SOC 25-1062 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary — Washington
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Median pay for this occupation in Washington, DC comes to $101,700 a year, ahead of the national median of $85,020 by 19.6%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Washington, DC comes to $101,700 a year, ahead of the national median of $85,020 by 19.6%. Pay ranges from under $60,870 at the tenth percentile to more than $215,070 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $82,750 to $129,000.
The area has 360 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.56 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Of the 707 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 175th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $60,870 | −28.4% |
| 25th | $82,750 | −2.7% |
| Median (50th) | $101,700 | +19.6% |
| 75th | $129,000 | +51.7% |
| 90th | $215,070 | +153.0% |
| Mean | $121,270 | +42.6% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 9.9% above the national average, so the median of $101,700 buys what $92,539 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 8.8% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$101,700as reported by BLSLocal price level
109.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$92,539US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $101,700 a year, 19.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $60,870 to $215,070 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 360 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary in Washington, DC?
The median annual wage is $101,700, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $85,020, so pay in Washington, DC is 19.6% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Washington, DC earns more than $215,070 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $60,870 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 360 jobs in this occupation in Washington, DC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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