Financial Risk Specialists Salary
Financial Risk Specialists in District of Columbia make a median of $99,230 a year, or about $47.71 an hour. The range runs from $83K at the entry level to $205K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $91,137 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,146/month, about 34.4% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across District of Columbia. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $99K get you in District of Columbia?
About financial risk specialists
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What this looks like in District of Columbia
Pay for financial risk specialists in District of Columbia runs about 15% below the U.S. median of $117K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,146/month, which is 35.5% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for financial risk specialistss.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, District of Columbia
Entry-level financial risk specialists (10th percentile) start around $83K. Mid-career wages sit at $99K. Top earners bring in $205K or more, a $122K spread from bottom to top.
Financial Risk Specialists 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 | $127K | +27% | 1,400 |
Compare to other states
Track financial risk specialists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when District of Columbia numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a financial risk specialist afford a 2BR apartment alone in District of Columbia?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $99K, rent takes 35.5% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,146/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,800/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for financial risk specialists in District of Columbia?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new financial risk specialists typically earn — is $83K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,978/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 risk specialist a high-paying job in District of Columbia?
Local pay runs 15% below the national median — $99K here vs. $117K nationally.
How does District of Columbia compare to the national average for financial risk specialists?
District of Columbia pays $99K median vs. the U.S. average of $117K — that’s -15%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $91K — below the national median.
How much do financial risk specialists make in District of Columbia?
The median is $99,230 a year, that works out to about $48 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $82,960, and experienced financial risk specialists can clear $204,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $99K enough to live in District of Columbia?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,050/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,146/month, which eats 35.5% 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 financial risk specialists 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 risk specialists salary is worth about $91,137 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do financial risk specialists 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.