Salary insights

Salary in Research and science in the Virginia region

Market pay levels based on 5 offers with salary.

Browse vacancies

Recalculated from open vacancies where the employer states pay.

Median158 756 $Half of offers pay more, half pay less
Average199 197 $Arithmetic mean of all offers
Lower quartile158 322 $25% of offers pay less
Upper quartile187 093 $25% of offers pay more

How pay is distributed

The band covers the middle half of the market (25th–75th percentile), the line marks the median.

Lower quartile158 322 $
Median158 756 $
Upper quartile187 093 $

What the numbers mean

  • Half of all offers fall between 158 322 $ and 187 093 $.
  • Every fourth offer pays more than 187 093 $.
  • The upper quartile is 18% above the lower one.
  • The average (199 197 $) is 25% above the median — a few high offers pull it up.
  • The sample is small (5 offers), so treat the numbers as a rough guide.

Compare your salary

Check in one step whether your pay is above or below the market for this selection.

Vacancies with salary

All matching vacancies
Veterans Health Administration Hampton ·

Chief of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine Service (Physician)

350 000 – 400 000 $

Summary The Chief of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Service (P&LMS) reports directly to the Chief of Staff and is responsible for the overall clinical, administrative, and programmatic l…

Full timeOn-siteHampton
Drug Enforcement Administration Sterling ·

Chemist (Instrumentation)

121 785 – 187 093 $

Summary This position is located in the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Operational Support Division, Office of Forensic Sciences, Special Testing and Research Laboratory. This posit…

Full timeOn-siteSterling
Air Force Elements, U.S. Strategic Command Dahlgren ·

PHYSICIST- DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY

62 668 – 158 756 $

Summary Click on "Learn more about this agency" button below to view Eligibilities being considered and other IMPORTANT information. The primary purpose of this position is to perform work…

Full timeHybridDahlgren
Commander, Navy Installations Command Fort Belvoir ·

CHEMIST (FUELS)

121 785 – 158 322 $

Summary You will serve as a CHEMIST (FUELS) of COMMANDER - NAVAL INSTALLATIONS. Duties You will provide lifecycle management for naval petroleum quality in the POL logistics system. You wil…

Full timeHybridFort Belvoir
Smithsonian Institution Front Royal ·

Biologist (Animal Care)

70 623 – 91 815 $

Summary The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex, with 21 museums and the National Zoo. This position is located in the Directorate of Anim…

Full timeHybridFront Royal

Frequently asked questions

Why show the median instead of the average?

The median (158 756 $) is the middle of the market: half of the offers pay more and half pay less. Unlike the average (199 197 $), it is not skewed by a handful of very high salaries.

What does the typical range mean?

From 158 322 $ to 187 093 $ is the middle half of all offers — the 25th to 75th percentile. A quarter of vacancies pay below 158 322 $ and a quarter above 187 093 $.

Where does the data come from?

From 5 open vacancies with a stated salary that Finder collects from public sources. Numbers are recalculated as the selection changes.

How do I tell whether I am paid fairly?

Compare your pay with the median and the quartiles: near 158 756 $ is the market level, above 187 093 $ is the strong quarter, below 158 322 $ is a reason to negotiate. Use the “Compare my salary” button on this page.

How we calculate salaries

Short methodology and the data behind these numbers.

  1. 1We collect offersOnly vacancies from open sources where the employer states pay are used.
  2. 2We normalise themA salary range is reduced to one comparable value per vacancy.
  3. 3We compute percentilesMedian, quartiles and the average are calculated from at least 5 offers; otherwise the wider country market is shown.
  4. 4We refresh the numbersStatistics are recomputed as new vacancies appear and closed ones drop out.

Figures are pay as published by employers: taxes, bonuses and seniority inside a grade are not accounted for.