McLean's economy is inextricably linked to the federal government and the broader Washington, D.C. metropolitan ecosystem. While largely a bedroom community, the overlapping postal zones between McLean and the neighboring Tysons commercial district mean that several major corporate headquarters—including Mars, Capital One, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Hilton Worldwide—are often associated with McLean.
The presence of the CIA and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence directly bolsters the local economy, creating a massive footprint of high-paying defense, intelligence, and cybersecurity contracting jobs in the immediate vicinity. The local cost of living is exceptionally high, particularly regarding housing, but this is offset by some of the highest median incomes in the United States.