Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Washington, DC
Based on 1,497 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Herndon, Arlington, Mclean, Ashburn, Reston.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $111,946 |
| 25th | $118,310 |
| 50th (median) | $134,077 |
| 75th | $156,616 |
| 90th | $177,166 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $100,000 | $97,094 | $120,000 | 1,160 |
| FY2021 | $110,000 | $97,594 | $133,280 | 1,026 |
| FY2022 | $116,699 | $102,107 | $140,000 | 1,147 |
| FY2023 | $115,066 | $101,338 | $142,000 | 969 |
| FY2024 | $125,424 | $103,938 | $146,910 | 1,281 |
| FY2025 | $134,077 | $111,946 | $156,229 | 965 |
| FY2026 | $140,837 | $118,310 | $163,363 | 532 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $134,077 is worth about $123,100 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer Systems Engineers/Architects in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $156,640 in May 2025. The H-1B median here is $134,077, 14% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $134,077 | 227 |
| Amazon | $160,000 | 127 |
| Infosys | $118,310 | 68 |
| HCLTech | $134,566 | 52 |
| Hexaware Technologies | $134,077 | 43 |
| LTIMindtree | $118,311 | 40 |
| Visa | $156,229 | 19 |
| HiLabs | $160,000 | 18 |
| Hughes Network Systems | $135,750 | 16 |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | $163,015 | 16 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $95,784 | 132 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $118,310 | 601 |
| Senior · Level III | $140,837 | 423 |
| Expert · Level IV | $165,000 | 302 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $89,794 | $95,784 | 132 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $111,946 | $118,310 | 601 |
| Senior · Level III | $134,077 | $140,837 | 423 |
| Expert · Level IV | $163,363 | $165,000 | 302 |
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.