Entry-level Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Washington, DC
Based on 132 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Herndon, Arlington, Mclean, Ashburn, Reston.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $89,794 |
| 25th | $89,794 |
| 50th (median) | $95,784 |
| 75th | $105,000 |
| 90th | $135,050 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $79,019 | $78,354 | $82,000 | 121 |
| FY2021 | $82,472 | $79,019 | $90,552 | 115 |
| FY2022 | $82,472 | $82,472 | $89,250 | 165 |
| FY2023 | $82,451 | $80,413 | $85,000 | 93 |
| FY2024 | $82,500 | $82,451 | $91,163 | 138 |
| FY2025 | $90,000 | $89,794 | $96,080 | 87 |
| FY2026 | $101,946 | $95,784 | $152,000 | 45 |
Cost of living
Washington's median entry-level Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $95,784 is worth about $88,000 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 $95,784, 39% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $153,500 | 16 |
| Hughes Network Systems | too few | 5 |
| Izum | too few | 4 |
| EY | too few | 2 |
| AI Consultants | too few | 2 |
| Amdocs | too few | 2 |
| Avi Technologies | too few | 2 |
| CRA International | too few | 2 |
| Ebsoft Consulting | too few | 2 |
| fusionSpan | 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 | $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.