Cost of hiring a marketing specialist in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA
BLS publishes pay for this job in only one area of the District of Columbia, and it is Washington-Arlington. The median is $87,160 a year[1], 11.1% below the District of Columbia median of $98,090 and 10.7% above the US median of $78,760. Only 11 of 516 US areas pay more for this job. BLS counts about 21,090 people in this job here.
BLS occupation 13-1161, area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Washington-Arlington against the District of Columbia and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington, DC-VA | $50,500 | $87,160 | $162,020 | |
| District of Columbia | $59,340 | $98,090 | $176,240 | |
| United States | $43,390 | $78,760 | $155,480 |
The middle half of marketing specialists in Washington-Arlington earns $65,730–$123,760. Pay is tightly grouped: the top tenth starts at $162,020, only 3.2 times the bottom tenth, against 3.6 times across the US, so the going rate is easier to read. The mean ($98,390) is 13% over the median, so a group of high earners pulls the average up; price a typical hire from the median.
What to budget for a marketing specialist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,500 | $4,208 | $24.28 | $72,143 |
| 25th percentile | $65,730 | $5,478 | $31.60 | $93,900 |
| Median | $87,160 | $7,263 | $41.90 | $124,514 |
| 75th percentile | $123,760 | $10,313 | $59.50 | $176,800 |
| 90th percentile | $162,020 | $13,502 | $77.89 | $231,457 |
The step from the 25th percentile to the median is $21,430 a year; from the median to the 75th it is $36,600, or about $52,286 once benefits are added. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
What a hire really costs in Washington-Arlington
At the $87,160 median, a local hire costs about $124,514 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $37,354 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. 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].
Other roles in Washington-Arlington
Of the 17 roles we track in Washington-Arlington, this one ranks #5 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $127,030 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $41,240.
| Role | Median | vs marketing specialist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +45.7% | 38,230 | |
| Accountant | +17.2% | 41,470 | |
| Recruiter | +15.7% | 24,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | +3.6% | 12,960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | this role | 21,090 | |
| Paralegal | -6.4% | 12,990 | |
| Sales Development Representative | -10.4% | 29,300 | |
| Office Manager | -12.3% | 23,390 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -27.2% | 2,010 | |
| Bookkeeper | -32.0% | 18,550 | |
| HR Assistant | -32.2% | 1,610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -38.4% | 37,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -44.6% | 18,960 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -45.4% | 920 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -47.0% | 36,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -50.8% | 1,620 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -52.7% | 17,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a marketing specialist in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA?
About $124,514 a year at the median, or $10,376 a month: $87,160 in pay plus benefits and payroll taxes at the 30% share of total compensation in US private industry (June 2026). Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What is the pay range for marketing specialists in Washington-Arlington?
The median was $87,160 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,500, the 90th $162,020, and the middle half earned $65,730 to $123,760.
How many marketing specialists work in Washington-Arlington?
BLS counts about 21,090 in the May 2025 survey.
Does a marketing specialist cost more than a paralegal in Washington-Arlington?
Yes: $5,570 a year more at the median. The medians are $87,160 and $81,590.
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 2026-11-06.