Physicists Salary
The median pay for a physicists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is $171,580/year ($82.49/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $99K at the entry level to $226K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.88), so that salary is closer to $157,586 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,246/month, or 22.2% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $172K get you in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Washington-Arlington-Alexandria’s Regional Price Parity (108.88). 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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What this looks like in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria
Physicists pay in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria tracks closely to the national median, $172K locally vs. $172K nationwide, a 0% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $2,246/month, 23.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.88), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physicists in metros near Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk | $111K | $113K |
| Charlottesville | $149K | $150K |
| Lexington Park | $133K | $132K |
| Richmond | $218K | $223K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $99K. Mid-career wages sit at $172K. Top earners bring in $226K or more, a $127K 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 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
Yes — at the median salary of $172K, rent takes 23.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,246/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicists in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicists typically earn — is $99K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,937/month. At HUD’s $2,246/month FMR, rent would take 38% 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-Arlington-Alexandria?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $172K locally vs. $172K nationally, a 0% difference.
How does Washington-Arlington-Alexandria compare to the national average for physicists?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria pays $172K median vs. the U.S. average of $172K — that’s +0%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.88), the purchasing-power equivalent is $158K — below the national median.
How much do physicists make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?
The median is $171,580 a year, that works out to about $82 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $98,950, and experienced physicists can clear $225,680. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $172K enough to live in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,690/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,246/month, which eats 23.2% 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-Arlington-Alexandria?
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria has a Regional Price Parity of 108.88 (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 $157,586 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.