Entry-level Foreign Language Professor salary in Washington, DC

Based on 15 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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

Median salary$63,705
Middle 50%$63k–$70k
vs. all levels here−9%comparison median $69,724
Filings15FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $57,042 and $96,007.
PercentileSalary
10th$60,072
25th$63,000
50th (median)$63,705
75th$70,000
90th$82,260

Cost of living

Washington's median entry-level Foreign Language Professor salary of $63,705 is worth about $58,500 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 $63,705, 20% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
Georgetown Universitytoo few6
George Mason Universitytoo few3
University of Maryland College Parktoo few3

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
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 levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$54,620$63,70515

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.