Experience
Industry
The estimated total pay for a Computer Scientist is $169,751 per year in the Washington, DC area, with an average salary of $142,046 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $27,705 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
How accurate is this most likely Total Pay range (base + additional) of $132K-$221K/yr?
For Computer Scientist in Washington, DC
Some related job titles are Computational Chemistry Salaries with median pay of $82,409, Computational Fluid Dynamics Engineer Salaries with median pay of $123,317, Research Scientist Salaries with median pay of $133,783, Research Scientist, Computational Chemistry Salaries with median pay of $101,674.
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For a Computer Scientist in Washington, DC
The top paying industry for a Computer Scientist in Washington, DC is Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $133,720.
Top paying companies in Aerospace & Defense for Computer Scientist are US Naval Research Laboratory and US Department of Defense.
What is the pay outlook for Research & Science?
Research and science jobs offer pay well above the national average. Increased demand for STEM workers is increasing salaries in research and science. Jobs in these fields, however, often require higher education at the graduate level and/or specialized training. While domain-specific expertise gives workers in these fields access to very specialized jobs, there are also many employers who hire STEM workers for their general data and technology skills.
How does the Computer scientist salary in Washington, DC compare to the national average salary in US for the same job?
The average salary for a Computer scientist in US is $106,012 per year based on 1,180 salary contributions, which is 2.43% more than the salary for a Computer scientist in Washington, DC . The cost of living and the local demand for the work are among the factors affecting wages. The top 3 companies in US where a Computer scientist gets the highest compensation are Orbital Insight Inc, SMA, Inc. and Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.. Bigger companies typically pay 28.1% more than smaller companies for a Computer scientist.
For computer scientist in Washington, DC
Job Title
Location
Total Pay
Base Pay | Additional Pay
Total Years of Experience
Years at Recent Employer
Submitted
Date or Time
Washington, DC
| 15+ years
/yr
Submitted 4 days ago
Washington, DC
| 15+ years
/yr
$137K | $3K
Submitted 12 days ago
Washington, DC
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted 15 days ago
Washington, DC
| 7-9 years
/yr
$132K | $3K
Submitted 16 days ago
Washington, DC
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted 16 days ago
Washington, DC
| <1 year
/yr
Submitted 17 days ago
Washington, DC
| 1-3 years
/yr
Submitted 21 days ago
Washington, DC
| 15+ years
/yr
Submitted 21 days ago
Washington, DC
| 4-6 years
/yr
$100K | $2K
Submitted 21 days ago
The average salary for a Computer Scientist is $169,751 per year in Washington, DC . Salaries estimates are based on 1839 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Computer Scientist employees in Washington, DC .
The highest salary for a Computer Scientist in Washington, DC is $220,698 per year.
The lowest salary for a Computer Scientist in Washington, DC is $131,696 per year.
If you are thinking of becoming a Computer Scientist or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Computer Scientist.
Roughly 72% of computer scientists are happy with their income. Additional earnings of around $27,705.28 can significantly boost a computer scientist's salary, and obtaining a Master's degree and additional certifications can also increase your earning potential.
A master's degree in computer science isn't mandatory, but it can increase how much you can earn as a computer scientist. A postgraduate qualification demonstrates a detailed understanding of in-demand subjects, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and information systems.
Highly-paid computer scientist jobs require advanced technical expertise, so employers often favor candidates with proven credentials. For example, vendor-specific certifications from Microsoft or Cisco can expand your employment opportunities and earning power. Cybersecurity skills are also highly desirable. Therefore, it's worth considering completing a qualification in this area, such as the CompTIA Security + certification.
If you've found a computer scientist job you love, but the compensation package is less than generous, negotiating with the employer can help you secure an appropriate salary for your skills and experience. Highlighting any role-specific skills can be helpful, but giving examples of how your skills have benefited your employers in the past is more persuasive.
So, instead of simply pointing out your advanced cybersecurity knowledge, you could provide statistical evidence of a reduction in security breaches or accuracy percentages for security weakness testing. If you're in a leadership position, highlighting factors such as employee retention rates can also help convince your employer to make you a better offer.