Senior Atmospheric and Space Scientist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 12 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $111,045 |
| 25th | $112,611 |
| 50th (median) | $116,013 |
| 75th | $124,270 |
| 90th | $131,622 |
Cost of living
Washington's median senior Atmospheric and Space Scientist salary of $116,013 is worth about $106,500 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 $116,013, 1% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland College Park | too few | 7 |
| 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.