Human Resources Degree in Washington, DC — Salary & ROI 2026
Human Resources degree analysis for Washington, DC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$73K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$114K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
6.3 yrs
in Washington
Cost of Living
146
index (100 = avg)
Human Resources in Washington, DC Overview
Washington is one of District of Columbia's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 55,233. Public tuition averages $12,276/year here — near the national average for public universities. Human Resources enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Recruiting and Employee Relations. The adjusted starting salary in Washington is approximately $73,000, growing to $113,880 by mid-career.
Category
Business
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$12,276/yr
Private Tuition
$51,262/yr
Room & Board
$22,009/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,537/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
60%
Human Resources Salary in Washington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Washington's cost of living index of 146 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Human Resources salary: $50,000 starting, $78,000 mid-career, $100,000 senior level.Washington adjustment factor: 1.46x based on the local cost of living index.
Human Resources ROI Calculator for Washington
Estimate your return on investment for a Human Resources degree using local Washington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,276 | Private avg: $51,262
Washington avg aid: $8,537/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,140
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$21,900
vs HS diploma in Washington
ROI Payback Period
6.3 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Washington
$592,860
Lifetime earnings premium ($730,000) minus total education cost ($137,140)
Student Loan Payoff for Human Resources in Washington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Washington for Human Resources
Georgetown University
private
$62,052/yr
$248,208 total
George Washington University
private
$60,770/yr
$243,080 total
Howard University
private
$30,964/yr
$123,856 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
University of the District of Columbia Community College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Human Resources in Washington
Washington offers opportunities in Financial services, Consulting firms, Fortune 500 companies for Human Resources graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Washington Hiring Sectors for Business
Financial services
Consulting firms
Fortune 500 companies
Startups
Marketing agencies
Common Human Resources Job Titles
Other Business Majors in Washington
Business Analytics
$114K starting · 2 yr ROI
Finance
$102K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Economics
$95K starting · 4 yr ROI
Information Systems
$73K starting · 3.3 yr ROI
Supply Chain Management
$73K starting · 3.5 yr ROI
Operations Management
$73K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Accounting
$91K starting · 3.8 yr ROI
Real Estate
$73K starting · 4 yr ROI
Human Resources Degree in Washington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Human Resources ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Washington.