Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary in Washington, DC

Based on 36 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Rockville, Chantilly, Gaithersburg, Reston, Germantown.

Also listed as: Clinical Research Coordinator, Clinical Research Manager

Median salary$150,509
Middle 50%$123.6k–$173.2k
vs. national median+16%comparison median $129,688
Filings36FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $51,949 and $226,450.
PercentileSalary
10th$81,837
25th$123,642
50th (median)$150,509
75th$173,202
90th$205,000

Salary by year

Median salary

$90k $130k $170k FY2020: median $126,500 (14 filings) FY2021: median $108,659 (21 filings) FY2022: median $118,873 (24 filings) FY2023: median $137,417 (22 filings) FY2024: median $124,375 (34 filings) FY2025: median $160,000 (23 filings) FY2026: median $146,017 (13 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 14 filings FY20 FY2021: 21 filings FY21 FY2022: 24 filings FY22 FY2023: 22 filings FY23 FY2024: 34 filings FY24 FY2025: 23 filings FY25 FY2026: 13 filings FY26 34
Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.
Show as table
Fiscal yearMedianP25P75Filings
FY2020$126,500$103,185$143,74814
FY2021$108,659$78,333$148,05421
FY2022$118,873$76,407$153,02124
FY2023$137,417$105,879$166,25022
FY2024$124,375$86,877$156,12534
FY2025$160,000$121,800$171,50723
FY2026$146,017$128,918$175,44813

Cost of living

Washington's median Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary of $150,509 is worth about $138,200 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).

Compared with all workers here

All Natural Sciences Managers in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $169,060 in May 2025 (5,890 employed). The H-1B median here is $150,509, 11% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
World Wildlife Fundtoo few4
Children's National Medical Centertoo few3
Granules Pharmaceuticalstoo few3
African Wildlife Federationtoo few2
Axle Informaticstoo few2

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I too few 4
Mid-level · Level II – 0
Senior · Level III $166,525 13
Expert · Level IV too few 2

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Senior · Level III$166,525$166,52513

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.