Industrial Engineer Salary in Washington, DC
Industrial Engineers in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median $117,600 a year — 15% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $84,534 take-home, or $7,045 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median industrial engineer salary in Washington, DC. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$17,042
- Social Security (6.2%)$7,291
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,705
- District of Columbia income tax$7,028
- Take-home pay$84,534
Marginal rate: 22% 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.
Industrial Engineer pay by experience in Washington, DC
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,140 | $39.49 | $62,602 | $5,217 |
| 25th percentile | $98,410 | $47.31 | $72,665 | $6,055 |
| Median (50th) | $117,600 | $56.54 | $84,534 | $7,045 |
| 75th percentile | $154,170 | $74.12 | $106,505 | $8,875 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $173,400 | $83.37 | $118,014 | $9,835 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, District of Columbia resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $117,600 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 industrial engineer's $84,534 take-home pay has the buying power of $77,637 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Industrial Engineer jobs are less concentrated in Washington, DC than nationally (location quotient 0.27), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for industrial engineers, adjusted for cost of living
Washington, DC ranks #87 of 125 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beaumont, TX | $123,660 | $95,788 | $106,376 |
| 2 | Baton Rouge, LA | $129,500 | $96,281 | $106,059 |
| 3 | New Orleans, LA | $127,340 | $94,869 | $102,454 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $132,290 | $96,535 | $101,035 |
| 5 | Fort Collins, CO | $131,870 | $96,305 | $95,231 |
| 6 | Peoria, IL | $117,180 | $85,611 | $93,839 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $131,210 | $100,948 | $90,835 |
| 8 | Decatur, AL | $106,230 | $78,516 | $90,029 |
| 87 | Washington, DC | $117,600 | $84,534 | $77,637 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 125 metros →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a industrial engineer make in Washington, DC?
The median industrial engineer salary in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $117,600 a year, or about $56.54 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $98,410 and $154,170.
What is a industrial engineer’s take-home pay in Washington, DC?
On the median $117,600 salary, a single filer living in District of Columbia takes home about $84,534 a year ($7,045 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $7,028 in District of Columbia taxes in 2026.
Is Washington, DC a good place to work as a industrial engineer?
Pay here is 15% above the national median of $102,440. Local prices are 8.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $77,637 would in a typical U.S. city. Washington, DC ranks #87 of 125 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a industrial engineer 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) — 28% of a median industrial engineer’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Washington, DC
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- Aerospace Engineer — $166,420
- Marine Engineer and Naval Architect — $159,700
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- Engineers, All Other — $151,340
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- Electronics Engineers, Except Computer — $140,000
- Chemical Engineer — $132,820
- Mechanical Engineer — $126,990
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- Environmental Engineer — $120,580
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