How much does a political scientist make in Washington?
Median yearly pay for political scientists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area. That is $75.35 an hour or $13,060 a month.
- Hourly
- $75.35
- Vs. national median
- +10%
- Rank among cities
- 1 of 7
- Jobs in the area
- 3,700
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $118,300 | $56.87 | |
| 25th | $128,600 | $61.83 | |
| Median | $156,700 | $75.35 | |
| 75th | $185,200 | $89.05 | |
| 90th | $195,200 | $93.84 |
Other cities in District of Columbia
Median yearly pay for political scientists.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Washington
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $171,600 |
| Physical Scientist | $171,000 |
| Astronomer | $156,800 |
| Economist | $156,800 |
| Hydrologist | $152,700 |
| Chemist | $144,700 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $138,300 |
| Geoscientist | $132,600 |
| Psychologist | $129,700 |
| Materials Scientist | $127,500 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a political scientist make an hour in Washington?
The median hourly pay in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $75.35 ($156,700 a year).
Do political scientists make more in Washington than the national average?
Yes: $156,700 against $142,100 nationally, 10% more.
How does Washington compare with the rest of District of Columbia?
The median in District of Columbia is $152,500, so Washington pays 3% more.
Where does Washington rank for political scientist pay?
1 of 7 metro areas with data.
How much does a political scientist make starting out in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% make $118,300 or less a year; the top 10% make $195,200 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.