SOC 19-2099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physical Scientists, All Other — Alabama
Alabama · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Alabama comes to $135,350 a year, ahead of the national median of $122,570 by 10.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Alabama comes to $135,350 a year, ahead of the national median of $122,570 by 10.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $117,060 and $166,280. The lowest tenth earn under $97,470, while the highest tenth earn more than $206,060.
The area has 140 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.47 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 39 states with published data for this occupation, Alabama ranks 8th by median wage. Huntsville leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $142,650. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 28th of 690 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $97,470 | −20.5% |
| 25th | $117,060 | −4.5% |
| Median (50th) | $135,350 | +10.4% |
| 75th | $166,280 | +35.7% |
| 90th | $206,060 | +68.1% |
| Mean | $142,930 | +16.6% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Alabama
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Huntsville | $142,650 | 70 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Alabama run 11.2% below the national average, so the median of $135,350 goes as far as $152,421 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 24.4% above the national median in real terms.
Published median
$135,350as reported by BLSLocal price level
88.8US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$152,421US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $135,350 a year, 10.4% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $97,470 to $206,060 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 140 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 39 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Huntsville, at $142,650.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in Alabama?
The median annual wage is $135,350, or $65.07 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $122,570, so pay in Alabama is 10.4% higher. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Alabama earns more than $206,060 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $97,470 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Huntsville, at $142,650 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 140 jobs in this occupation in Alabama. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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