Washington, DC H-1B salaries — 30,018 certified filings (FY2016–FY2026)
- 2,479
- Filings · FY2025
- $112k
- Median base · FY2025
- $83k–$148k
- Middle 50% · FY2025
- Cognizant Technology Solutions US
- Top sponsor · 800 all-time
Employers in Washington, DC have 30,018 certified H-1B LCAs on record since FY2016. In FY2025 the median base salary was $112k across 2,479 filings, with the middle 50% between $83k and $148k. The biggest sponsors are Cognizant Technology Solutions US, District of Columbia Public Schools, HCL America; the most-sponsored titles are Software Developer, Software Engineer, Programmer Analyst.
How much do H-1B workers in Washington, DC make?
Certified base salary by fiscal year: each box is the p25–p75 range, the heavy line the median, the whiskers reach p10–p90. $112k median in FY2025. Base pay only — hover a year for its figures.
How has H-1B hiring in Washington, DC changed?
3,179 certified filings in FY2016 → 1,583 in FY2026. The change column is each year against the one before.
| Fiscal year | Filings | vs prior FY | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026 | 1,583 | −36% | $118k |
| FY2025 | 2,479 | +7% | $112k |
| FY2024 | 2,317 | −3% | $104k |
| FY2023 | 2,377 | −2% | $110k |
| FY2022 | 2,422 | +7% | $100k |
| FY2021 | 2,257 | −29% | $98k |
| FY2020 | 3,174 | −10% | $97k |
| FY2019 | 3,537 | +4% | $94k |
| FY2018 | 3,409 | +4% | $92k |
| FY2017 | 3,284 | +3% | $82k |
| FY2016 | 3,179 | — | $75k |
Which companies sponsor H-1B workers in Washington, DC?
The employers with the most certified filings, all years, with their median base salary. Open any employer for its full profile.
| # | Employer | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cognizant Technology Solutions US | 800 | $104k |
| 2 | District of Columbia Public Schools | 702 | $65k |
| 3 | HCL America | 532 | $99k |
| 4 | Ernst Young U.S. LLP | 519 | $115k |
| 5 | Children S National Medical Center | 476 | $74k |
| 6 | Georgetown University | 447 | $71k |
| 7 | Infosys | 358 | $102k |
| 8 | Tata Consultancy Services | 273 | $78k |
| 9 | The George Washington University | 265 | $82k |
| 10 | Pricewaterhousecoopers Advisory Services | 255 | $154k |
What H-1B jobs get sponsored in Washington, DC?
The most-filed job titles on certified LCAs in this city, all years (DOL titles, pay-grade codes stripped).
| # | Job title | Filings | Median base |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Software Developer | 1,511 | $97k |
| 2 | Software Engineer | 846 | $97k |
| 3 | Programmer Analyst | 755 | $77k |
| 4 | Associate | 545 | $180k |
| 5 | Manager | 517 | $117k |
| 6 | Senior Associate | 359 | $104k |
| 7 | Secondary Teacher | 290 | $65k |
| 8 | Business Analyst | 289 | $85k |
| 9 | Senior Systems Analyst | 288 | $85k |
| 10 | Systems Analyst | 240 | $83k |
Common questions about H-1B jobs in Washington, DC
- What is the median H-1B salary in Washington, DC?
- The median certified H-1B base salary in Washington, DC is $112k (FY2025), from 2,479 filings. Across all years the middle 50% earn between $75k and $120k.
- Which companies sponsor the most H-1B workers in Washington, DC?
- The top H-1B sponsors in Washington, DC are Cognizant Technology Solutions US, District of Columbia Public Schools, HCL America.
- What are the most common H-1B jobs in Washington, DC?
- The most-sponsored H-1B roles in Washington, DC are Software Developer, Software Engineer, Programmer Analyst.
- Does a certified LCA mean an H-1B visa was approved?
- No. A Labor Condition Application (LCA) is the Department of Labor attestation an employer must have certified before filing an H-1B petition with USCIS. It records the job, worksite and offered wage, but not whether the petition was filed, selected in the lottery, or approved. Filing counts measure intent to sponsor, not headcount.
- What salary do these figures show?
- The base annual wage offered on the certified LCA, converted to a yearly amount. Bonus, equity, overtime and benefits are not included, so total compensation is typically higher. Figures are medians and percentiles over certified filings; wages above $5,000,000 a year are excluded as data-entry errors.
- What does the fiscal year mean here?
- Years are U.S. government fiscal years, October to September: FY2025 runs from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025. This matches how the Department of Labor publishes the disclosure files. The most recent year may be partial until its final quarter is released.
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Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification — certified LCA disclosure data through June 2026 (FY2016–FY2026). An LCA is not an approved visa; pay figures are base salary and exclude bonus and equity. Methodology →