Education Administrators, Postsecondary Salary in Washington, DC
Education Administrators, Postsecondary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $125,460 a year — 20% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $89,322 take-home, or $7,444 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median education administrators, postsecondary salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$18,844
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,779
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,819
- District of Columbia income tax$7,696
- Take-home pay$89,322
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 →
Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $76,970 | $37.00 | $59,404 | $4,950 |
| 25th percentile | $98,370 | $47.29 | $72,640 | $6,053 |
| Median (50th) | $125,460 | $60.32 | $89,322 | $7,444 |
| 75th percentile | $172,300 | $82.84 | $117,356 | $9,780 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $232,080 | $111.58 | $154,659 | $12,888 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $125,460 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 education administrators, postsecondary's $89,322 take-home pay has the buying power of $82,034 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.15).
Best-paying cities for education administrators, postsecondary, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #6 of 9 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin, TX | $125,190 | $96,833 | $98,743 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $137,800 | $98,362 | $87,384 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $131,130 | $94,557 | $87,338 |
| 4 | Philadelphia, PA | $117,980 | $88,207 | $86,010 |
| 5 | Houston, TX | $105,700 | $83,190 | $84,346 |
| 6 | Washington, DC | $125,460 | $89,322 | $82,034 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $102,990 | $81,283 | $78,847 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $125,230 | $87,816 | $77,326 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 9 metros →
About the job: education administrators, postsecondary
Plan, direct, or coordinate student instruction, administration, and services, as well as other research and educational activities, at postsecondary institutions, including universities, colleges, and junior and community colleges.
- Typical education
- Master's degree
- Work experience
- Less than 5 years
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +1.8% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a education administrators, postsecondary make in Washington, DC?
The median education administrators, postsecondary salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $125,460 a year, or about $60.32 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,370 and $172,300.
What is a education administrators, postsecondary’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $125,460 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $89,322 a year ($7,444 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,696 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a education administrators, postsecondary?
Pay here is 20% above the national median of $104,590. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $82,034 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #6 of 9 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a education administrators, postsecondary 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) — 27% of a median education administrators, postsecondary’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
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