Mid-level Economist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 60 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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 | $127,192 |
| 25th | $140,725 |
| 50th (median) | $154,750 |
| 75th | $205,000 |
| 90th | $230,040 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $105,685 | $105,685 | $105,685 | 145 |
| FY2021 | $106,933 | $106,933 | $113,485 | 71 |
| FY2022 | $113,485 | $113,485 | $113,485 | 112 |
| FY2023 | $125,000 | $110,094 | $160,000 | 27 |
| FY2024 | $150,920 | $122,813 | $169,000 | 28 |
| FY2025 | $152,000 | $136,250 | $173,253 | 31 |
| FY2026 | $168,000 | $150,300 | $220,000 | 29 |
Cost of living
Washington's median mid-level Economist salary of $154,750 is worth about $142,100 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 $154,750, 1% 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 | $154,500 | 19 |
| Cornerstone Research | too few | 7 |
| Compass Lexecon | too few | 4 |
| National Economic Research Associates | too few | 3 |
| The Brattle Group | too few | 3 |
| Berkeley Research Group | too few | 2 |
| Cato Institute | too few | 2 |
| CRA International | too few | 2 |
| Edgeworth Economics | too few | 2 |
| Indeed | 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.