Financial Examiners Salary
Financial Examiners in District of Columbia make a median of $198,720 a year, or about $95.54 an hour. The range runs from $84K at the entry level to $257K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $182,513 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,146/month, or 18.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $199K get you in District of Columbia?
About financial examiners
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in District of Columbia
District of Columbia sits well above the national pay line for financial examiners, local pay runs about 111% higher than the U.S. median of $94K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,146/month, 19.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, District of Columbia offers a genuinely strong financial position for financial examinerss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level financial examiners (10th percentile) start around $84K. Mid-career wages sit at $199K. Top earners bring in $257K or more, a $173K spread from bottom to top.
Financial Examiners salary by metro in District of Columbia
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $158K | -21% | 890 |
Compare to other states
Track financial examiners salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
Related careers in Business & Finance
Frequently asked questions
Can a financial examiner afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
Yes — at the median salary of $199K, rent takes 19.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for financial examiners in District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new financial examiners typically earn — is $84K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,043/month. At HUD’s $2,146/month FMR, rent would take 43% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is financial examiner a high-paying job in District of Columbia?
Local pay is 111% above the national median — $199K here vs. $94K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for financial examiners?
District of Columbia pays $199K median vs. the U.S. average of $94K — that’s +111%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $183K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do financial examiners make in District of Columbia?
The median is $198,720 a year, that works out to about $96 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $84,050, and experienced financial examiners can clear $256,820. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $199K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $11,161/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 19.2% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a financial examiners salary go in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia 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 financial examiners salary is worth about $182,513 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do financial examiners 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.