Marketing Specialist salary and cost of hiring in District of Columbia
The median marketing specialist in District of Columbia earned $98,090 a year in May 2025[1], 24.5% above the US median of $78,760. That puts District of Columbia at #4 of 51 states for this job.
BLS occupation 13-1161. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Salary range
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $59,340 | $98,090 | $176,240 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in District of Columbia earns $74,990–$132,300; the top tenth earns $176,240 or more, 3.0 times the bottom tenth.
What a hire really costs
Benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2]. At the District of Columbia median that makes about $140,129 a year before recruiting, equipment and office space. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for marketing specialists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee[3]; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool[4].
Pay by metro area in District of Columbia
| Area | Median | 75th percentile | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $123,760 | 21,090 |
What a marketing specialist does
A marketing specialist plans and runs campaigns: email, social, content and paid ads, and measures what brings customers.
Neighbours in the ranking
| State | Median | vs District of Columbia |
|---|---|---|
| Delaware | +3.2% | |
| New York | +0.5% | |
| District of Columbia | +0.0% | |
| Washington | -3.0% | |
| California | -3.5% |
Questions
How much does a marketing specialist earn in District of Columbia?
The median was $98,090 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey; the middle half earned $74,990 to $132,300.
What does it cost to employ a marketing specialist in District of Columbia?
About $140,129 a year at the median wage once benefits are added, using the 30% benefits share of US private industry (June 2026).
Where in District of Columbia do marketing specialists earn the most?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, with a median of $87,160 a year.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 13-1161: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes131161.htm
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm
- Silkstaff pricing: https://silkstaff.com/#pricing
- Deel pricing, contractor management: https://www.deel.com/pricing/
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-05.