Environmental Scientist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 48 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes College Park, Arlington, Washington, Dc, Alexandria, Reston.
Also listed as: Environmental Specialist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,157 |
| 25th | $86,963 |
| 50th (median) | $98,963 |
| 75th | $119,916 |
| 90th | $145,400 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $80,000 | $65,167 | $94,535 | 15 |
| FY2021 | $83,750 | $69,075 | $95,582 | 34 |
| FY2022 | $91,835 | $75,000 | $114,837 | 41 |
| FY2023 | $85,301 | $74,160 | $107,521 | 32 |
| FY2024 | $86,570 | $72,492 | $133,826 | 34 |
| FY2025 | $99,538 | $90,668 | $125,752 | 35 |
| FY2026 | $98,389 | $75,750 | $100,000 | 13 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Environmental Scientist salary of $98,963 is worth about $90,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $108,160 in May 2025 (2,710 employed). The H-1B median here is $98,963, 9% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland College Park | too few | 9 |
| ICF Incorporated | too few | 3 |
| Trinity Consultants | too few | 3 |
| World Resources Institute | too few | 3 |
| EY | too few | 2 |
| ClimateWorks Foundation | too few | 2 |
| Ocean Conservancy | too few | 2 |
| The International Council on Clean Transportation | too few | 2 |
| The Nature Conservancy | too few | 2 |
| Union of Concerned Scientists | 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 | $72,000 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $100,000 | 19 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 4 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
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 | $64,314 | $72,000 | 13 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $93,246 | $100,000 | 19 |
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.