Physicists Salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
The median pay for a physicists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC is $114,630/year ($55.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $97K at the entry level to $189K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.94), that's roughly $117,041 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,713/month, or 23.6% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $115K get you in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk’s Regional Price Parity (97.94). 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 physicists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $97K. Mid-career wages sit at $115K. Top earners bring in $189K or more, a $93K spread from bottom to top.
Physicists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $223K | +34% | 60 |
| Florida | $209K | +26% | 240 |
| Pennsylvania | $208K | +25% | 540 |
| Arizona | $191K | +15% | 70 |
| Oregon | $184K | +11% | 120 |
| California | $181K | +9% | 6,220 |
| Missouri | $180K | +9% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $179K | +8% | 30 |
| New Mexico | $176K | +6% | 770 |
| New York | $174K | +5% | 1,190 |
| Wisconsin | $174K | +5% | 220 |
| Tennessee | $174K | +4% | 260 |
| Connecticut | $172K | +3% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $171K | +3% | 170 |
| Texas | $170K | +3% | 700 |
| Kentucky | $169K | +1% | 30 |
| New Jersey | $169K | +1% | 320 |
| Virginia | $164K | -1% | 1,260 |
| Maryland | $164K | -1% | 1,420 |
| Massachusetts | $154K | -7% | 570 |
| District of Columbia | $153K | -8% | 570 |
| Ohio | $136K | -18% | 710 |
| Utah | $134K | -19% | 60 |
| Idaho | $132K | -21% | 170 |
| Arkansas | $132K | -21% | 80 |
| Georgia | $132K | -21% | 190 |
| Illinois | $131K | -21% | 1,660 |
| South Carolina | $131K | -21% | 370 |
| Iowa | $121K | -27% | 120 |
| Mississippi | $121K | -27% | 70 |
| Washington | $120K | -28% | 430 |
| Nevada | $116K | -30% | N/A |
| Alabama | $115K | -31% | 360 |
| Maine | $115K | -31% | N/A |
| Indiana | $110K | -34% | 160 |
| Michigan | $108K | -35% | 550 |
| Oklahoma | $85K | -49% | 40 |
| Delaware | $83K | -50% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $78K | -53% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states
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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do physicists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median is $114,630 a year, that works out to about $55 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $96,890, and experienced physicists can clear $189,470. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $115K enough to live in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,913/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,713/month, which eats 24.8% 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 Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk?
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk has a Regional Price Parity of 97.94 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physicists salary is worth about $117,041 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.