$180k+ isn't inconceivable, but it's certainly approaching a salary range typically reserved for Architects and team leads (in my experience).

It's fully realistic for non-management senior engineers to earn up to $150k, however.

Right, 180K for any developer is high (hence the double-to-triple estimate). Not inconceivable for an architect or manager though in certain companies, which is a possible career path for any developer.

I think part of the disconnect here is due to the fact that the development community in the DC area is really quite broad.

On the one hand you have startups & companies with Bay Area caliber talent, including more high profile ventures such as OPower and Living Social. On the other end of the spectrum are budget web-dev PHP shops that maintain web pages for government agencies.

Nonetheless, I've never heard of salaries as low as those you're quoting - and they're most certainly not the norm.

Then I'm sorry to say it but you got absolutely shafted, and may want to consider looking somewhere else...