Physicists Salary
The median pay for a physicists in Washington is $134,790/year ($64.81/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $78K at the entry level to $238K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 102.01), that's roughly $132,134 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,830/month, or 21.1% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Washington. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $135K actually covers in Washington, month by month
About physicists
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What this looks like in Washington
Pay for physicists in Washington runs about 22% below the U.S. median of $172K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,830/month, 21.3% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 102.01) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Washington can be a reasonable trade-off for physicistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $78K. Mid-career wages sit at $135K. Top earners bring in $238K or more, a $161K spread from bottom to top.
Physicists salary by metro in Washington
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue | $140K | +4% | 150 |
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BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Washington numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a physicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington?
Yes — at the median salary of $135K, rent takes 21.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,830/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicists in Washington?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicists typically earn — is $78K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,263/month. At HUD’s $1,830/month FMR, rent would take 35% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physicist a high-paying job in Washington?
Local pay runs 22% below the national median — $135K here vs. $172K nationally.
How does Washington compare to the national average for physicists?
Washington pays $135K median vs. the U.S. average of $172K — that’s -22%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 102.01), the purchasing-power equivalent is $132K — below the national median.
How much do physicists make in Washington?
The median is $134,790 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $77,860, and experienced physicists can clear $238,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $135K enough to live in Washington?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,574/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,830/month, which eats 21.3% 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 Washington?
Washington has a Regional Price Parity of 102.01 (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 physicists salary is worth about $132,134 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.