Cost of hiring an office manager 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 $76,400 a year[1], 3.5% below the District of Columbia median of $79,200 and 9.9% above the US median of $69,500. Only 23 of 519 US areas pay more for this job. About 23,390 office managers work here.
BLS occupation 43-1011, 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 | $50,310 | $76,400 | $120,530 | |
| District of Columbia | $55,060 | $79,200 | $131,400 | |
| United States | $45,610 | $69,500 | $104,710 |
The middle half of office managers in Washington-Arlington earns $61,110–$96,110. The top tenth earns $120,530 or more, 2.4 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 2.3 times.
What to budget for an office manager here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $50,310 | $4,192 | $24.19 | $71,871 |
| 25th percentile | $61,110 | $5,092 | $29.38 | $87,300 |
| Median | $76,400 | $6,367 | $36.73 | $109,143 |
| 75th percentile | $96,110 | $8,009 | $46.21 | $137,300 |
| 90th percentile | $120,530 | $10,044 | $57.95 | $172,186 |
An offer at the 75th percentile instead of the median adds $19,710 a year in pay and about $28,157 in employer cost. Going down to the 25th percentile saves $15,290 in pay. 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 $76,400 median, a local hire costs about $109,143 a year: benefits and payroll taxes are 30.0% of total compensation in US private industry[2], about $32,743 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 office managers 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 #8 by median pay. Project Coordinator is the highest at $127,030 and Virtual Receptionist the lowest at $41,240.
| Role | Median | vs office manager | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Project Coordinator | +66.3% | 38,230 | |
| Accountant | +33.7% | 41,470 | |
| Recruiter | +32.0% | 24,450 | |
| Executive Assistant | +18.2% | 12,960 | |
| Marketing Specialist | +14.1% | 21,090 | |
| Paralegal | +6.8% | 12,990 | |
| Sales Development Representative | +2.2% | 29,300 | |
| Office Manager | this role | 23,390 | |
| Payroll Specialist | -17.0% | 2,010 | |
| Bookkeeper | -22.4% | 18,550 | |
| HR Assistant | -22.6% | 1,610 | |
| Administrative Assistant | -29.8% | 37,010 | |
| Medical Administrative Assistant | -36.8% | 18,960 | |
| E-commerce Order Specialist | -37.7% | 920 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | -39.5% | 36,750 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | -43.9% | 1,620 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | -46.0% | 17,920 |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire an office manager in Washington-Arlington, DC-VA?
About $109,143 a year at the median, or $9,095 a month: $76,400 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 office managers in Washington-Arlington?
The median was $76,400 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $50,310, the 90th $120,530, and the middle half earned $61,110 to $96,110.
How many office managers work in Washington-Arlington?
BLS counts about 23,390 in the May 2025 survey.
Does an office manager cost more than a payroll specialist in Washington-Arlington?
Yes: $12,960 a year more at the median. The medians are $76,400 and $63,440.
Sources
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-1011: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes431011.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.