Senior Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary in Washington, DC

Based on 13 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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$166,525
Middle 50%$135.4k–$170.6k
vs. all levels here+11%comparison median $150,509
Filings13FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $124,238 and $179,454.
PercentileSalary
10th$128,968
25th$135,376
50th (median)$166,525
75th$170,560
90th$174,849

Cost of living

Washington's median senior Research Manager (Natural Sciences) salary of $166,525 is worth about $152,900 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 $166,525, 1% 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

EmployerMedianFilings
World Wildlife Fundtoo 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.