How much does a Computer Scientist make in Washington, DC ?

Updated Oct 29, 2023

Experience

Industry

Total Pay Range
$132K - $221K/yr
Base Pay
$111K - $182K/yr
Additional Pay
$21K - $39K/yr

$170K

/yr
$132K$221K
Most Likely Range

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?

Related Job Titles

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.

What are total pay estimates for a Computer Scientist at different companies in Washington, DC ?

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Sort:
Company
Jobs
Total Pay Range
US Naval Research Laboratory
4
Computer ScientistSee 11 salaries from this location

$135,254

 / yr
US Department of Defense
4
Computer ScientistSee 7 salaries from this location

$132,186

 / yr
US Navy
3.7
Computer ScientistSee 4 salaries from this location

$128,813

 / yr
United States Federal Government
4.1
Computer ScientistSee 4 salaries from this location

$135,742

 / yr
Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic
3.8
Computer ScientistSee 3 salaries from this location

$137,869

 / yr
Virginia Tech
4.2
Computer ScientistSee 2 salaries from this location

$121,583

 / yr
WOOD Consulting Services
3.4
Computer ScientistSee 2 salaries from this location

$136,824

 / yr

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Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
4
Computer ScientistSee 2 salaries from this location

$131,899

 / yr
PBS Newshour
3.7
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$116,899

 / yr
MedStar Health
3.8
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$66

 / hr
FAA
3.9
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$137,119

 / yr
Reykjavik University
4
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$10,514

 / mo
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
4.5
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$140,168

 / yr
National Security Agency
3.8
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$131,810

 / yr
MITRE
2.9
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$142,622

 / yr
US Census Bureau
4
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$134,967

 / yr
U.S. Department of Transportation
4.2
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$128,187

 / yr
BUCA
3.2
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$93,907

 / yr
iSpace
3.6
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$132,126

 / yr
US Geological Survey
4
Computer ScientistSee 1 salary from this location

$128,308

 / yr
Download as data table

Computer Scientist in Washington, DC Salaries

Job TitleLocationSalary
US Naval Research Laboratory Computer Scientist salaries - 11 salaries reportedWashington, DC $135,254/yr
US Department of Defense Computer Scientist salaries - 7 salaries reportedWashington, DC $132,186/yr
US Navy Computer Scientist salaries - 4 salaries reportedWashington, DC $128,813/yr
United States Federal Government Computer Scientist salaries - 4 salaries reportedWashington, DC $135,742/yr
Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic Computer Scientist salaries - 3 salaries reportedWashington, DC $137,869/yr
Virginia Tech Computer Scientist salaries - 2 salaries reportedWashington, DC $121,583/yr
WOOD Consulting Services Computer Scientist salaries - 2 salaries reportedWashington, DC $136,824/yr
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Computer Scientist salaries - 2 salaries reportedWashington, DC $131,899/yr
PBS Newshour Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $116,899/yr
MedStar Health Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $66/hr
FAA Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $137,119/yr
Reykjavik University Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $10,514/mo
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $140,168/yr
National Security Agency Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $131,810/yr
MITRE Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $142,622/yr
US Census Bureau Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $134,967/yr
U.S. Department of Transportation Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $128,187/yr
BUCA Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $93,907/yr
iSpace Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $132,126/yr
US Geological Survey Computer Scientist salaries - 1 salaries reportedWashington, DC $128,308/yr
Viewing 1 - 20 of 40

Top Paying Industries

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.

IndustryTotal PayTotal Pay Insight
  • Aerospace & DefenseAerospace & Defense$133,720

    0% Lower than other industries

Aerospace & Defense

Top paying companies in Aerospace & Defense for Computer Scientist are US Naval Research Laboratory and US Department of Defense.

US Naval Research LaboratoryUS Naval Research Laboratory$135,254/yr

Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview

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.

Recent Salaries Shared

For computer scientist in Washington, DC

Salary Share
Anonymously share your pay to help the community

Job Title

Location

Total Pay

Base Pay | Additional Pay

Total Years of Experience

Years at Recent Employer

Submitted

Date or Time

Computer Scientist

Washington, DC

 | 15+ years

$155,000

/yr

Submitted 4 days ago

15+ years
4 days ago
Computer Scientist (1550)

Washington, DC

 | 15+ years

$140,243

/yr

$137K | $3K

Submitted 12 days ago

15+ years
12 days ago
Computer Scientist

Washington, DC

 | 1-3 years

$96,000

/yr

Submitted 15 days ago

1-3 years
15 days ago
Computer Scientist

Washington, DC

 | 7-9 years

$135,400

/yr

$132K | $3K

Submitted 16 days ago

7-9 years
16 days ago
Computer Scientist (1550)

Washington, DC

 | 1-3 years

$123,537

/yr

Submitted 16 days ago

1-3 years
16 days ago
Computer Scientist

Washington, DC

 | <1 year

$90,393

/yr

Submitted 17 days ago

<1 year
17 days ago
Computer Scientist (1550)

Washington, DC

 | 1-3 years

$92,904

/yr

Submitted 21 days ago

1-3 years
21 days ago
Computer Scientist (1550)

Washington, DC

 | 15+ years

$154,672

/yr

Submitted 21 days ago

15+ years
21 days ago
Computer Scientist

Washington, DC

 | 4-6 years

$102,135

/yr

$100K | $2K

Submitted 21 days ago

4-6 years
21 days ago

Computer Scientist pay FAQ in Washington, DC

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.

Additional Resources

Computer Scientist Job Description Template

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