Foreign Language Professor salary in Washington, DC
Based on 19 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Fairfax, College Park, Emmitsburg.
Also listed as: Foreign Language Instructor, Assistant Professor of Spanish
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $60,144 |
| 25th | $63,000 |
| 50th (median) | $69,724 |
| 75th | $83,383 |
| 90th | $95,829 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $60,000 | $52,729 | $66,281 | 11 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 5 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2023 | $57,500 | $55,000 | $73,254 | 15 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 8 |
| FY2025 | $70,000 | $63,000 | $87,317 | 13 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 6 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Foreign Language Professor salary of $69,724 is worth about $64,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Foreign Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $79,510 in May 2025 (650 employed). The H-1B median here is $69,724, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | too few | 6 |
| George Mason University | too few | 4 |
| University of Maryland College Park | too few | 3 |
| Howard University | too few | 2 |
| The George Washington University | 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 | $63,705 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 | $54,620 | $63,705 | 15 |
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.