DC · Washington · Updated October 15, 2026

CDI Specialist jobs in Washington, DC

CDI Specialists in the Washington area earn a median of $40.19 per hour, about $83,580 a year, and the middle half of them earn between $24.38 and $46.95. That ranks 20th of 133 U.S. metro areas for CDI Specialist pay, and 36th of 129 once local prices are factored in. 1 open role with published pay is listed for Washington and its metro area. Your free pay report adds named employers and the roles open near Washington.

Open CDI Specialist roles near Washington

Roles in other cities of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area.

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CDI Specialist pay in Washington, DC

The metro median is 4% above the District of Columbia statewide median of $38.66 per hour. Nationally the median is $32.36 per hour. BLS counts about 620 health information technologists and medical registrars employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area, 0.2 per 1,000 jobs. Employment is less concentrated here than in the country as a whole (location quotient 0.82).

LevelPer hourPer yearCompared with U.S.
Lowest 10%$22.31$46,40031% below U.S. median
Lower quartile$24.38$50,71025% below U.S. median
Median$40.19$83,58024% above U.S. median
Upper quartile$46.95$97,66045% above U.S. median
Top 10%$57.68$119,97078% above U.S. median

How Washington ranks

  • 20th of 133 U.S. metro areas by median hourly pay
  • 36th of 129 after adjusting for local prices

BLS does not publish a separate figure for CDI Specialist. These numbers are for the broader category it belongs to, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024, Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars (SOC 29-9021), all industries. This is what employers report paying, not an offer for a specific role.

What your pay buys in Washington

  • Overall prices in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria run 9% above the U.S. average (index 108.9, U.S. = 100).
  • Housing is the biggest driver: 51% above the U.S. average (index 151.1).
  • Adjusted for local prices, a $40.19 median hour buys what $36.91 buys at the national price level, 14% above the national median.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by metropolitan area, 2024. Prices are for the metro area, not for a single neighborhood.

Estimate your Washington paycheck

Estimated weekly gross$1,447
  • Per year: $72,342
  • Per month: $6,028

Gross pay before taxes and benefits, from BLS pay levels for the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. For take-home pay use the take-home pay calculator.

Hospitals in Washington

CMS lists 10 hospitals in Washington.

HospitalTypeOwnershipCMS ratingEmergency
Sibley Memorial Hospital
Washington, DC
Acute careNonprofit5 of 5Yes
Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
Washington, DC
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Medstar Washington Hospital Center
Washington, DC
Acute careNonprofit3 of 5Yes
United Medical Center
Washington, DC
Acute careFor-profit3 of 5Yes
Washington Dc Va Medical Center
Washington, DC
Acute Care - Veterans AdministrationGovernment and federal3 of 5Yes
George Washington Univ Hospital
Washington, DC
Acute careFor-profit2 of 5Yes
Howard University Hospital Corp
Washington, DC
Acute careNonprofit1 of 5No
Children's National Hospital
Washington, DC
Children'sNonprofitNot ratedYes
Psychiatric Institute Of Washington
Washington, DC
PsychiatricNonprofitNot ratedNo
St Elizabeths Hospital
Washington, DC
PsychiatricGovernment and federalNot ratedNo

Source: CMS Hospital General Information, public data. A directory of hospitals, not a list of our clients.

CDI Specialist pay in nearby cities

CityDistanceMedian payPopulation
Alexandria, VA7 mi$40.19/hr159,102
Rockville, MD14 mi$40.19/hr68,417
Baltimore, MD35 mi$32.37/hr568,271
Lancaster, PA87 mi$29.55/hr58,441
Harrisburg, PA95 mi$29.76/hr50,649
Wilmington, DE98 mi$30.74/hr73,176

CDI Specialist jobs in District of Columbia · CDI Specialist jobs nationwide

What employers ask for, and tax basics in District of Columbia

Clinical documentation integrity specialists review charts and query clinicians so records reflect patient severity accurately.

  • CCDS or CDIP credential, or the ability to earn one
  • Clinical background such as RN, or coding experience
  • Knowledge of DRGs and quality reporting

District of Columbia taxes wage income. Use your own rates in the take-home pay calculator.

District of Columbia state guide

Other healthcare roles in Washington

Washington city guide: hospitals, employers and licensing

Common questions

How much do CDI Specialists make in Washington, DC?

CDI Specialists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area have a median pay of $40.19 per hour, about $83,580 a year. The middle half earn between $24.38 and $46.95 per hour (BLS, May 2024).

Is Washington a good place for CDI Specialists once cost of living is counted?

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria ranks 36th of 129 metro areas for CDI Specialist pay after adjusting for local prices, and 20th of 133 before adjusting. Overall prices run 9% above the U.S. average.

Who is hiring CDI Specialists in Washington?

We list 1 open role with published pay from 1 employer in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area. Your free report adds named employers and pay near Washington.

Do I need a District of Columbia license to work in Washington as a CDI Specialist?

CCDS or CDIP credential, or the ability to earn one. Credentials are issued state by state, so confirm what District of Columbia requires for your role with the District of Columbia licensing board and with your recruiter before you commit to a start date. Confirm with the board before you accept a role.

Does Valorem Health place CDI Specialists in Washington?

Yes. We place healthcare staff in Washington and across District of Columbia. Tell us your profession and we email the roles open near Washington.

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Pay report · CDI near Washington, DC
Valorem Health Shift ReportFrom your recruiting team · [email protected]

Your CDI pay reportTop-paying hospitals shown · your District of Columbia list by name comes with the full report

1Pay for your role at other hospitals

  • Montage HealthMonterey, CA · 1 posting$84.65/ hr$72–$97
  • Emanate HealthWest Covina, CA · 1 posting$63.17/ hr$50–$77
  • San Antonio Regional HospitalUpland, CA · 1 posting$59.87/ hr$48–$72
  • Boston Medical CenterRemote, MA · 1 posting$56.69/ hr$38–$75

Median posted pay per hour, with the range each employer published. Request your District of Columbia list

2What they are offering now

Low$38Median$53.93High$76

8 CDI postings with published pay in the US, 8 of them posted in the last 30 days. Month-by-month history by employer comes with your full report.

3Open CDI roles

Open CDI roles near Washington, DC, each with pay, shift and start date, arrive with your report.

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