Political Scientists Salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 3,700 employed
Annual Mean
$156,310
$75.15/hr
Annual Median
$156,730
$75.35/hr
Bottom 10%
$118,290
$56.87/hr
Top 10%
$195,190
$93.84/hr
Location vs National Average
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$156,310
Difference
+9.7% vs US avg
US National
$142,510
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $118,290 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $128,610 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $156,730 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $185,220 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $195,190 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$118K
25th
$129K
Median
$157K
75th
$185K
90th
$195K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has a moderate number of Political Scientists positions (approximately 3,700), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, Political Scientists salaries range from $118,290 at the 10th percentile to $195,190 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $76,900 (49% of the median). This relatively narrow range suggests more consistent pay across employers in this area.
Related Occupations
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
$103,410
US median/yr
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
$90,150
US median/yr
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
$82,220
US median/yr
Chemists
$91,240
US median/yr
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
$100,580
US median/yr
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
$62,280
US median/yr
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.