As of September 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Senior Scientist in District of Columbia is $139,493, equivalent to $67 per hour, $2,683 weekly, or $11,624 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Senior Scientist in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Senior Scientist in District of Columbia vary widely, spanning from $114,520 to $172,650. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($126,421) and 75th percentile ($156,849), while top earners (90th percentile) make $172,650 per year. This $30,428 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 $114,520 DC September 01, 2026
25th Percentile Senior Scientist Salary $126,421 DC September 01, 2026
50th Percentile Senior Scientist Salary $139,493 DC September 01, 2026
75th Percentile Senior Scientist Salary $156,849 DC September 01, 2026
90th Percentile Senior Scientist Salary $172,650 DC September 01, 2026
25% $126,421 10% $114,520 90% $172,650 75% $156,849 $139,493 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Change Search Criteria
Check out Senior Scientist jobs in District of Columbia

Senior Scientist

STR - Washington, DC

Sr. Data Scientist (Security Clearance)

Vivo HealthStaff - Washington, DC

Senior Research Scientist

Howard University - Washington, DC

Search More Senior Scientist Jobs in District of Columbia

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

See user submitted job responsibilities for Senior Scientist.

Select a city to view specific salary and bonus information for Senior Scientist

Loading results...
Location Avg. Salary Date Updated
Location Naval Anacost Annex, DC Avg. Salary $112,112 Date Updated September 01, 2026
Location Parcel Return Service, DC Avg. Salary $112,116 Date Updated September 01, 2026
Location Washington, DC Avg. Salary $112,117 Date Updated September 01, 2026
Location Washington Navy Yard, DC Avg. Salary $112,116 Date Updated September 01, 2026
Job Openings for Senior Scientist in District of Columbia

Jobs with a similar salary range to Senior Scientist : Med Lab Scientist, Immunoassay Scientist, Bioassay Scientist