Political Scientists Salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Political Scientists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $156,730. BLS estimates approximately 3,700 people work in this occupation in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is 10.3% above the national median ($142,080).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $118,290 | $56.87 |
| 25th percentile | $128,610 | $61.83 |
| Median (50th) | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| 75th percentile | $185,220 | $89.05 |
| 90th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 0.1% — Very reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 0.3% — Very reliable
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Concentration
- Jobs per 1,000
- 1.181
- Location quotient
- 33.11
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV’s regional price level is above the national average (index 108.884, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $143,942 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.