Computer Programmer Salary in Washington, DC
Computer Programmers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $130,390 a year — 30% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $92,273 take-home, or $7,689 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median computer programmer salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,028
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,084
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,891
- District of Columbia income tax$8,115
- Take-home pay$92,273
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 8.50% state
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro spans District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia. Pick the state you live in — state income tax follows your residence.
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Computer Programmer pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $67,010 | $32.22 | $53,062 | $4,422 |
| 25th percentile | $93,490 | $44.95 | $69,622 | $5,802 |
| Median (50th) | $130,390 | $62.69 | $92,273 | $7,689 |
| 75th percentile | $163,340 | $78.53 | $111,993 | $9,333 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $184,660 | $88.78 | $124,763 | $10,397 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,390 buys in Washington, DC
Prices in Washington, DC are 8.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.51× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median computer programmer's $92,273 take-home pay has the buying power of $84,744 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Washington, DC has 1.4× the national concentration of computer programmer jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for computer programmers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #1 of 5 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $130,390 | $92,273 | $84,744 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $126,750 | $91,462 | $81,254 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $130,730 | $90,992 | $78,704 |
| 4 | Dallas, TX | $102,240 | $80,756 | $78,335 |
| 5 | Los Angeles, CA | $107,090 | $77,046 | $67,842 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 5 metros →
About the job: computer programmers
Create, modify, and test the code and scripts that allow computer applications to run. Work from specifications drawn up by software and web developers or other individuals. May develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information.
- Typical education
- Bachelor's degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- -7.3% (declining)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a computer programmer make in Washington, DC?
The median computer programmer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $130,390 a year, or about $62.69 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $93,490 and $163,340.
What is a computer programmer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $130,390 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $92,273 a year ($7,689 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $8,115 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a computer programmer?
Pay here is 30% above the national median of $100,390. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $84,744 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #1 of 5 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a computer programmer afford rent in Washington, DC?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Washington, DC is $1,990 a month ($2,223 for two bedrooms) — 26% of a median computer programmer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Database Architect — $162,870
- Computer and Information Research Scientist — $161,090
- Computer Network Architect — $159,820
- Software Developer — $154,930
- Information Security Analyst — $148,950
- Statistician — $136,660
- Web Developer — $134,350
- Data Scientist — $132,200
- Operations Research Analyst — $127,600
- Computer Systems Analyst — $127,040
- Software Quality Assurance Analyst and Tester — $126,350
- Network and Computer Systems Administrator — $125,430