Political Scientist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 43 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Washington Dc, Arlington, Falls Church, Washington, Dc, Gaithersburg.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $69,400 |
| 25th | $95,000 |
| 50th (median) | $114,297 |
| 75th | $135,013 |
| 90th | $169,828 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $102,107 | $81,390 | $130,000 | 21 |
| FY2021 | $130,000 | $115,000 | $152,215 | 17 |
| FY2022 | $108,784 | $89,420 | $126,250 | 32 |
| FY2023 | $116,794 | $87,850 | $144,032 | 27 |
| FY2024 | $114,971 | $96,250 | $147,500 | 22 |
| FY2025 | $108,000 | $85,995 | $120,000 | 29 |
| FY2026 | $131,725 | $112,120 | $153,462 | 14 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Political Scientist salary of $114,297 is worth about $105,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Political Scientists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $156,730 in May 2025 (3,700 employed). The H-1B median here is $114,297, 27% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Washington Institute for Near East Policy | too few | 5 |
| Carnegie Endowment for International Peace | too few | 2 |
| Georgetown University | too few | 2 |
| Hudson Institute | too few | 2 |
| Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation | too few | 2 |
| Washington Office on Latin America | 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 | $85,000 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $118,633 | 10 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 5 |
| 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 | $60,965 | $85,000 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $87,568 | $118,633 | 10 |
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.