Physicist salary in Virginia
Physicists in Virginia earn a median of $145,040 a year ($69.73 an hour), based on BLS data for 940 workers.
Pay ranges from $97,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $238,570 for the top 10%. That is 16% lower than the national median of $172,250. Virginia ranks 25th of 43 states for physicists pay. There are 0.23 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.7× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $159,320, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in Virginia
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $97,720 | $46.98 |
| 25th percentile | $112,570 | $54.12 |
| Median | $145,040 | $69.73 |
| 75th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $238,570 | $114.70 |
| Average (mean) | $159,320 | $76.60 |
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 | $12,086.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,043.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,578.46 |
| Weekly | $2,789.23 |
| Hourly | $69.73 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary in cities in Virginia
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $218,290 | 40 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $171,580 | 1,520 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $148,950 | 50 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $110,930 | 240 |
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 Virginia
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,230 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $96,650 | $46.47 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $83,880 | $40.33 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $88,390 | $42.49 |
| Materials Scientist | $124,150 | $59.69 |
| Hydrologist | $132,080 | $63.50 |
| Astronomer | $128,930 | $61.99 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $93,620 | $45.01 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,800 | $43.66 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $140,670 | $67.63 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,240 | $32.33 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $86,520 | $41.60 |
| Biological Technician | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $86,030 | $41.36 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia
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 Virginia?
The median salary for physicists in Virginia is $145,040 a year, or $69.73 an hour. Pay ranges from $97,720 for the lowest-paid 10% to $238,570 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Virginia?
The top 10% of physicists in Virginia earn at least $238,570 a year. The top 25% earn $195,190 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Virginia?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $97,720 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $112,570 or less.
How many physicists work in Virginia?
About 940 physicists are employed in Virginia, not counting the self-employed.