Data Scientist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 2,388 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Mclean, Arlington, Herndon, Vienna, Reston.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $89,000 |
| 25th | $109,000 |
| 50th (median) | $115,939 |
| 75th | $143,395 |
| 90th | $166,858 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $97,500 | $82,450 | $115,250 | 139 |
| FY2021 | $100,000 | $86,486 | $120,000 | 145 |
| FY2022 | $112,000 | $98,550 | $135,200 | 285 |
| FY2023 | $102,274 | $100,235 | $125,000 | 740 |
| FY2024 | $105,000 | $102,274 | $132,100 | 965 |
| FY2025 | $110,832 | $110,739 | $145,000 | 1,298 |
| FY2026 | $115,939 | $99,334 | $143,395 | 1,090 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Data Scientist salary of $115,939 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 Data Scientists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $132,200 in May 2025 (9,260 employed). The H-1B median here is $115,939, 12% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Capital One | $112,904 | 912 |
| Amazon | $136,000 | 185 |
| Navy Federal Credit Union | $129,213 | 80 |
| Visa | $138,798 | 21 |
| Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group | $88,462 | 17 |
| AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals | $167,143 | 16 |
| HiLabs | $143,500 | 14 |
| Deloitte | $110,739 | 11 |
| Tredence | $140,523 | 11 |
| Asta CRS | $111,072 | 10 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $88,462 | 425 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $115,939 | 958 |
| Senior · Level III | $144,019 | 247 |
| Expert · Level IV | $170,872 | 279 |
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 | $82,680 | $88,462 | 425 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $110,739 | $115,939 | 958 |
| Senior · Level III | $143,395 | $144,019 | 247 |
| Expert · Level IV | $166,858 | $170,872 | 279 |
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.