Entry-level Medical Scientist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 131 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Rockville, Frederick.
Also listed as: Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,971 |
| 25th | $82,660 |
| 50th (median) | $96,198 |
| 75th | $108,634 |
| 90th | $132,638 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $81,037 | $70,401 | $99,147 | 103 |
| FY2021 | $81,038 | $74,748 | $90,000 | 114 |
| FY2022 | $82,180 | $77,279 | $93,864 | 102 |
| FY2023 | $87,009 | $77,670 | $99,000 | 157 |
| FY2024 | $97,438 | $84,788 | $105,807 | 119 |
| FY2025 | $91,265 | $78,750 | $101,734 | 80 |
| FY2026 | $103,954 | $89,473 | $118,301 | 51 |
Cost of living
Washington's median entry-level Medical Scientist salary of $96,198 is worth about $88,300 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $107,110 in May 2025 (5,980 employed). The H-1B median here is $96,198, 10% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| National Institutes of Health, HHS | $102,088 | 52 |
| Food And Drug Administration | $133,828 | 14 |
| Georgetown University | $72,750 | 10 |
| Children's National Medical Center | too few | 8 |
| Leidos Biomedical Research | too few | 8 |
| AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals | too few | 6 |
| Charles River Laboratories | too few | 4 |
| The George Washington University | too few | 4 |
| University of Maryland College Park | too few | 4 |
| The Henry M. Jackson Foundation | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $96,198 | 131 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $121,826 | 75 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 3 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
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 | $68,536 | $96,198 | 131 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $90,854 | $121,826 | 75 |
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.