Mid-level Systems Engineer / Architect salary in Washington, DC
Based on 601 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $111,946 |
| 50th (median) | $118,310 |
| 75th | $120,000 |
| 90th | $142,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $97,225 | $97,094 | $100,000 | 548 |
| FY2021 | $100,000 | $97,594 | $105,000 | 452 |
| FY2022 | $102,107 | $102,107 | $106,803 | 467 |
| FY2023 | $101,400 | $101,338 | $104,000 | 444 |
| FY2024 | $104,000 | $103,938 | $112,320 | 553 |
| FY2025 | $112,000 | $111,946 | $120,000 | 414 |
| FY2026 | $118,310 | $118,310 | $120,713 | 187 |
Cost of living
Washington's median mid-level Systems Engineer / Architect salary of $118,310 is worth about $108,700 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 $118,310, 24% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant | $111,946 | 57 |
| Amazon | $148,250 | 50 |
| Infosys | $118,310 | 44 |
| LTIMindtree | $118,310 | 34 |
| HCLTech | $122,262 | 26 |
| Hexaware Technologies | $118,400 | 20 |
| CGI | $118,310 | 10 |
| Compunnel Software Group | too few | 7 |
| HiLabs | too few | 5 |
| Xylo Consulting | too few | 5 |
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.