Astronomers pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,870 a year or less, while the top 10% make $195,190 or more. The middle half of astronomers in Washington earn between $128,610 and $189,950.
- $106K10th
- $129K25th
- $157KMedian
- $190K75th
- $195K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $153,770 | $12,814 | $73.93 |
| Median | $156,750 | $13,062 | $75.36 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $128,610 | $10,718 | $61.83 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $189,950 | $15,829 | $91.32 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Astronomers salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $153,770, a single filer in Washington takes home about $106,266 a year, or $8,855 a month and $4,087 every two weeks. Taxes take 31% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $110,214 | $9,185 |
| Working in MD | $109,085 | $9,090 |
| Working in VA | $108,340 | $9,028 |
| Working in DC | $106,266 | $8,855 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for astronomers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $153,770 buys what about $141,224 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 3.8 years of this average salary before tax.
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Astronomers salary in Washington: questions
How much do astronomers make an hour in Washington?
$73.93 an hour on average, and $75.36 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level astronomers salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $105,870 a year and the 25th percentile is $128,610, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the astronomers take-home pay in Washington?
About $106,266 a year ($8,855 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $153,770.
Do astronomers earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as the U.S. metro average for this job ($153,770).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2011; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 12.12, this job is 12.1 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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