SOC 15-1221 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Computer and Information Research Scientists — Washington
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
The median wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in Washington, DC is $161,090 per year, 14.8% above the national median of $140,300.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in Washington, DC is $161,090 per year, 14.8% above the national median of $140,300. Half of workers earn between $129,730 and $201,170. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $103,440 and the ninetieth at $223,800.
The area has 3,420 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 1.1 of every thousand jobs. Of the 707 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 44th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $103,440 | −26.3% |
| 25th | $129,730 | −7.5% |
| Median (50th) | $161,090 | +14.8% |
| 75th | $201,170 | +43.4% |
| 90th | $223,800 | +59.5% |
| Mean | $165,880 | +18.2% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Washington run 9.9% above the national average, so the median of $161,090 buys what $146,579 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 4.5% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$161,090as reported by BLSLocal price level
109.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$146,579US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $161,090 a year, 14.8% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $103,440 to $223,800 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 3,420 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Computer and Information Research Scientists in Washington, DC?
The median annual wage is $161,090, or $77.45 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $140,300, so pay in Washington, DC is 14.8% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Washington, DC earns more than $223,800 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $103,440 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 3,420 jobs in this occupation in Washington, DC. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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