6.7% | 0.530 |
Conclusion
Considering all these factors, Washington, District of Columbia has an overall wealth index grade of A, making it about on par with District of Columbia, and notably better than the country as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about income and wealth in Washington, District of Columbia.
How Rich Is Washington, District of Columbia?
Washington has a wealth index grade of A. The wealth index grades areas from A+ (best) to F- by combining income levels, employment rates, and income inequality; an A grade means residents are much better off than the U.S. average. The median household income is $110,570, close to the District of Columbia average of $110,571.
How fast is household income rising in Washington, District of Columbia?
Between 2009 and 2024, the median household income in Washington, District of Columbia rose 94%, from $57,007 to $110,570. Over the same years, income here kept pace with District of Columbia as a whole: +94% against +94%.
What was the median household income in Washington in 2023?
In 2023, the median household income in Washington, District of Columbia was $107,035, up 5% from $101,676 in 2022. The District of Columbia median that year was $107,036.
What was the median household income in Washington in 2020?
In 2020, the median household income in Washington, District of Columbia was $91,683. By 2024 it had risen 21% to $110,570.
What is the Gini coefficient in Washington, District of Columbia?
The Gini coefficient in Washington is 0.501. It measures income inequality on a scale from 0 (everyone earns the same) to 1 (one household earns everything). That is lower than the US average of 0.552, so income is distributed more equally than in the country overall.
How has the income gap between men and women changed in Washington, District of Columbia?
Since 2009, the income gap between men and women in Washington, District of Columbia has widened from about 11% to 12% in 2024. Over that period the gap was widest at 16% in 2019, and was narrowest at 10% in 2014. In dollar terms, the gap has widened by $7,300 since 2009.
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