--- title: Jobs in Washington DC — Government, Legal & Nonprofits description: Browse Washington DC jobs across federal agencies, defense contractors, law firms, and nonprofits. See salary benchmarks and top employers hiring in the capital. type: location_city url: https://www.foundrole.com/locations/district-of-columbia/washington-dc date: 2026-09-28T19:12:12Z og_description: Washington DC jobs span government, defense, legal, and nonprofit sectors. Explore the capital's top employers, salary data, and open roles across all industries. og_image: https://www.foundrole.com/og/b14apx.png breadcrumbs: - label: Home url: https://www.foundrole.com/ - label: United States url: https://www.foundrole.com/locations - label: District of Columbia url: https://www.foundrole.com/locations/district-of-columbia --- # Jobs in Washington DC — Government, Legal & Nonprofits **State:** [District of Columbia Jobs Hiring Now | Salary, Industries, Companies](https://www.foundrole.com/locations/district-of-columbia?utm_source=ai_markdown) **Country:** [Top Job Trends By Locations](https://www.foundrole.com/locations?utm_source=ai_markdown) **Open jobs:** 756 **Hiring momentum:** -6.8% — 69 new postings in the last 28 days vs 74 in the 28 days before, on career sites tracked through both periods ## Summary - Postings on employer career sites published Jun 1 – Sep 28, 2026: 1,279 - Median salary: $150K - Salary range (P25–P75): $100K – $187K - Remote share: 6.3% ## Market Insights — September 2026 *Based on 1,279 postings published Jun 1 – Sep 28, 2026 • Updated September 28, 2026* - Pay in Washington DC, DC runs 114% above the United States median ($150K vs $70K). - Industries with the most postings in Washington DC, DC: Pharmaceutical Manufacturing (18% of all postings), followed by Software Development and Defense and Space. - New postings for Washington DC, DC fell 7% in the last 28 days (69 vs 74 in the 28 days before). *Numbers above are computed from postings on employer career sites published in the window shown below, closed ones included. Salary figures use posted ranges where available; the market median is the median of the country the pay is quoted in, as its location page shows it. Confidence reflects sample size and signal stability vs the prior month.* ## Top industries in Washington DC, DC | Industry | Total jobs | Median salary | |---|---|---| | Pharmaceutical Manufacturing | 236 | $187K | | Software Development | 188 | $166K | | Defense & Space | 66 | — | | Hospitals & Health Care | 60 | — | | IT Services & Consulting | 58 | — | | Telecommunications | 50 | — | | Financial Services | 36 | — | | Professional Services | 35 | — | | Law Practice | 34 | — | | Hospitality | 30 | — | ## Top roles hiring in Washington DC, DC | Role | Total jobs | Median salary | |---|---|---| | IP Litigation Attorney | 50 | — | | Patent Agent | 42 | — | | Lawyer / Attorney | 41 | $265K | | Software Developer / Engineer | 35 | — | | Solutions Architect | 32 | — | ## Top hiring companies in Washington DC, DC | Company | Total jobs | |---|---| | [Google Jobs & Careers — Search, Cloud & AI](https://www.foundrole.com/companies/google?utm_source=ai_markdown) | 229 | | [Microsoft Jobs & Careers — Software & Cloud](https://www.foundrole.com/companies/microsoft?utm_source=ai_markdown) | 102 | **H1B sponsorship (FY2025 Q4 – FY2026 Q3):** 30 employers filed 49 petitions; 1% of the employers hiring here now are among them. ## Top visa sponsors in Washington DC, DC | Company | Workers | Median filed wage | |---|---|---| | Oracle | 91 | — | | World Bank | 4 | — | | Humana | 3 | — | | Google | 3 | — | | Comcast | 2 | — | ## Nearby cities hiring | City | Distance | Total jobs | Median salary | |---|---|---|---| | [Jobs in Washington, DC — Federal, Defense & Healthcare](https://www.foundrole.com/locations/district-of-columbia/washington?utm_source=ai_markdown) | 0.0 mi | 21816 | $117K | | [Jobs in Dupont Circle, DC — Nonprofit & Policy Hiring](https://www.foundrole.com/locations/district-of-columbia/dupont-circle?utm_source=ai_markdown) | 1.0 mi | 43 | $91K | | [Jobs in Washington Navy Yard, DC — Defense & Federal](https://www.foundrole.com/locations/district-of-columbia/washington-navy-yard?utm_source=ai_markdown) | 2.7 mi | 0 | — | ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What sectors have the most job openings in Washington DC? Federal government, defense contracting, healthcare, legal services, and nonprofits consistently lead job volume in Washington DC. Technology, consulting, and policy research also generate significant hiring, particularly from agencies and contractors expanding digital capabilities. ### What do jobs in Washington DC typically pay? Washington DC has one of the highest median wage profiles in the United States, driven by federal pay scales, major law firm salaries, and competitive contractor compensation. The salary section on this page shows current median figures across the DC market. ### Which employers hire most in Washington DC? Federal agencies (including the Department of Defense, State Department, and HHS), major defense contractors, law firms, and large nonprofits are the biggest hirers in DC. The top hiring companies section on this page shows employers actively posting roles. ### Are remote jobs available in Washington DC? Remote and hybrid roles are available in consulting, tech, and nonprofit work across DC. Government and security-cleared positions vary — some have moved to hybrid models, while others require full on-site presence. ### How can I search for jobs across the broader DC metro area? Use the nearby cities table to explore roles in Arlington, Bethesda, and Alexandria. The District of Columbia jobs page covers the full DC market and links to surrounding Virginia and Maryland employment hubs. ## Related - [Browse all locations](https://www.foundrole.com/locations?utm_source=ai_markdown) - [Search jobs](https://www.foundrole.com/jobs?utm_source=ai_markdown)