Senior Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary in Washington, DC
Based on 29 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level III 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 | $156,603 |
| 25th | $164,112 |
| 50th (median) | $170,000 |
| 75th | $184,000 |
| 90th | $203,350 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2021 | $150,598 | $146,090 | $155,200 | 12 |
| FY2022 | $160,000 | $140,855 | $169,269 | 11 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2024 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2025 | $171,600 | $156,603 | $184,000 | 17 |
| FY2026 | $169,800 | $164,778 | $181,524 | 12 |
Cost of living
Washington's median senior Research Scientist (Computer Science) salary of $170,000 is worth about $156,100 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 $170,000, 6% 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
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.