Expert Research Assistant (Social Science) salary in Washington, DC
Based on 21 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Arlington, Washington Dc, Washington, D.c., Washington, Dc, Aldie.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $75,000 |
| 25th | $82,555 |
| 50th (median) | $90,000 |
| 75th | $96,000 |
| 90th | $136,670 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $75,000 | $75,000 | $82,354 | 14 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2022 | $79,394 | $73,680 | $80,000 | 31 |
| FY2023 | $78,170 | $73,500 | $95,000 | 13 |
| FY2024 | $87,000 | $72,500 | $95,122 | 19 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2026 | $83,548 | $79,497 | $95,500 | 15 |
Cost of living
Washington's median expert Research Assistant (Social Science) salary of $90,000 is worth about $82,700 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Social Science Research Assistants in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $65,330 in May 2025 (2,170 employed). The H-1B median here is $90,000, 38% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Center for Strategic and International Studies | too few | 5 |
| The Sphere Institute | too few | 3 |
| Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld | too few | 2 |
| Atlas Public Policy | too few | 2 |
| International Crisis Group | 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 | $53,020 | 24 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $65,000 | 41 |
| Senior · Level III | $75,520 | 31 |
| Expert · Level IV | $90,000 | 21 |
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 | $46,946 | $53,020 | 24 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $59,176 | $65,000 | 41 |
| Senior · Level III | $63,294 | $75,520 | 31 |
| Expert · Level IV | $82,555 | $90,000 | 21 |
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.