Physicists Salary in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (2025)
Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 1,520 employed
Annual Mean
$169,660
$81.57/hr
Annual Median
$171,580
$82.49/hr
Bottom 10%
$98,950
$47.57/hr
Top 10%
$225,680
$108.50/hr
Location vs National Average
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
$169,660
Difference
-0.9% vs US avg
US National
$171,180
Salary Percentile Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual |
|---|---|
10th Percentile Bottom 10% | $98,950 |
25th Percentile Lower quarter | $134,990 |
50th PercentileMedian Median | $171,580 |
75th Percentile Upper quarter | $195,190 |
90th Percentile Top 10% | $225,680 |
Salary Distribution
Annual Salary Range
10th
$99K
25th
$135K
Median
$172K
75th
$195K
90th
$226K
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV has a moderate number of Physicists positions (approximately 1,520), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.
In Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, Physicists salaries range from $98,950 at the 10th percentile to $225,680 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $126,730 (74% of the median). This relatively narrow range suggests more consistent pay across employers in this area.
Related Occupations
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US median/yr
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$90,150
US median/yr
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
$82,220
US median/yr
Chemists
$91,240
US median/yr
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
$100,580
US median/yr
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
$62,280
US median/yr
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Public domain · Not affiliated with BLS.