Marketing Managers Salary
The median pay for a marketing managers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $181,260/year ($87.14/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $107K at the entry level to $297K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $166,477 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,246/month, or 21.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $181K 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 marketing managers
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Marketing managers pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $181K locally vs. $167K nationwide, a 9% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,246/month, 22% 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. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for marketing managers in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $140K | $134K |
| Richmond | $174K | $178K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $155K | $159K |
| Roanoke | $165K | $176K |
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 marketing managers (10th percentile) start around $107K. Mid-career wages sit at $181K. Top earners bring in $297K or more, a $190K spread from bottom to top.
Marketing Managers pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Marketing Managers salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $212K | +27% | 14,270 |
| California | $194K | +16% | 54,660 |
| Virginia | $188K | +13% | 6,890 |
| Colorado | $183K | +10% | 6,010 |
| New York | $181K | +9% | 54,000 |
| New Jersey | $180K | +8% | 13,510 |
| District of Columbia | $177K | +6% | 3,470 |
| Minnesota | $173K | +4% | 8,500 |
| Washington | $172K | +3% | 8,880 |
| Connecticut | $169K | +1% | 5,800 |
| South Dakota | $168K | +1% | 220 |
| Montana | $166K | -1% | N/A |
| North Carolina | $165K | -1% | 10,790 |
| Illinois | $163K | -2% | 21,140 |
| Wyoming | $162K | -3% | 100 |
| Oregon | $162K | -3% | 4,960 |
| Georgia | $161K | -4% | 8,510 |
| Kansas | $155K | -7% | 1,570 |
| Maryland | $154K | -8% | 6,510 |
| Pennsylvania | $151K | -10% | 13,840 |
| Texas | $148K | -11% | 44,680 |
| South Carolina | $143K | -14% | 3,760 |
| New Hampshire | $143K | -14% | 1,460 |
| Florida | $143K | -14% | 24,820 |
| Idaho | $142K | -15% | 1,320 |
| Utah | $140K | -16% | 6,100 |
| Michigan | $139K | -17% | 6,620 |
| Arkansas | $137K | -18% | 1,860 |
| Indiana | $136K | -18% | 3,350 |
| Maine | $135K | -19% | 1,320 |
| Wisconsin | $134K | -20% | 4,890 |
| Ohio | $132K | -21% | 10,620 |
| Arizona | $132K | -21% | 4,870 |
| Tennessee | $132K | -21% | 7,730 |
| Iowa | $131K | -21% | 2,210 |
| Missouri | $131K | -22% | 6,550 |
| Kentucky | $129K | -23% | 1,930 |
| Oklahoma | $127K | -24% | 1,420 |
| North Dakota | $126K | -25% | 180 |
| New Mexico | $123K | -26% | 800 |
| Louisiana | $121K | -28% | 940 |
| Alabama | $120K | -28% | 1,540 |
| Hawaii | $118K | -29% | 570 |
| Alaska | $116K | -30% | 240 |
| Nebraska | $111K | -34% | 1,910 |
| Nevada | $108K | -36% | 3,430 |
| Mississippi | $101K | -39% | 770 |
| West Virginia | $99K | -41% | 300 |
Showing 1–10 of 48 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track marketing managers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
Related careers in Management
Frequently asked questions
Can a marketing manager afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Yes — at the median salary of $181K, rent takes 22% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for marketing managers in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new marketing managers typically earn — is $107K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,412/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is marketing manager a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $181K locally vs. $167K nationally, a 9% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for marketing managers?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $181K median vs. the U.S. average of $167K — that’s +9%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $166K — below the national median.
How much do marketing managers make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $181,260 a year, that works out to about $87 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $106,860, and experienced marketing managers can clear $296,500. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $181K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,200/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 22% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a marketing managers 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 marketing managers salary is worth about $166,477 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do marketing managers 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.