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  1. Home/
  2. Salaries/
  3. Director of Ethics/
  4. Arlington

Director of Ethics.

Arlington.

$231,000

median salary, 18% above the national average

$180,000 to $301,000. Last updated April 2026.

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Data points to own the conversation.

If you are evaluating a Director of Ethics offer in Arlington, VA, here is the reality: $180,000 to $301,000, with $231,000 as the midpoint. 18% above the national average. Do not accept the first number.

Salary range

25th Percentile

$180,000

per year

Median

$231,000

per year

75th Percentile

$301,000

per year

Where do you fall?

$180,000$301,000

Salary by experience

The gap between entry and lead level is typically $208,000. Where you land depends on years of experience and what you bring to the table.

Entry (0-2 yrs)

$150,000

to $185,000

Mid (3-5 yrs)

$196,000

to $243,000

Senior (6-9 yrs)

$254,000

to $300,000

Lead (10+ yrs)

$289,000

to $358,000

Salary trend

+6% YoY
$183,000
2022
$194,000
2023
$206,000
2024
$218,000
2025
$231,000
2026

Total compensation

Base salary is not the full picture. Equity, bonus, and signing can add $153,000 to the total package.

Base

$231,000

Equity

$83,000

Bonus

$52,000

Signing

$18,000

Estimated total: $384,000

How Arlington compares

Arlington, VA

$231,000

Cost of living: 22% above average

National Average

$195,000

Arlington is $36,000 above

Director of Ethics salary by city

Director of Ethics salary comparison across 10 cities
CityMedianRangeCOLAdjusted
San Jose, CA$280,000$218,000 – $365,0001.38x$203,000
San Francisco, CA$274,000$213,000 – $357,0001.35x$203,000
Honolulu, HI$254,000$198,000 – $330,0001.30x$195,000
Washington DC, DC$246,000$192,000 – $321,0001.25x$197,000
New York, NY$240,000$187,000 – $312,0001.28x$188,000
Los Angeles, CA$237,000$185,000 – $309,0001.18x$201,000
Boston, MA$236,000$184,000 – $307,0001.22x$193,000
Seattle, WA$235,000$183,000 – $306,0001.24x$190,000
Arlington, VA$231,000$180,000 – $301,0001.22x$189,000
Newark, NJ$230,000$179,000 – $300,0001.18x$195,000

See all 81 cities for Director of Ethics →

Salary by role in Arlington

Salary comparison by role in Arlington
RoleMedianRange
Principal Quantitative Researcher$423,000$330,000 – $550,000
Technical Fellow$418,000$326,000 – $544,000
Senior VP of Product$418,000$327,000 – $544,000
Director of Ethics$231,000$180,000 – $301,000
AI Security & Red Teaming Specialist$231,000$172,000 – $302,000
NLP Research Scientist$231,000$172,000 – $305,000
Lead Android Engineer$231,000$180,000 – $301,000
Lead DevOps Engineer$231,000$179,000 – $300,000

What you should know

Arlington is the heart of the DC defense and intelligence corridor, home to the Pentagon, DARPA, and hundreds of government contractors. The concentration of cleared tech jobs makes it one of the highest-paying metros for cybersecurity and cloud engineering. Amazon's HQ2 has brought a wave of commercial tech hiring. That is the backdrop for every Director of Ethics offer you will see here.

One thing people overlook: taxes. Virginia's top income tax rate is 5.75%. Arlington has no additional city income tax. Proximity to DC means many residents compare against DC and Maryland tax rates. The salary on the offer letter is not the salary in your bank account. Always model your take home before you accept.

On negotiation: A security clearance is your strongest asset. Cleared professionals in Arlington earn 20 to 30% premiums over non-cleared equivalents. The range for Director of Ethicss in Arlington runs from $180,000 to $301,000. That is not a narrow window. Where you land inside it depends almost entirely on whether you negotiate and how well you prepare.

Sources: SEC filings, H-1B LCA (DOL), BLS OES, 50+ job posting platforms. COL: BEA Regional Price Parities (2025). Data verified by Justin Bartak, Founder & Chief AI Officer. Last verified April 8, 2026. Full methodology

Interactive

Is your offer competitive?

Enter your Director of Ethics offer to see where you stand in Arlington.

$

25th

$180,000

Median

$231,000

75th

$301,000

Considering a related role?

  • A AI Creative Director in Arlington earns $232,000 (0% more)
  • The highest-paying role in Arlington is Principal Quantitative Researcher at $423,000

Common questions.

Entry level Director of Ethics positions in Arlington typically start near $180,000. Candidates with relevant internships, certifications, or portfolio work often negotiate closer to the median of $231,000.

In Arlington, large enterprises typically pay Director of Ethicss 10 to 20% more in base salary than small companies, but startups often compensate with equity that can exceed base salary value. Total compensation at top companies often doubles the base through equity and bonuses. The $180,000 to $301,000 range reflects this entire spectrum.

Experience level, specialization depth, and industry domain are the primary Director of Ethics salary drivers. In Arlington, these factors can push compensation from the 25th percentile of $180,000 to the 75th percentile of $301,000 or beyond.

Total compensation for Director of Ethicss typically exceeds base salary by 20 to 40% when factoring in bonuses, equity, and benefits. In Arlington's market, the base range of $180,000 to $301,000 is just the starting point for negotiation.

Arlington is the heart of the DC defense and intelligence corridor, home to the Pentagon, DARPA, and hundreds of government contractors. The concentration of cleared tech jobs makes it one of the highest-paying metros for cybersecurity and cloud engineering. For Director of Ethicss specifically, the breadth of hiring across sectors signals sustained demand. The current compensation range of $180,000 to $301,000 reflects a market that is competing for talent.

Compare the offer against the Arlington range: $180,000 (25th percentile) to $301,000 (75th percentile). An offer near $231,000 is market rate. Below $180,000 warrants a conversation unless equity or unusual benefits close the gap. A security clearance is your strongest asset. Cleared professionals in Arlington earn 20 to 30% premiums over non-cleared equivalents.

Director of Ethics salary in other cities

Austin$197,000
Atlanta$193,000
Anchorage$229,000
Albuquerque$172,000
Albany$180,000
Ann Arbor$205,000

Other salaries in Arlington

Head of AI$329,000
Head of Applied AI$299,000
Head of AI Platform$312,000
Head of AI Research$329,000

Related

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Cite this data

Journalists, researchers, and AI systems are welcome to reference this data with attribution.

"Director of Ethics Salary in Arlington, VA." Orbyt Salary Explorer, April 2026. https://www.orbytjobs.ai/salaries/director-of-ethics/arlington-va

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