Education Administrators, Postsecondary Salary
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, education administrators, postsecondaries earn $125,460 at the median, or about $60.32 an hour. The range runs from $77K at the entry level to $232K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $115,228 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 30.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $125K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About education administrators, postsecondaries
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria sits well above the national pay line for education administrators, postsecondary, local pay runs about 20% higher than the U.S. median of $105K. Rent runs $2,246/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 30.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for education administrators, postsecondaries in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $111K | $106K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $102K | $104K |
| Richmond | $127K | $130K |
| Harrisonburg | $134K | $142K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level education administrators, postsecondaries (10th percentile) start around $77K. Mid-career wages sit at $125K. Top earners bring in $232K or more, a $155K spread from bottom to top.
Education Administrators, Postsecondary pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Education Administrators, Postsecondary salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | $140K | +34% | 7,280 |
| New Jersey | $132K | +26% | 4,100 |
| Massachusetts | $129K | +23% | 9,120 |
| Delaware | $129K | +23% | 360 |
| Wyoming | $128K | +22% | 120 |
| Washington | $128K | +22% | 2,140 |
| South Dakota | $126K | +21% | 240 |
| California | $125K | +20% | 14,870 |
| Wisconsin | $125K | +19% | 1,190 |
| Connecticut | $123K | +18% | 2,100 |
| Virginia | $121K | +16% | N/A |
| Oregon | $120K | +15% | 2,790 |
| Maryland | $119K | +13% | N/A |
| Colorado | $118K | +13% | 1,770 |
| Kentucky | $114K | +9% | 890 |
| Georgia | $110K | +5% | 2,890 |
| Kansas | $110K | +5% | 1,760 |
| New Mexico | $109K | +5% | 1,160 |
| Michigan | $109K | +4% | 5,110 |
| District of Columbia | $107K | +3% | 1,880 |
| Rhode Island | $107K | +2% | 1,140 |
| Oklahoma | $106K | +1% | 1,700 |
| Minnesota | $105K | +0% | 2,110 |
| Missouri | $105K | -0% | 2,830 |
| Vermont | $104K | -0% | 550 |
| Texas | $104K | -0% | 16,660 |
| New Hampshire | $104K | -0% | 920 |
| Pennsylvania | $104K | -1% | 8,000 |
| Arizona | $103K | -1% | 5,140 |
| Alaska | $103K | -1% | 80 |
| Montana | $103K | -2% | 300 |
| North Dakota | $102K | -3% | 600 |
| Idaho | $101K | -3% | 870 |
| North Carolina | $101K | -3% | 7,390 |
| Tennessee | $101K | -4% | 2,680 |
| Utah | $100K | -4% | 2,320 |
| Alabama | $100K | -4% | 3,760 |
| Illinois | $100K | -5% | 9,530 |
| Louisiana | $99K | -5% | 3,670 |
| Indiana | $98K | -6% | 3,370 |
| Nebraska | $96K | -8% | 1,560 |
| South Carolina | $96K | -9% | 2,990 |
| Iowa | $89K | -15% | 2,510 |
| Nevada | $89K | -15% | 1,320 |
| Maine | $88K | -16% | 860 |
| Ohio | $87K | -16% | 6,880 |
| Mississippi | $87K | -17% | 2,230 |
| West Virginia | $85K | -19% | 1,520 |
| Florida | $84K | -20% | N/A |
| Hawaii | $81K | -23% | 570 |
| Arkansas | $78K | -25% | 1,970 |
Showing 1–10 of 51 (all 50 states + DC)
Track education administrators, postsecondary salary changes
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Frequently asked questions
Can a education administrators, postsecondary afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $125K, rent takes 30.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for education administrators, postsecondaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new education administrators, postsecondaries typically earn — is $77K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,618/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is education administrators, postsecondary a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay is 20% above the national median — $125K here vs. $105K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for education administrators, postsecondaries?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $125K median vs. the U.S. average of $105K — that’s +20%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do education administrators, postsecondaries make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $125,460 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $76,970, and experienced education administrators, postsecondaries can clear $232,080. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $125K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,390/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 30.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a education administrators, postsecondary salary go in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median education administrators, postsecondary salary is worth about $115,228 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do education administrators, postsecondaries get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.