Physicist salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Physicists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn a median of $171,580 a year ($82.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,520 workers.
Pay ranges from $98,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,680 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $172,250. Pay here is 9% higher than the District of Columbia statewide median of $157,040. There are 0.48 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $169,660, close to the median.
Pay range for physicists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $98,950 | $47.57 |
| 25th percentile | $134,990 | $64.90 |
| Median | $171,580 | $82.49 |
| 75th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,680 | $108.50 |
| Average (mean) | $169,660 | $81.57 |
Half of physicists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,298.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,149.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,599.23 |
| Weekly | $3,299.62 |
| Hourly | $82.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $171,580 salary, see how much house you can afford in District of Columbia at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physicist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $218,290 | 40 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $164,850 | 150 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $148,950 | 50 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $132,770 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $110,930 | 240 |
Highest-paying states for physicists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Florida | $225,390 |
| New Hampshire | $214,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $210,990 |
| California | $207,490 |
| Oregon | $200,320 |
| Oklahoma | $200,050 |
| Texas | $184,040 |
| New York | $181,970 |
| Kentucky | $180,910 |
| Connecticut | $180,300 |
See Physicist pay in every state or the District of Columbia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $170,980 | $82.20 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $108,160 | $52.00 |
| Chemist | $144,680 | $69.56 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $117,600 | $56.54 |
| Astronomer | $156,750 | $75.36 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Materials Scientist | $127,490 | $61.29 |
| Hydrologist | $152,730 | $73.43 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $138,250 | $66.47 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $107,110 | $51.49 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $114,920 | $55.25 |
| Economist | $156,750 | $75.36 |
| Political Scientist | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $65,330 | $31.41 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median salary for physicists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is $171,580 a year, or $82.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $98,950 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,680 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The top 10% of physicists in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area earn at least $225,680 a year. The top 25% earn $195,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $98,950 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $134,990 or less.
How many physicists work in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
About 1,520 physicists are employed in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, not counting the self-employed.