Physicist salary in District of Columbia
Physicists in District of Columbia earn a median of $157,040 a year ($75.50 an hour), based on BLS data for 480 workers.
Pay ranges from $86,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $202,360 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $172,250. District of Columbia ranks 21st of 43 states for physicists pay. There are 0.69 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 5.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $156,320, close to the median.
Pay range for physicists in District of Columbia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $86,820 | $41.74 |
| 25th percentile | $123,090 | $59.18 |
| Median | $157,040 | $75.50 |
| 75th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $202,360 | $97.29 |
| Average (mean) | $156,320 | $75.16 |
Half of physicists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $13,086.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,543.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,040 |
| Weekly | $3,020 |
| Hourly | $75.50 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary in cities in District of Columbia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $171,580 | 1,520 |
Highest-paying states for physicists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Florida | $225,390 |
| New Hampshire | $214,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $210,990 |
| California | $207,490 |
| Oregon | $200,320 |
| Oklahoma | $200,050 |
| Texas | $184,040 |
| New York | $181,970 |
| Kentucky | $180,910 |
| Connecticut | $180,300 |
Related jobs in District of Columbia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $156,730 | $75.35 |
| Chemist | $149,860 | $72.05 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $103,860 | $49.93 |
| Materials Scientist | $137,600 | $66.16 |
| Political Scientist | $152,530 | $73.33 |
| Economist | $167,590 | $80.57 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $128,440 | $61.75 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $65,330 | $31.41 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $84,590 | $40.67 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $101,940 | $49.01 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $111,530 | $53.62 |
| Historian | $118,290 | $56.87 |
| School Psychologist | $107,500 | $51.68 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in District of Columbia
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make in District of Columbia?
The median salary for physicists in District of Columbia is $157,040 a year, or $75.50 an hour. Pay ranges from $86,820 for the lowest-paid 10% to $202,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in District of Columbia?
The top 10% of physicists in District of Columbia earn at least $202,360 a year. The top 25% earn $195,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in District of Columbia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $86,820 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $123,090 or less.
How many physicists work in District of Columbia?
About 480 physicists are employed in District of Columbia, not counting the self-employed.