Physicist salary in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
Physicists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn a median of $140,370 a year ($67.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 150 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $218,400 for the top 10%. That is 19% lower than the national median of $172,250. Pay here is 4% higher than the Washington statewide median of $134,790. There are 0.07 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.53). The average (mean) salary is $145,550, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,520 | $36.31 |
| 25th percentile | $101,900 | $48.99 |
| Median | $140,370 | $67.48 |
| 75th percentile | $173,840 | $83.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $218,400 | $105.00 |
| Average (mean) | $145,550 | $69.98 |
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 | $11,697.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,848.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,398.85 |
| Weekly | $2,699.42 |
| Hourly | $67.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $172,080 | 50 |
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 |
See Physicist pay in every state or the Washington statewide figures.
Related jobs in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $102,980 | $49.51 |
| Chemist | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $107,800 | $51.83 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $134,720 | $64.77 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $92,600 | $44.52 |
| Materials Scientist | $137,520 | $66.11 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $105,430 | $50.69 |
| Biological Technician | $63,770 | $30.66 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $108,580 | $52.20 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $109,500 | $52.65 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $108,040 | $51.94 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $105,140 | $50.55 |
| School Psychologist | $115,570 | $55.56 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $96,450 | $46.37 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The median salary for physicists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area is $140,370 a year, or $67.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $218,400 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
The top 10% of physicists in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area earn at least $218,400 a year. The top 25% earn $173,840 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,520 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $101,900 or less.
How many physicists work in Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA?
About 150 physicists are employed in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, not counting the self-employed.