Accountants and Auditors in District of Columbia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
What the numbers say
The median Accountant or Auditor in DC earned $103,030 in 2024, about 22% above the national median of $84,407. The average wage sits higher still at $116,580, which tells us a smaller group of senior professionals pulls the figure up.
The pay range is wide. The bottom tenth of earners took home around $65,540 while the top tenth reached $180,890. That gap of roughly $115,000 between entry-level and high-end reflects how much experience, specialization, and employer type matter here. Federal audit work, international accounting firms, and regulatory-facing roles all concentrate in DC, and they sit at different points on that range.
DC's cost of living index is 117.7, meaning prices run about 18% higher than the national baseline. After adjusting for that, the real purchasing power of the $103,030 median lands closer to $87,500 in national-baseline dollars. The nominal premium over the US median shrinks considerably, though it does not disappear.
BLS projects growth for Accountants and Auditors nationally at 4.6% between 2024 and 2034, which it classifies as average. DC's concentration of federal agencies and oversight bodies gives the local market some insulation from cyclical swings, though the data here reflects the 2024 snapshot, not a guarantee of that pattern continuing.
Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia accountants and auditors fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $83,050 and $156,730, with a median of $111,530.
Accountants and Auditors in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 114 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $108,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 25 | $77,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 50 | $108,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 21 | $147,809 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 18 | $142,500 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Accountants and Auditors in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | Accountants and Auditors - Kbgfjg346917-1 | 41 | $131,650 |
| PwC US Tax LLP | Manager | 14 | $156,500 |
| Deloitte Tax LLP | Tax Senior | 7 | $89,300 |
| PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP | Senior Associate | 5 | $123,000 |
| Deloitte & Touche LLP | Audit & Assurance Senior | 4 | $89,608 |
| Han Group LLC | Auditor | 3 | $67,000 |
| JONES, MARESCA & MCELWANEY, P.A | AUDIT MANAGER | 3 | $123,989 |
| Alvarez & Marsal Tax, LLC | Director | 2 | $118,950 |
| CWP Consulting Inc. | Accountant | 2 | $78,564 |
| Education Business Solutions, Inc. (dba EdOps) | Finance Team Manager | 2 | $104,666 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Senior Associate at PwC US Tax LLP$119,000WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Mar 31, 2026I-200-26083-726396
- Tax Consultant at Deloitte Tax LLP$89,300WashingtonWage Level IDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-717983
- Senior Associate at Alvarez & Marsal Tax, LLC$97,900WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26077-713627
- Senior Staff Accountant at Forest Trends Association$100,000WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-707704
- Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP$161,000WashingtonWage Level IIIDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-709804
- Senior Manager at PwC US Tax LLP$212,000WashingtonWage Level IVDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-706477
- Accountants and Auditors - KBGFJG220160-5 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$133,950WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-697986
- Accountants and Auditors - Kbgfjg346917-1 at Ernst & Young U.S. LLP$150,000WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Mar 17, 2026I-201-26069-691057
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Where do you stand?
Get an instant percentile reading. Anonymous, no signup.
Aggregate unlocks once 5 readers have shared a salary for this role and state.
Accountants and Auditors pay by experience level in District of Columbia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Accountants and Auditors specialties in District of Columbia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 76 certified offers. The most common variant is Accountants and Auditors - Kbgfjg346917-1 at a median of $131,650.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountants and Auditors - Kbgfjg346917-1 | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 41 | $131,650 |
| Manager | PwC US Tax LLP | 11 | $158,000 |
| Senior Auditor | Han Group LLC | 6 | $71,565 |
| Accountant | CWP Consulting Inc. | 6 | $78,564 |
| Director | Alvarez & Marsal Tax, LLC | 5 | $140,000 |
| Audit & Assurance Senior | Deloitte & Touche LLP | 4 | $89,608 |
| Tax Consultant | Deloitte Tax LLP | 3 | $89,300 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Accountants and Auditors in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 113 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $111,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Ernst & Young U.S. LLP | 103 | $111,000 |
| Technology and software | COGENT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. | 2 | $105,179 |
| Healthcare | Mary's Center for Maternal and Child Care, Inc. | 2 | $94,106 |
| Nonprofit and civic | Forest Trends Association | 2 | $94,807 |
| Education | The Catholic University of America | 1 | $102,500 |
| Energy and utilities | Sol Systems, LLC | 1 | $165,000 |
| Finance and insurance | EIG Management Company LLC | 1 | $142,000 |
| Retail and wholesale | Fuzz Inc. | 1 | $66,560 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Bachelor's degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Economics and Accounting
Knowledge
- 4.0 / 5
English Language
Knowledge
- 3.9 / 5
Deductive Reasoning
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Active Listening
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
- 3.9 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Written Comprehension
Ability
- 3.9 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Prepare detailed reports on audit findings.
- 02
Report to management about asset utilization and audit results, and recommend changes in operations and financial activities.
- 03
Collect and analyze data to detect deficient controls, duplicated effort, extravagance, fraud, or non-compliance with laws, regulations, and management policies.
- 04
Supervise auditing of establishments, and determine scope of investigation required.
- 05
Inspect account books and accounting systems for efficiency, effectiveness, and use of accepted accounting procedures to record transactions.
- 06
Examine and evaluate financial and information systems, recommending controls to ensure system reliability and data integrity.
- 07
Confer with company officials about financial and regulatory matters.
- 08
Inspect cash on hand, notes receivable and payable, negotiable securities, and canceled checks to confirm records are accurate.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.6%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Accountants and Auditors
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in District of Columbia
Metro-level salary data for accountants and auditors in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$102,140
Compare Accountants and Auditors pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare District of Columbia with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Accountants and Auditors in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Accountants and Auditors in District of Columbia is $111,530.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Accountants and Auditors?
- The District of Columbia median is +29.0% versus the BLS national figure of $86,427.
- What is the salary range for Accountants and Auditors in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $71,470 and the 90th-percentile at $185,220, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Accountants and Auditors a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.6% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Accountants and Auditors?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Bachelor's degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.