HR Specialist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 71 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Herndon, Arlington, Mclean, Ashburn, Rockville.
Also listed as: Recruiter
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $62,400 |
| 25th | $78,146 |
| 50th (median) | $80,000 |
| 75th | $97,693 |
| 90th | $125,800 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $69,992 | $57,500 | $70,720 | 27 |
| FY2021 | $70,470 | $55,000 | $70,720 | 21 |
| FY2022 | $72,000 | $71,910 | $87,250 | 46 |
| FY2023 | $73,000 | $71,827 | $82,683 | 32 |
| FY2024 | $74,090 | $60,000 | $78,146 | 40 |
| FY2025 | $78,146 | $70,013 | $81,910 | 45 |
| FY2026 | $91,500 | $82,139 | $122,398 | 26 |
Cost of living
Washington's median HR Specialist salary of $80,000 is worth about $73,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Human Resources Specialists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $100,830 in May 2025 (24,450 employed). The H-1B median here is $80,000, 21% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | too few | 8 |
| SS Software Solutions | too few | 4 |
| Infinite Computer Solutions | too few | 3 |
| Accentuate IT Solutions | too few | 2 |
| Amiti Consulting | too few | 2 |
| Bowie State University | too few | 2 |
| High Sierra Pools | too few | 2 |
| Jecho Laboratories | too few | 2 |
| Navitas Business Consulting | too few | 2 |
| Olympus Corporation of the Americas | 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 | $62,483 | 17 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $78,208 | 37 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | $142,800 | 12 |
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 | $58,926 | $62,483 | 17 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $78,146 | $78,208 | 37 |
| Expert · Level IV | $121,430 | $142,800 | 12 |
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.