Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
The median pay for a physical scientists, all other in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is $108,160/year ($52/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $185K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 104.49), that's roughly $103,512 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,857/month, or 27.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $108K get you in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Baltimore-Columbia-Towson’s Regional Price Parity (104.49). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About physical scientists, all others
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson
Pay for physical scientists, all other in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $123K. Rent runs $1,857/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 28% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 104.49) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physical scientists, all others in metros near Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria | $171K | $157K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $137K | $134K |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $118K | $120K |
| Pittsburgh | $129K | $136K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Entry-level physical scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $108K. Top earners bring in $185K or more, a $107K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Scientists, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Physical Scientists, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $157K | +28% | 790 |
| Minnesota | $148K | +21% | 540 |
| North Dakota | $148K | +20% | 70 |
| Maryland | $141K | +15% | 1,810 |
| South Carolina | $141K | +15% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $138K | +13% | 350 |
| Georgia | $138K | +12% | 1,020 |
| Alabama | $135K | +10% | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $135K | +10% | 460 |
| Colorado | $134K | +10% | 710 |
| Washington | $134K | +9% | 450 |
| Florida | $132K | +7% | 340 |
| California | $131K | +7% | 2,320 |
| Tennessee | $130K | +6% | 120 |
| Arizona | $125K | +2% | 170 |
| New Mexico | $124K | +1% | 240 |
| Alaska | $120K | -2% | 140 |
| Michigan | $119K | -3% | 130 |
| New York | $118K | -4% | 1,510 |
| Utah | $116K | -5% | 250 |
| Hawaii | $113K | -8% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $112K | -8% | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $112K | -8% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $110K | -10% | 650 |
| New Jersey | $110K | -10% | 590 |
| Oregon | $110K | -11% | 290 |
| Illinois | $109K | -11% | 580 |
| Mississippi | $109K | -11% | 380 |
| Ohio | $109K | -11% | 430 |
| Nebraska | $101K | -17% | 40 |
| Texas | $101K | -18% | 2,310 |
| Connecticut | $100K | -18% | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $97K | -20% | 70 |
| Montana | $95K | -23% | 100 |
| Louisiana | $94K | -23% | 280 |
| Kentucky | $81K | -34% | 260 |
| Iowa | $81K | -34% | 100 |
| Wyoming | $69K | -44% | 60 |
| Indiana | $69K | -44% | 1,240 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physical scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Baltimore-Columbia-Towson numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a physical scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Yes — at the median salary of $108K, rent takes 28% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,857/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical scientists, all others in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical scientists, all others typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,688/month. At HUD’s $1,857/month FMR, rent would take 40% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physical scientists, all other a high-paying job in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $108K here vs. $123K nationally.
How does Baltimore-Columbia-Towson compare to the national average for physical scientists, all others?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson pays $108K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 104.49), the purchasing-power equivalent is $104K — below the national median.
How much do physical scientists, all others make in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD?
The median is $108,160 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $78,130, and experienced physical scientists, all others can clear $185,450. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $108K enough to live in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,625/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,857/month, which eats 28% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physical scientists, all other salary go in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson?
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson has a Regional Price Parity of 104.49 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physical scientists, all other salary is worth about $103,512 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical scientists, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.