Research Data Scientist Jobs in District of Columbia

Research Data Scientist jobs in District of Columbia are concentrated in one of the most active markets in the country, with demand anchored by the federal government, national security agencies, and major policy research institutions. Most hiring clusters in Washington itself, with additional activity in nearby Bethesda and Arlington, where employers like the National Institutes of Health, Booz Allen Hamilton, and MITRE maintain large data science practices. The most sought-after specializations are causal inference, natural language processing applied to policy and health data, and machine learning for program evaluation. Scan the live roles below and apply to whichever ones fit.

Find Research Data Scientist Jobs

Overview

Open roles125+
Top employerChildren's National Hospital
Top cityWashington, DC
Cities hiring2
Work type52% On-site
Top industryHealthcare

Showing 5 of 125+ Research Data Scientist jobs

HII
STINGRAI Tech Advisor (Operations Research Analyst 4)
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HII
New 1m ago
STINGRAI Tech Advisor (Operations Research Analyst 4)
HII
Washington, District of Columbia
Business Analysis
Business Analyst
Project Management
Master's degree
10,000+

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Johns Hopkins University
Research Assistant (Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies)
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Johns Hopkins University
New 1m ago
Research Assistant (Edwin O. Reischauer Center for East Asian Studies)
Johns Hopkins University
Washington, District of Columbia
Program Management
Project & Program Management
Project Management
Hybrid
Bachelor's degree
10,000+

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EAB
Director, Research Advisory Services
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EAB
New 1m ago
Director, Research Advisory Services
EAB
Washington, District of Columbia
Business Analysis
Data Analytics
Data Science
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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EAB
Senior Director, Terrain Lead, Research Advisory Services
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EAB
New 1m ago
Senior Director, Terrain Lead, Research Advisory Services
EAB
Washington, District of Columbia
Business Analysis
Data Analytics
Data Science
Bachelor's degree
1,001-5,000

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Steven Winter Associates, Inc.
Technical Lead - Building Decarbonization Research & Pilots
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Steven Winter Associates, Inc.
New 1m ago
Technical Lead - Building Decarbonization Research & Pilots
Steven Winter Associates, Inc.
Washington, District of Columbia
Consulting & Professional Services
Technical Product & Program Management
Hybrid
51-200

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Research Data Scientist Jobs by City in District of Columbia

Where District of Columbia roles are concentrated, by current openings.

Foggy Bottom
1 job

Research Data Scientist Job Market in District of Columbia

A snapshot from current District of Columbia openings, updated as new roles post.

Who's Hiring

  • Children's National Hospital
    Children's National Hospital23
  • Georgetown University
    Georgetown University8
  • Howard University
    Howard University7
  • Johns Hopkins University
    Johns Hopkins University7
  • Council On Foreign Relations
    Council On Foreign Relations5

Top Industries Hiring

  • Healthcare & Medical Services26
  • Education19
  • Science & Research3
  • Technology & Software3
  • Government & Public Sector3

What District of Columbia Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in research data scientist jobs across District of Columbia.

  • Master's or doctoral degree in statistics, computer science, or a quantitative field required
  • Proficiency in Python and R with experience in large-scale data analysis
  • Experience with statistical modeling, machine learning, and experimental design methods
  • Ability to obtain or maintain a federal security clearance for government-contracted roles
  • Familiarity with federal data governance standards and restricted data environments
  • Strong written communication skills for translating findings to non-technical stakeholders

Research Data Scientist Jobs in District of Columbia: Frequently Asked Questions

How do you become a research data scientist in District of Columbia?

Research data scientist roles in the District of Columbia do not require a state-issued license, but most employers expect a master's or doctoral degree in a quantitative discipline such as statistics, biostatistics, computer science, or social science with a strong methods component. Because so much of the local market is tied to federal agencies and contractors, candidates who can demonstrate experience with government data environments, causal research designs, and program evaluation have a clear advantage over those with purely industry backgrounds.

How much do research data scientists make in District of Columbia?

Research data scientists in District of Columbia earn a median of about $126,490 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $89,750 for the lowest 10% to over $209,730 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.

Which companies hire research data scientists in District of Columbia?

Employers hiring research data scientists in District of Columbia right now include Children's National Hospital, Georgetown University, and Howard University, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. The District of Columbia market is especially active among federal contractors and policy-focused research organizations, where demand for applied quantitative researchers with domain expertise in health, defense, or social policy tends to stay consistent year over year.

Which District of Columbia cities have the most research data scientist jobs?

The cities with the most research data scientist openings in District of Columbia are Washington and Foggy Bottom. Washington dominates the distribution because most federal agencies, think tanks, and large contractors are headquartered there, while Bethesda draws significant volume from the National Institutes of Health and affiliated biomedical research centers, and Arlington benefits from the density of defense and intelligence contractors operating just across the Potomac.

Are there remote research data scientist jobs in District of Columbia?

Yes, and more than many analytical roles, because research data science work is largely desk-based and output-driven. About 48% of research data scientist openings tied to District of Columbia are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, though roles involving classified federal data or restricted government systems typically require on-site presence. The parts of the work most commonly done remotely are independent modeling, literature synthesis, and report writing.

How can I get hired as a research data scientist in District of Columbia with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry path is through a research assistantship, graduate fellowship, or postdoctoral appointment at a Washington-area institution such as the Urban Institute, Resources for the Future, or a federal agency like NIH or the Census Bureau, all of which regularly bring on junior researchers. Candidates with strong statistical programming skills, a thesis or capstone demonstrating independent analysis, and familiarity with public-use federal datasets are well positioned for associate researcher or junior data analyst roles that feed into senior research data scientist tracks.

Where can I find and apply to research data scientist jobs in District of Columbia?

You can find and apply to research data scientist jobs in District of Columbia on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings in the District. Search the roles available, find the ones that match your background and interests, and apply directly to the ones that fit.

See All 125+ Research Data Scientist Jobs in District of Columbia

Find roles in District of Columbia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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