How to Become a Engineering Manager in District of Columbia: Salary & Requirements (2026)
Quick answer: The median engineering manager salary in District of Columbia is $185,220 per year - 8% above the national median of $171,270 (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The career requires a 4-year degree: ABET-accredited engineering bachelor’s + experience; often an MBA or MEM.
How to Become a Engineering Manager in District of Columbia
1. Work as an engineer first
Any of the engineering paths on this site - the bachelor’s plus several years of practice.
2. Take technical lead roles
Leading designs and mentoring juniors is the proving ground.
3. Add the management layer
An online MEM or MBA, or internal leadership development programs.
4. Hold the PE where required
Firms sealing engineering work generally require licensed managers.
5. Advance
Department head, director of engineering, VP of engineering.
Requirements in District of Columbia
The education path is national - ABET-accredited engineering bachelor’s + experience; often an MBA or MEM - while licensing runs through the District of Columbia state board of professional engineers: PE license commonly required for firms sealing work. Verify current requirements with the District of Columbia state board of professional engineers before enrolling, as details change.
Engineering Manager Salary in District of Columbia
| Wage level | Annual salary |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia entry level (10th percentile) | $138,470 |
| District of Columbia 25th-75th percentile | $161,470 - $195,190 |
| District of Columbia median | $185,220 |
| District of Columbia top earners (90th percentile) | $225,080 |
| U.S. median | $171,270 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. State employment: 1,290.
The District of Columbia Job Market: Engineering Manager
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Employed in District of Columbia | 1,290 |
| Jobs per 1,000 in the state | 1.83 |
| Concentration vs U.S. (location quotient) | 1.30 |
| Mean annual wage in District of Columbia | $185,230 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. With a location quotient of 1.30, District of Columbia employs architectural and engineering managers at a noticeably higher concentration than the national average: a strong local market for the credential.
Salary Nationwide
| Percentile | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th | $120,810 |
| 25th | $139,360 |
| 50th (median) | $171,270 |
| 75th | $212,500 |
| 90th | $262,760 |
Job Outlook
| Year | Employment |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 212,500 |
| 2034 projected | 220,500 |
| Percent change | +3.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a engineering manager make in District of Columbia?
The median annual wage for architectural and engineering managers in District of Columbia is $185,220 (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 8% above the national median of $171,270.
How to become a engineering manager in District of Columbia?
The core path is the same nationwide - ABET-accredited engineering bachelor's + experience; often an MBA or MEM - with licensing through the District of Columbia state board of professional engineers: PE license commonly required for firms sealing work. See the steps on this page.
How many architectural and engineering managers work in District of Columbia?
BLS counts about 1,290 architectural and engineering managers employed in District of Columbia (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Engineering Manager in Nearby States
- Engineering Manager in Connecticut
- Engineering Manager in Delaware
- Engineering Manager in Florida
- Engineering Manager in Georgia
Related
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 - Architectural and Engineering Managers (SOC 11-9041), District of Columbia and national
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2024-34
About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.
Data sources
Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.
| Data | Provider | Vintage |
|---|---|---|
| Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | May 2025 |
| Employment Projections | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics | 2024-2034 |
| Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System | National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS) | 2024 |
| College Scorecard (school-level outcomes) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release |
| College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings) | U.S. Department of Education | latest release (updated 2026-06-12) |
| Occupational licensing requirements | CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2026-02-22) |
| Registered apprenticeship programs | CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor) | latest release (updated 2025-10-25) |
| O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones) | U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.) | O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13) |