DC pays SPD techs $48,000 to $72,000, above the national median, with the top of that range going to certified techs at academic medical centers. This is a credentialed market: employers here consistently prioritize candidates who already hold a certification, so if you're uncertified with no experience, DC is a harder first door than most metros. Evening and overnight differentials run $2 to $5 per hour above base.
Between $48,000 and $72,000 annually, with experienced certified techs at academic medical centers landing at the top of the range. Night and weekend differentials add $2 to $5 per hour, which is a wider spread than most markets offer.
The District has no law requiring it, unlike neighboring Maryland and Virginia's peers to the north such as Pennsylvania and New Jersey. But DC-area employers consistently prioritize credentialed candidates in practice, so read the CRCST vs CBSPD comparison and pick one before you apply.
It's the hardest entry point in the DMV, because the market is deep enough that employers rarely need to train from scratch. Getting hired at a suburban facility or a surgery center and moving in later is a more realistic path; the hospital vs surgery center guide covers the tradeoff.