Highest-paying management jobs in Washington, D.C.

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January 6, 2023
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Highest-paying management jobs in Washington, D.C.

Not everyone has what it takes to be a manager in today's workplace, and those who do tend to be well compensated.

Workers today are split on how they want to interact with their jobs. Half of workers want to blend their work and their personal lives, while the other roughly 50% prefer to keep them separate, according to Gallup polling. The lion's share want more flexibility in where they perform their work—at a time when businesses may have to buckle in for tougher economic conditions in the year ahead.

Whether overseeing a sales team or leading a commercial building project, these are the challenges that get management professionals out of bed in the morning.

Stacker compiled a list of the highest-paying management jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Jobs are ranked by 2021 annual mean wage. Jobs the BLS lists as "management occupations" were included.

#30. Property, real estate, and community association managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $85,310
- #23 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $70,030
- Employment: 234,680
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($109,540)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($106,420)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($103,610)

#29. Lodging managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $86,160
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 580

National
- Annual mean salary: $67,770
- Employment: 35,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI ($121,090)
--- Urban Honolulu, HI ($111,410)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($99,600)

#28. Farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $87,670
- #19 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 70

National
- Annual mean salary: $78,440
- Employment: 5,220
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Salinas, CA ($104,810)
--- Visalia-Porterville, CA ($101,650)
--- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL ($101,610)

#27. Social and community service managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $100,530
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,490

National
- Annual mean salary: $76,790
- Employment: 156,400
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($100,530)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($98,240)
--- Charlottesville, VA ($98,200)

#26. Entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $102,850
- #4 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 290

National
- Annual mean salary: $73,810
- Employment: 17,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boulder, CO ($108,680)
--- Lexington-Fayette, KY ($108,430)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($105,390)

#25. Facilities managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $113,150
- #22 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,210

National
- Annual mean salary: $101,970
- Employment: 101,230
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Kennewick-Richland, WA ($146,040)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($136,440)
--- Ithaca, NY ($136,210)

#24. Funeral home managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $116,760
- #1 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 110

National
- Annual mean salary: $82,900
- Employment: 12,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($116,760)
--- Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ ($115,400)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($112,820)

#23. Construction managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $117,520
- #30 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,650

National
- Annual mean salary: $108,210
- Employment: 284,750
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Anchorage, AK ($160,710)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,050)
--- Napa, CA ($145,430)

#22. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $119,660
- #15 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,380

National
- Annual mean salary: $105,580
- Employment: 144,640
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($159,890)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($154,170)
--- Trenton, NJ ($144,620)

#21. Education administrators, kindergarten through secondary

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $120,250
- #44 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,970

National
- Annual mean salary: $102,650
- Employment: 274,710
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($144,880)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($143,450)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($142,330)

#20. Emergency management directors

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $120,900
- #5 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 340

National
- Annual mean salary: $84,800
- Employment: 10,320
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($142,000)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($124,780)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($123,170)

#19. Administrative services managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $126,240
- #18 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 3,480

National
- Annual mean salary: $113,030
- Employment: 224,620
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($149,360)
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($142,650)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($141,950)

#18. Education administrators, postsecondary

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $127,400
- #40 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 2,660

National
- Annual mean salary: $111,260
- Employment: 155,990
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Corvallis, OR ($178,570)
--- Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC ($165,940)
--- Syracuse, NY ($164,660)

#17. Advertising and promotions managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $138,040
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 310

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,860
- Employment: 22,520
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($193,980)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($182,520)
--- Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO ($166,620)

#16. Medical and health services managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $140,860
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,410

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,840
- Employment: 436,770
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($162,110)
--- Vallejo-Fairfield, CA ($157,340)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($156,370)

#15. Industrial production managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $142,340
- #13 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 710

National
- Annual mean salary: $117,780
- Employment: 192,270
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($155,640)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($153,860)
--- Fort Collins, CO ($153,470)

#14. Training and development managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $144,600
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 900

National
- Annual mean salary: $128,800
- Employment: 35,830
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($180,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($176,270)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($166,410)

#13. Fundraising managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $146,820
- #6 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 1,000

National
- Annual mean salary: $119,400
- Employment: 23,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($175,610)
--- Syracuse, NY ($155,700)
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($153,980)

#12. General and operations managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $148,580
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 84,050

National
- Annual mean salary: $115,250
- Employment: 2,984,920
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($165,340)
--- Trenton, NJ ($165,030)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($159,210)

#11. Compensation and benefits managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $149,620
- #12 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 460

National
- Annual mean salary: $139,470
- Employment: 15,330
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($190,560)
--- Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT ($187,770)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,130)

#10. Purchasing managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $152,040
- #14 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,200

National
- Annual mean salary: $134,590
- Employment: 69,310
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Trenton, NJ ($181,030)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($177,010)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($174,760)

#9. Natural sciences managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $158,110
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,570

National
- Annual mean salary: $156,110
- Employment: 74,760
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH ($222,360)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($219,240)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($216,750)

#8. Architectural and engineering managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $159,740
- #52 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 4,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $158,970
- Employment: 187,100
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,000)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($206,050)
--- Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island, FL ($198,430)

#7. Human resources managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $160,790
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 5,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $136,590
- Employment: 166,530
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($190,020)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($186,930)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($175,410)

#6. Sales managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $163,320
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,220

National
- Annual mean salary: $142,390
- Employment: 453,800
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($198,960)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($196,910)
--- Boulder, CO ($182,820)

#5. Marketing managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $172,240
- #7 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 6,780

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,440
- Employment: 278,690
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($210,280)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($198,870)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($191,310)

#4. Financial managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $173,050
- #11 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 21,190

National
- Annual mean salary: $153,460
- Employment: 681,070
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($209,100)
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($201,330)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($188,900)

#3. Computer and information systems managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $177,460
- #8 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 17,620

National
- Annual mean salary: $162,930
- Employment: 485,190
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($228,030)
--- San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA ($211,470)
--- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA ($202,800)

#2. Public relations managers

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $182,890
- #2 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 8,310

National
- Annual mean salary: $138,000
- Employment: 59,850
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($183,410)
--- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ($182,890)
--- Boulder, CO ($174,250)

#1. Chief executives

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- Annual mean salary: $259,960
- #24 highest pay among all metros
- Employment: 9,100

National
- Annual mean salary: $213,020
- Employment: 200,480
- Metros with highest average pay:
--- Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA ($313,440)
--- Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX ($298,960)
--- Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX ($296,480)

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