Atmospheric and Space Scientist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 25 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Greenbelt, College Park, Fairfax, Beltsville.
Also listed as: Earth Scientist Atmospheric Science
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $77,713 |
| 25th | $96,616 |
| 50th (median) | $106,808 |
| 75th | $113,544 |
| 90th | $127,701 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $90,397 | $75,000 | $95,000 | 25 |
| FY2021 | $93,392 | $72,850 | $96,606 | 19 |
| FY2022 | $80,800 | $74,610 | $97,460 | 23 |
| FY2023 | $105,102 | $102,189 | $107,376 | 18 |
| FY2024 | $93,636 | $77,495 | $105,290 | 13 |
| FY2025 | $105,290 | $96,616 | $113,235 | 13 |
| FY2026 | $109,710 | $95,895 | $118,064 | 12 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Atmospheric and Space Scientist salary of $106,808 is worth about $98,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Atmospheric and Space Scientists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $117,600 in May 2025 (700 employed). The H-1B median here is $106,808, 9% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland College Park | too few | 7 |
| University Corporation for Atmospheric Research | too few | 5 |
| George Mason University | too few | 3 |
| The Catholic University of America | too few | 3 |
| University of Maryland | too few | 3 |
| Science Systems and Applications | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 3 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 6 |
| Senior · Level III | $116,013 | 12 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior · Level III | $104,978 | $116,013 | 12 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.