Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
The median pay for a physical scientists, all other in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL is $130,940/year ($62.95/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $98K at the entry level to $235K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 114.16), so that salary is closer to $114,699 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,436/month, or 28.9% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $131K get you in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach’s Regional Price Parity (114.16). 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
Physical scientists, all other pay in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach tracks closely to the national median, $131K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $2,436/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.2% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 114.16), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physical scientists, all others in metros near Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $158K | $158K |
| Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin | $115K | $119K |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $106K | $105K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $138K | $138K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL
Entry-level physical scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $98K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $235K or more, a $137K 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a physical scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 29.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,436/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical scientists, all others in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical scientists, all others typically earn — is $98K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,851/month. At HUD’s $2,436/month FMR, rent would take 42% 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $131K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach compare to the national average for physical scientists, all others?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 114.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — below the national median.
How much do physical scientists, all others make in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL?
The median is $130,940 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $97,510, and experienced physical scientists, all others can clear $234,950. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,354/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,436/month, which eats 29.2% 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 Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach has a Regional Price Parity of 114.16 (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 $114,699 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.