Parking Attendant Salary in Washington, DC
Parking Attendants in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $36,930 a year — 5% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $30,803 take-home, or $2,567 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median parking attendant salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$2,252
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,290
- Medicare (1.45%)$535
- District of Columbia income tax$1,050
- Take-home pay$30,803
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 6.00% 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 →
Parking Attendant pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $31,780 | $15.28 | $26,974 | $2,248 |
| 25th percentile | $36,400 | $17.50 | $30,409 | $2,534 |
| Median (50th) | $36,930 | $17.75 | $30,803 | $2,567 |
| 75th percentile | $37,650 | $18.10 | $31,339 | $2,612 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $43,990 | $21.15 | $36,053 | $3,004 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $36,930 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 parking attendant's $30,803 take-home pay has the buying power of $28,290 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Parking Attendant jobs are about as common in Washington, DC as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 1.12).
Best-paying cities for parking attendants, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #5 of 16 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $44,480 | $36,573 | $31,634 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $37,810 | $30,834 | $29,764 |
| 3 | Phoenix, AZ | $35,100 | $29,714 | $28,760 |
| 4 | San Diego, CA | $37,960 | $31,680 | $28,314 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $36,930 | $30,803 | $28,290 |
| 6 | Boston, MA | $37,360 | $30,551 | $28,218 |
| 7 | Houston, TX | $31,120 | $27,185 | $27,563 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | $37,280 | $31,169 | $27,446 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 16 metros →
About the job: parking attendants
Park vehicles or issue tickets for customers in a parking lot or garage. May park or tend vehicles in environments such as a car dealership or rental car facility. May collect fee.
- Typical education
- No formal educational credential
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +2.0% (slower than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a parking attendant make in Washington, DC?
The median parking attendant salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $36,930 a year, or about $17.75 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $36,400 and $37,650.
What is a parking attendant’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $36,930 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $30,803 a year ($2,567 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,050 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a parking attendant?
Pay here is 5% above the national median of $35,150. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $28,290 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #5 of 16 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a parking attendant 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) — 78% of a median parking attendant’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
- Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — $209,750
- First-Line Supervisors of Transportation and Material Moving Workers, Except Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors — $67,960
- Bus Drivers, Transit and Intercity — $65,220
- Flight Attendant — $63,580
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver — $59,820
- Bus Drivers, School — $57,610
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operator — $49,710
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collector — $46,530
- Light Truck Driver — $46,360
- Shuttle Driver and Chauffeur — $45,640
- Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand — $42,590
- Driver/Sales Worker — $38,790