Physicist salary in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
Physicists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn a median of $110,930 a year ($53.33 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $92,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,360 for the top 10%. That is 36% lower than the national median of $172,250. Pay here is 24% lower than the Virginia statewide median of $145,040. There are 0.31 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.4× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $124,960, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $92,930 | $44.68 |
| 25th percentile | $104,920 | $50.44 |
| Median | $110,930 | $53.33 |
| 75th percentile | $131,460 | $63.20 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $191,360 | $92.00 |
| Average (mean) | $124,960 | $60.08 |
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 | $9,244.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,622.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,266.54 |
| Weekly | $2,133.27 |
| Hourly | $53.33 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond, VA | $218,290 | 40 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $171,580 | 1,520 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $148,950 | 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 Virginia statewide figures.
Related jobs in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $78,600 | $37.79 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $117,640 | $56.56 |
| Chemist | $81,990 | $39.42 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $89,770 | $43.16 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $89,920 | $43.23 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,540 | $37.76 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $107,910 | $51.88 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $91,010 | $43.76 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $49,050 | $23.58 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $82,760 | $39.79 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $90,020 | $43.28 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $59,080 | $28.40 |
| School Psychologist | $86,510 | $41.59 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC
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 Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The median salary for physicists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area is $110,930 a year, or $53.33 an hour. Pay ranges from $92,930 for the lowest-paid 10% to $191,360 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
The top 10% of physicists in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area earn at least $191,360 a year. The top 25% earn $131,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $92,930 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $104,920 or less.
How many physicists work in Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC?
About 240 physicists are employed in the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC metro area, not counting the self-employed.