Start with the answer
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other pay in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
The May 2025 BLS OEWS median for Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other is $86,690 per year in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA. It is $138,250 per year in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA is 37.3% below Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV on the published median.
Both rows use SOC 19-3099 and the same annual wage metric. Median means the middle of each area's published wage spread. It is not one worker's pay. The larger median is not proof that one place gives a better job or a better result. It is one wage fact from one source period.
BLS lists 70 wage and salary jobs in Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA and 6,220 in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV. Those are survey job counts, not open posts. Read pay, job scale, local share, and price level as separate facts before you make a choice.