As of April 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Senior Scientist in District of Columbia is $139,304, equivalent to $67 per hour, $2,679 weekly, or $11,609 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Senior Scientist in cities like Santa Clara, San Jose, and Fremont.

Annually Salaries for Senior Scientist in District of Columbia vary widely, spanning from $114,328 to $172,447. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($126,230) and 75th percentile ($156,652), while top earners (90th percentile) make $172,447 per year. This $30,422 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Analysis or Data Analysis, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Senior Scientist often earn 10.7% higher than national averages due to demand from Fortune 83 companies. However, District of Columbia currently ranks 1 nationwide for Senior Scientist job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Senior Scientist Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Senior Scientist Salary $114,328 DC April 01, 2026
25th Percentile Senior Scientist Salary $126,230 DC April 01, 2026
50th Percentile Senior Scientist Salary $139,304 DC April 01, 2026
75th Percentile Senior Scientist Salary $156,652 DC April 01, 2026
90th Percentile Senior Scientist Salary $172,447 DC April 01, 2026
25% $126,230 10% $114,328 90% $172,447 75% $156,652 $139,304 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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What is a Senior Scientist ?

A scientist is someone who conducts scientific research to advance knowledge in an area of interest. In classical antiquity, there was no real ancient analog of a modern scientist. Instead, philosophers engaged in the philosophical study of nature called natural philosophy, a precursor of natural science. It was not until the 19th century that the term scientist came into regular use after it was coined by the theologian, philosopher, and historian of science William Whewell in 1833. The term 'scientist' was first coined by him for Mary Somerville, partly because the term "man of science", mo...

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

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Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Naval Anacost Annex, DC Avg. Salary $149,251 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Parcel Return Service, DC Avg. Salary $149,251 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Washington, DC Avg. Salary $149,251 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Location Washington Navy Yard, DC Avg. Salary $149,251 Date Updated April 01, 2026
Job Openings for Senior Scientist in District of Columbia

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