Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Washington, DC
Based on 110 certified H-1B filings in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Arlington, Ashburn, Mclean, Herndon, Fairfax.
Also listed as: Machine Learning Engineer, AI Researcher
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $132,191 |
| 25th | $145,463 |
| 50th (median) | $160,900 |
| 75th | $178,700 |
| 90th | $193,200 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $109,373 | $95,617 | $138,700 | 42 |
| FY2021 | $130,000 | $115,981 | $153,098 | 47 |
| FY2022 | $130,000 | $102,000 | $150,000 | 57 |
| FY2023 | $121,755 | $101,026 | $159,697 | 46 |
| FY2024 | $150,050 | $123,510 | $168,560 | 52 |
| FY2025 | $156,603 | $139,605 | $178,800 | 67 |
| FY2026 | $164,112 | $150,633 | $173,961 | 43 |
Cost of living
Washington's median Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $160,900 is worth about $147,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Computer and Information Research Scientists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $161,090 in May 2025 (3,420 employed). The H-1B median here is $160,900, 0% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | $160,000 | 45 |
| Capital One | too few | 5 |
| Meta | too few | 5 |
| Microsoft | too few | 5 |
| Ampsight | too few | 4 |
| George Mason University | too few | 3 |
| Adobe | too few | 2 |
| CaptionCall | too few | 2 |
| Elevance Health | too few | 2 |
| Georgetown University | 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 | $148,689 | 19 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $153,913 | 52 |
| Senior · Level III | $170,000 | 29 |
| 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 | $108,264 | $148,689 | 19 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $132,434 | $153,913 | 52 |
| Senior · Level III | $164,112 | $170,000 | 29 |
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.