Physicist salary in Maryland
Physicists in Maryland earn a median of $174,390 a year ($83.84 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,200 workers.
Pay ranges from $105,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,450 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $172,250. Maryland ranks 12th of 43 states for physicists pay. There are 0.43 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $166,770, close to the median.
Pay range for physicists in Maryland
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $105,560 | $50.75 |
| 25th percentile | $132,560 | $63.73 |
| Median | $174,390 | $83.84 |
| 75th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $219,450 | $105.51 |
| Average (mean) | $166,770 | $80.18 |
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 | $14,532.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,266.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,707.31 |
| Weekly | $3,353.65 |
| Hourly | $83.84 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary in cities in Maryland
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $171,580 | 1,520 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $164,850 | 150 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $132,770 | 40 |
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 Maryland
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $141,290 | $67.93 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $84,190 | $40.48 |
| Astronomer | $132,620 | $63.76 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $128,800 | $61.92 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $110,510 | $53.13 |
| Materials Scientist | $112,400 | $54.04 |
| Hydrologist | $143,010 | $68.75 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $106,000 | $50.96 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $121,680 | $58.50 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $68,390 | $32.88 |
| Biological Technician | $52,900 | $25.44 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $131,810 | $63.37 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $91,820 | $44.14 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Maryland
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 Maryland?
The median salary for physicists in Maryland is $174,390 a year, or $83.84 an hour. Pay ranges from $105,560 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Maryland?
The top 10% of physicists in Maryland earn at least $219,450 a year. The top 25% earn $195,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Maryland?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $105,560 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $132,560 or less.
How many physicists work in Maryland?
About 1,200 physicists are employed in Maryland, not counting the self-employed.