Is $150,000 a good salary in District of Columbia?
Percentile, take-home pay, rent burden, and comparable jobs for District of Columbia - the full picture, not just a number.
$150,000 in District of Columbia is an above-median household income - the 62nd percentile of District of Columbia households in the Census ACS 2024 distribution (76th nationally). A single filer keeps about $98,766 after federal, District of Columbia state, and FICA taxes - roughly $8,230/mo at a 34% effective rate. Statewide median rent takes 15% of gross, inside the affordable band.
District of Columbia household income distribution (ACS 2024)
District of Columbia's own published cut-points - where $150,000 sits is highlighted. These are the actual Census quintile thresholds for District of Columbia, not the national distribution rescaled.
| Percentile | Band | Household income |
|---|---|---|
| 20th percentile | Bottom 20% | $31,689✓ passed |
| 40th percentile | Lower-middle | $82,137✓ passed |
| 50th percentile (median) | Median household | $109,707✓ passed |
| 60th percentile | Upper-middle | $140,308✓ passed |
| 80th percentile | Top 20% starts | $238,418 |
| 95th percentile (top 5%) | Top 5% starts | $250,001 |
$150,000 clears the 60th percentile threshold in District of Columbia - placing it at the 62nd percentile of state households.
Take-home pay on $150,000 in District of Columbia
| Gross income | $150,000 |
| Federal income tax | −$25,247 |
| District of Columbia state income tax | −$14,513 |
| Social Security (6.2%) | −$9,300 |
| Medicare (1.45%) | −$2,175 |
| Take-home (net) | $98,766 |
That's about $8,230/month net, an effective tax rate of 34.2%. District of Columbia's average combined sales tax is 6.00%, charged on taxable spending out of that net - a consumption cost on top of the income tax above.
Single filer, 2025 federal brackets + standard deduction. State tax uses District of Columbia's top/flat marginal rate, so in progressive-bracket states (e.g. California, New York) the state line is an upper bound and your actual net is likely a little higher. Married-filing-jointly and pre-tax 401(k)/health deductions also change the result. Estimate only - District of Columbia take-home detail →
Occupations near $150,000 (single earner)
BLS national median wages within ±15% of $150,000 - gives texture for which careers and seniorities land at this income level.
| Occupation | Stage | National wage |
|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | mid-career | $145,760 |
| UX designer | senior | $145,000 |
| Air traffic controller | mid-career | $144,580 |
| Financial manager | mid-career | $156,100 |
| Marketing manager | mid-career | $158,280 |
| Software engineer (senior) | mid-career | $159,400 |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. National medians; metro/state variance can be ±30%. Career stage estimates: entry ≈ 25th pct, senior ≈ 75th pct of the same SOC code.
Single earner vs two-earner household
One earner pulling $150,000 typically means a lawyer or comparable role. Above-median earner status in District of Columbia.
Two earners at $75,000 each combined = $150,000. Each individual is below median individually, but the household lands at the same percentile as a single $150,000 earner.
Lifestyle context - rent burden in District of Columbia
At $150,000 gross, statewide median rent eats 15% of income - inside the affordable band. Metro areas (LA, SF, NYC, Boston, Seattle) typically run 30-50% above the statewide median.
Home affordability at $150,000
Using the 28% rule on a 30-year mortgage, $150,000 gross supports a home purchase up to about $404,719. District of Columbia median home value is $698,700 - you can afford 58% of the median home, so buying requires lower-priced markets, a larger down payment, or co-buying.
How $150,000 ranks in neighboring states
State-adjusted percentile shows the same income placed in District of Columbia's contiguous neighbors. Relevant for relocation, remote-work geography, or border-town decisions.
| State | Median HH | % vs median | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (current) | $109,707 | +37% | 62nd |
| Virginia | $92,090 | +63% | 70th |
| Maryland | $102,905 | +46% | 66th |
$150,000 ranks similarly in
Other incomes in District of Columbia
Common questions
- Is $150,000 a good household income in District of Columbia?
- It sits at roughly the 62nd percentile of District of Columbia households in the state's own Census ACS 2024 income distribution (District of Columbia median $109,707). Nationally that's about the 76th percentile. Whether "good" depends on household size, debt, and metro cost of living - state figures smooth over big within-state variation.
- How does $150,000 compare to the District of Columbia median?
- It's 37% above the District of Columbia median household income of $109,707 (Census ACS 2024, table B19013). Half of District of Columbia households earn less than $109,707, half earn more.
- Why does this number differ from other percentile calculators?
- Two sources of variation: (1) some calculators use individual income, not household - household income is typically higher because it combines earners. (2) Many rescale one national curve by a state median; we instead read the percentile directly from District of Columbia's own published ACS 2024 B19080 quintile cut-points, so the state ranking reflects that state's actual income spread. Incomes above the 95th-percentile cut-point show as "top 5%+" because the Census top-codes that threshold.
Full data sources and formulas: /sources.
Estimate only - not financial advice. Percentiles are interpolated from US Census Bureau ACS household income distribution tables and describe where an income falls nationally - they are not a judgment of what you should earn or financial advice. Cost of living varies widely by state and metro.
Reviewed by R. Bennett, Editor · editorial policy