Mid-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Washington, DC

Based on 52 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level II 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

Median salary$153,913
Middle 50%$138k–$173.6k
vs. all levels here−4%comparison median $160,900
Filings52FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $115,629 and $208,427.
PercentileSalary
10th$133,153
25th$138,019
50th (median)$153,913
75th$173,592
90th$184,850

Salary by year

Median salary

$90k $130k $170k FY2020: median $109,346 (16 filings) FY2021: median $120,537 (18 filings) FY2022: median $128,250 (24 filings) FY2023: median $123,510 (25 filings) FY2024: median $152,700 (24 filings) FY2025: median $151,226 (31 filings) FY2026: median $156,600 (21 filings) FY20 FY21 FY22 FY23 FY24 FY25 FY26

Filings per year

FY2020: 16 filings FY20 FY2021: 18 filings FY21 FY2022: 24 filings FY22 FY2023: 25 filings FY23 FY2024: 24 filings FY24 FY2025: 31 filings FY25 FY2026: 21 filings FY26 31
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$109,346$109,346$117,36116
FY2021$120,537$115,981$131,66918
FY2022$128,250$123,074$140,00024
FY2023$123,510$113,339$154,24025
FY2024$152,700$136,757$165,77024
FY2025$151,226$138,300$171,40031
FY2026$156,600$137,176$173,22221

Cost of living

Washington's median mid-level Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $153,913 is worth about $141,400 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 $153,913, 4% 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
Amazon$156,60027
Capital Onetoo few3
Adobetoo few2
Microsofttoo few2
Protagolabstoo few2

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

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
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 levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$108,264$148,68919
Mid-level · Level II$132,434$153,91352
Senior · Level III$164,112$170,00029

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.