Atmospheric and Space Scientists pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,710 a year or less, while the top 10% make $182,670 or more. The middle half of atmospheric and space scientists in Washington earn between $87,400 and $156,750.
- $81K10th
- $87K25th
- $118KMedian
- $157K75th
- $183K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $127,450 | $10,621 | $61.27 |
| Median | $117,600 | $9,800 | $56.54 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $87,400 | $7,283 | $42.02 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $156,750 | $13,062 | $75.36 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $127,450, a single filer in Washington takes home about $90,513 a year, or $7,543 a month and $3,481 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% 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 | $93,430 | $7,786 |
| Working in MD | $92,476 | $7,706 |
| Working in VA | $91,864 | $7,655 |
| Working in DC | $90,513 | $7,543 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for atmospheric and space scientists? 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 $127,450 buys what about $117,051 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 4.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Baltimore, MD$124,880
- Richmond, VA$119,260
- Philadelphia, PA$100,270
- Virginia Beach, VA$115,700
- Raleigh, NC$106,060
- New York, NY$172,010
Highest-paying cities for atmospheric and space scientists
Chicago, IL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($182,890).
- Chicago, IL$182,890
- New York, NY$172,010
- San Francisco, CA$164,020
- Albany, NY$130,860
- Indianapolis, IN$130,690
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Atmospheric and Space Scientists salary in Washington: questions
How much do atmospheric and space scientists make an hour in Washington?
$61.27 an hour on average, and $56.54 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level atmospheric and space scientists salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $80,710 a year and the 25th percentile is $87,400, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the atmospheric and space scientists take-home pay in Washington?
About $90,513 a year ($7,543 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $127,450.
Do atmospheric and space scientists earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($113,793).
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 19-2021; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.6%.
- 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 3.45, this job is 3.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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