Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a media and communication equipment workers, all other in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $121,680/year ($58.5/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $50K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $111,756 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,246/month, about 31.3% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $122K 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 media and communication equipment workers, all others
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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria sits well above the national pay line for media and communication equipment workers, all other, local pay runs about 72% higher than the U.S. median of $71K. Rent runs $2,246/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.2% 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 media and communication equipment workers, all others in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson | $71K | $68K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $105K | $107K |
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 media and communication equipment workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $50K. Mid-career wages sit at $122K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $112K spread from bottom to top.
Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Media and Communication Equipment Workers, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $118K | +66% | 400 |
| Arizona | $99K | +40% | 130 |
| Michigan | $97K | +36% | 50 |
| Alabama | $96K | +36% | 40 |
| Nebraska | $92K | +30% | 90 |
| Colorado | $86K | +22% | 580 |
| Louisiana | $86K | +22% | 190 |
| Florida | $86K | +22% | 540 |
| North Carolina | $79K | +11% | 180 |
| Minnesota | $78K | +10% | 50 |
| Utah | $77K | +9% | 120 |
| Texas | $76K | +8% | 540 |
| New York | $76K | +7% | 200 |
| Pennsylvania | $76K | +7% | 580 |
| South Carolina | $74K | +5% | 50 |
| Connecticut | $73K | +4% | 40 |
| Illinois | $72K | +2% | 140 |
| Ohio | $72K | +1% | 210 |
| New Jersey | $70K | -1% | 490 |
| Maryland | $69K | -3% | 760 |
| Oregon | $68K | -4% | 260 |
| California | $65K | -9% | 3,890 |
| Massachusetts | $61K | -14% | 90 |
| Hawaii | $57K | -20% | 280 |
| Nevada | $55K | -23% | 330 |
| Missouri | $53K | -24% | 70 |
| Maine | $51K | -28% | 40 |
| Mississippi | $50K | -30% | 70 |
| Georgia | $48K | -32% | 910 |
| New Mexico | $48K | -32% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $47K | -33% | 100 |
| Tennessee | $42K | -40% | 100 |
| Montana | $37K | -48% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 33 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track media and communication equipment workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a media and communication equipment workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $122K, rent takes 31.2% 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 media and communication equipment workers, all others in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new media and communication equipment workers, all others typically earn — is $50K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,982/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 75% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is media and communication equipment workers, all other a high-paying job in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Local pay is 72% above the national median — $122K here vs. $71K 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 media and communication equipment workers, all others?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $122K median vs. the U.S. average of $71K — that’s +72%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $112K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do media and communication equipment workers, all others make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $121,680 a year, that works out to about $59 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $49,700, and experienced media and communication equipment workers, all others can clear $161,780. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $122K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,202/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 31.2% 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 media and communication equipment workers, all other 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 media and communication equipment workers, all other salary is worth about $111,756 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do media and communication equipment workers, all others 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.