Can A Police Officer Afford Rent in Washington, DC?
Stretched but workable — rent takes 31.5% of gross income.
Washington rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (District of Columbia state estimate).
About rent and a police officer salary
The gap between a police officer's base pay and the rent in the city they patrol is a widely tracked local affordability question. Many large-city departments now publish recruitment materials that include a local-rent comparison, because affordability has become a recruiting issue. At the national-average officer base pay, the 30% rule supports about $1,932 a month in rent. The per-city pages combine local rent with local officer-pay estimates to show where rent stays within that range.
Compare with full rent data for Washington
View full rent data for Washington, DC →Frequently asked questions
Can a police officer afford rent in Washington, DC?
Median rent in Washington is $2,532 a month. A typical police officer in District of Columbia earns about $96,588 a year, which makes that rent 31.5% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a police officer afford in Washington?
Using the 30% rule, a police officer salary in District of Columbia (~$96,588/yr) supports up to $2,415 a month in rent. Washington's current median rent is $2,532/mo, which is $117/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a police officer work to cover rent in Washington?
At an hourly equivalent of about $46 an hour, a police officer in District of Columbia works roughly 54.5 hours a month to cover Washington's median rent of $2,532.