In the District of Columbia, safety and EHS managers report an estimated median of about $108,000 a year, among the higher figures in this series and closely tied to the district’s cost of living and federal-contractor-heavy economy.
Safety and EHS managers in the District of Columbia land at an estimated median of about $108,000 a year, with most roles falling between $84,240 and $145,800 depending on industry, employer size, certifications and experience. The baseline is the BLS OES national median for occupational health & safety specialists (SOC 19-5011) — $83,910 in the May 2024 release — scaled up to reflect DC’s wage level, which is among the highest in the country. Demand here is unusual compared to most states: rather than heavy industry, it’s driven by large-scale institutional and commercial construction, federal agencies and their contractors, and a sizeable hospitality and events sector serving the city’s tourism and convention business. DC also has one of the highest costs of living of any market covered on this site, so the salary figures should be read with that firmly in mind.
The District of Columbia has not adopted its own OSHA State Plan, so private-sector workplace safety here is enforced directly by federal OSHA, the same as in most states. Safety managers working for DC-based private employers plan around the standard federal 29 CFR 1910/1926 rules.
Because the District of Columbia is a single city rather than a state with multiple metros, essentially all of its safety-manager roles are concentrated in Washington itself, spread across federal contracting firms, large construction projects, hospitals and the hospitality/events sector.
Get a personalised range by role, experience, industry and certification.
Open the free Salary Estimator →
See also: national salary guide · certification roadmap · all states
How much does a safety manager make in the District of Columbia?
Safety and EHS managers in the District of Columbia earn an estimated median of about $108,000 a year, with a typical range of $84,240 to $145,800 depending on industry, employer size, certifications and experience. The figure is an estimate anchored on BLS OES data.
Does the District of Columbia have its own OSHA program?
No. The District of Columbia has not adopted its own OSHA State Plan, so private-sector workplace safety is enforced directly by federal OSHA, the same as in most states.
What kind of employers drive safety-manager demand in DC?
Rather than heavy industry, demand here is driven by large-scale institutional and commercial construction, federal agencies and their contractors, and a sizeable hospitality and events sector serving the city’s tourism and convention business.
How does DC’s cost of living affect this salary?
The District of Columbia has one of the highest costs of living of any market covered on this site, so the salary figures here should be read with that firmly in mind.
Salary figures are estimates derived from BLS national OES data scaled to state wage levels — not a guarantee or an offer. Verify current local data with BLS and employers. ← All states · Home