Salary distribution
Where District of Columbia medical scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $95,480 and $164,740, with a median of $110,830.
Medical Scientists in District of Columbia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 28 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $74,224. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 18 | $69,815 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $98,870 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $125,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $174,530 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Medical Scientists in District of Columbia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Children's National Medical Center | Staff Scientist I | 10 | $69,657 |
| Georgetown University | Postdoctoral Associate | 4 | $73,544 |
| Washington Hospital Center Corporation | Medical Lab Scientist III | 4 | $82,660 |
| The George Washington University | Research Scientist | 3 | $68,712 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Postdoctoral Associate | 2 | $87,180 |
| MedStar Health Research Institute, Inc. | Research Fellow | 1 | $91,927 |
| MedStar Health Research Institute | Research Fellow MD | 1 | $68,536 |
| The Henry M. Jackson Foundation | Associate Director, Clinical Research | 1 | $125,000 |
| Sentinel Bio Inc. | Senior Research Associate | 1 | $125,000 |
| Duke University | Principal, Area Lead | 1 | $174,530 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoctoral Associate at Georgetown University$73,000WashingtonDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-471206
- Medical Health Physicist at Washington Hospital Center Corporation$161,000WashingtonDecided Dec 4, 2025I-200-25330-440392
- Postdoctoral Associate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$74,360WashingtonDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25314-392644
- Research Fellow at MedStar Health Research Institute, Inc.$91,927WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Sep 26, 2025I-200-25265-323747
- Research Laboratory Manager at Children's National Medical Center$82,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided Sep 23, 2025I-200-25259-312272
- Assistant Professor at Georgetown University$93,000WashingtonWage Level IDecided Aug 11, 2025I-200-25216-218435
- Postdoctoral Associate at Georgetown University$71,532WashingtonWage Level IDecided Aug 7, 2025I-200-25212-213564
- Staff Scientist I at Children's National Medical Center$95,000WashingtonWage Level IIDecided Jul 16, 2025I-200-25190-162870
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Medical Scientists pay by experience level in District of Columbia
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Medical Scientists specialties in District of Columbia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 18 certified offers. The most common variant is Staff Scientist at a median of $69,657.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Scientist | Children's National Medical Center | 8 | $69,657 |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Georgetown University | 4 | $73,544 |
| Research Scientist | The George Washington University | 3 | $83,520 |
| Medical Lab Scientist | Washington Hospital Center Corporation | 3 | $82,578 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Medical Scientists in District of Columbia, by industry
Median offered wage across 28 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $71,729.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Children's National Medical Center | 14 | $71,729 |
| Education | Georgetown University | 10 | $74,224 |
| Professional services | MedStar Health Research Institute, Inc. | 4 | $108,463 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in District of Columbia over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Biology
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Active Learning
Cross-functional
- 4.1 / 5
Inductive Reasoning
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
- 02
Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
- 03
Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- 04
Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
- 05
Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
- 06
Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
- 07
Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
- 08
Study animal and human health and physiological processes.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+8.7%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for medical scientists in major District of Columbia metropolitan areas.
- Washington, D.C.$112,120
Compare Medical Scientists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Medical Scientists in District of Columbia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Medical Scientists in District of Columbia is $110,830.
- How does District of Columbia compare to the national median for Medical Scientists?
- The District of Columbia median is +9.3% versus the BLS national figure of $101,397.
- What is the salary range for Medical Scientists in District of Columbia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $69,130 and the 90th-percentile at $191,880, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Medical Scientists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 8.7% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Medical Scientists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.