Physicists Salary
The median pay for a physicists in Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area is $138,740/year ($66.7/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $95K at the entry level to $181K for experienced workers.
So what does $139K get you in Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
About physicists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $95K. Mid-career wages sit at $139K. Top earners bring in $181K or more, a $86K spread from bottom to top.
Physicists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Physicists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $225K | +31% | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $214K | +24% | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $211K | +22% | 230 |
| California | $207K | +20% | 5,930 |
| Oregon | $200K | +16% | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $200K | +16% | 40 |
| Texas | $184K | +7% | 580 |
| New York | $182K | +6% | 1,140 |
| Kentucky | $181K | +5% | 50 |
| Connecticut | $180K | +5% | 60 |
| Iowa | $178K | +3% | 110 |
| Maryland | $174K | +1% | 1,200 |
| North Carolina | $174K | +1% | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $173K | +1% | 180 |
| Minnesota | $171K | -1% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $166K | -3% | 40 |
| New Mexico | $165K | -4% | 580 |
| Tennessee | $165K | -4% | 240 |
| New Jersey | $163K | -5% | 470 |
| Ohio | $163K | -5% | 630 |
| District of Columbia | $157K | -9% | 480 |
| Utah | $157K | -9% | 30 |
| Rhode Island | $155K | -10% | N/A |
| Nevada | $154K | -11% | 50 |
| Virginia | $145K | -16% | 940 |
| Georgia | $145K | -16% | 160 |
| Missouri | $140K | -18% | 90 |
| Alabama | $139K | -19% | 280 |
| South Carolina | $138K | -20% | 420 |
| Illinois | $137K | -20% | 1,590 |
| Arkansas | $136K | -21% | 60 |
| Idaho | $135K | -22% | N/A |
| Washington | $135K | -22% | 450 |
| Arizona | $131K | -24% | 120 |
| Mississippi | $130K | -25% | 80 |
| Hawaii | $117K | -32% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $106K | -38% | 1,150 |
| Indiana | $106K | -38% | 230 |
| Colorado | $105K | -39% | 1,050 |
| Montana | $104K | -40% | 30 |
| Michigan | $95K | -45% | 510 |
| South Dakota | $83K | -52% | 30 |
| Delaware | $83K | -52% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a physicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
Yes — at the median salary of $139K, rent takes 16.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,364/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicists in Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicists typically earn — is $95K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,698/month.
Is physicist a high-paying job in Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $139K here vs. $172K nationally.
How does Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area compare to the national average for physicists?
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area pays $139K median vs. the U.S. average of $172K — that’s -19%.
How much do physicists make in Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
The median is $138,740 a year, that works out to about $67 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $94,960, and experienced physicists can clear $180,890. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $139K enough to live in Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,177/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,364/month, which eats 16.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physicists salary go in Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area?
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physicists salary is worth about $138,740 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physicists 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.