Entry-level Systems Engineer salary in Washington, DC
Based on 15 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Ashburn, Herndon, Mclean, Vienna, Reston.
Median salary$95,784
Middle 50%$89.8k–$97.6k
vs. all levels here−23%comparison median $125,000
Filings15FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years
Salary range
All levels here
$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k$120k$130k$140k
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $84,718 |
| 25th | $89,794 |
| 50th (median) | $95,784 |
| 75th | $97,600 |
| 90th | $110,985 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $80,517 | $80,000 | $83,800 | 15 |
| FY2021 | $84,445 | $80,150 | $89,776 | 10 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2023 | $86,242 | $85,000 | $93,683 | 17 |
| FY2024 | $89,147 | $82,463 | $95,249 | 18 |
| FY2025 | $97,157 | $91,446 | $107,089 | 10 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 5 |
Cost of living
Washington's median entry-level Systems Engineer salary of $95,784 is worth about $88,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $95,784 | 15 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $122,699 | 39 |
| Senior · Level III | $150,379 | 26 |
| Expert · Level IV | $160,000 | 11 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.