Expert Economist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 34 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Arlington, Washington Dc, Washington, Dc, Vienna, Washington, D.c..
Also listed as: Research Economist, Associate Economist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $143,034 |
| 25th | $191,490 |
| 50th (median) | $230,000 |
| 75th | $259,625 |
| 90th | $281,402 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $175,000 | $168,059 | $255,937 | 15 |
| FY2021 | $177,500 | $169,997 | $200,000 | 16 |
| FY2022 | $185,000 | $171,662 | $190,000 | 29 |
| FY2023 | $213,750 | $179,125 | $219,950 | 18 |
| FY2024 | $225,000 | $220,000 | $240,000 | 26 |
| FY2025 | $235,500 | $211,250 | $275,000 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $223,500 | $186,735 | $246,625 | 14 |
Cost of living
Washington's median expert Economist salary of $230,000 is worth about $211,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Economists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $156,750 in May 2025 (4,570 employed). The H-1B median here is $230,000, 47% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Bates White | too few | 8 |
| Econic Partners | too few | 5 |
| World Resources Institute | too few | 3 |
| Compass Lexecon | too few | 2 |
| Resources For The Future | too few | 2 |
| The Brattle Group | 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 | $110,000 | 62 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $154,750 | 60 |
| Senior · Level III | $170,000 | 49 |
| Expert · Level IV | $230,000 | 34 |
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 | $96,782 | $110,000 | 62 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $129,667 | $154,750 | 60 |
| Senior · Level III | $157,622 | $170,000 | 49 |
| Expert · Level IV | $188,032 | $230,000 | 34 |
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.