Washington, DC: what paychecks leave after rent
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area: 3,136,190 jobs, median pay of $71,060 across all occupations, and a $2,204 one-bedroom Fair Market Rent.
The typical worker in Washington, DC, earning the all-occupations median of $71,060, takes home about $4,902 a month after federal taxes. A one-bedroom at HUD's Fair Market Rent would take 45% of that. The median wage is 0.81× the income needed to keep that rent at 30% of gross pay, which falls short of the guideline.
Of the 10 jobs covered here, software developers have the most room (23% of take-home on a 1BR). Fast Food and Counter Workers are the most squeezed (88%).
Census figures add context: the ACS 2020–2024 5-year median gross rent paid by all renter households in the metro was $2,027 (±$11), and median household income was $126,684 (±$733).
Rent share of take-home pay, by job
All jobs in Washington, DC
| Job | Median pay | Take-home / mo | Hours of work | 1BR share | Left after 1BR | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developer | $154,930 | $9,763 | 29.6 h | 23% | $7,559 | 1.76× |
| Registered Nurse | $102,710 | $6,757 | 44.6 h | 33% | $4,553 | 1.17× |
| Accountant or Auditor | $102,140 | $6,724 | 44.9 h | 33% | $4,520 | 1.16× |
| Police Officer | $84,000 | $5,660 | 54.6 h | 39% | $3,456 | 0.95× |
| Elementary School Teacher | $79,470 | $5,395 | — h | 41% | $3,191 | 0.90× |
| Electrician | $75,930 | $5,187 | 60.4 h | 42% | $2,983 | 0.86× |
| Truck Driver | $59,820 | $4,187 | 76.6 h | 53% | $1,983 | 0.68× |
| Medical Assistant | $46,640 | $3,305 | 98.3 h | 67% | $1,101 | 0.53× |
| Retail Salesperson | $36,610 | $2,633 | 125.2 h | 84% | $429 | 0.41× |
| Fast Food Worker | $34,600 | $2,498 | 132.5 h | 88% | $294 | 0.39× |
HUD rent areas in this metro
| HUD FMR area | Population | 1BR | 2BR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD HUD Metro FMR Area | 6,155,762 | $2,204 | $2,438 |
| Jefferson County, WV HUD Metro FMR Area | 59,260 | $1,052 | $1,376 |
| Culpeper County, VA HUD Metro FMR Area | 54,397 | $1,299 | $1,596 |
| Warren County, VA HUD Metro FMR Area | 41,531 | $1,108 | $1,449 |
| Rappahannock County, VA HUD Metro FMR Area | 7,427 | $1,428 | $1,555 |
HUD splits this metro into several rent areas. Highlighted is the most populous one, which this site uses for every comparison.
Sources & method
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 — metropolitan areas — vintage: May 2025 estimates. File:
oesm25ma.zip, retrieved 2026-10-06. - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD USER), Fair Market Rents, FY2027 — vintage: FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026). File:
FY27_FMRs.xlsx, retrieved 2026-10-05. - U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates: Median gross rent (B25064) — vintage: ACS 2020–2024 5-year. File:
acsdt5y2024-b25064.dat, retrieved 2026-10-05. - U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates: Median household income (B19013) — vintage: ACS 2020–2024 5-year. File:
acsdt5y2024-b19013.dat, retrieved 2026-10-05. - Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2025-32 (tax year 2026 brackets, $16,100 standard deduction) and SSA's $184,500 wage base, used for the take-home estimate.
Take-home = annual wage − 2026 federal income tax (single filer, standard deduction) − Social Security and Medicare. State and local income taxes are not deducted. Wages are May 2025 estimates; rents are HUD Fair Market Rents FY2027 (effective Oct 1, 2026). Full details on the methodology page. Page data last rebuilt 2026-10-06.