SOC 19-2099 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physical Scientists, All Other — Charlottesville
Charlottesville, VA · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Charlottesville, VA comes to $144,580 a year, ahead of the national median of $122,570 by 18.0%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Charlottesville, VA comes to $144,580 a year, ahead of the national median of $122,570 by 18.0%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $116,580 and $170,850. The lowest tenth earn under $98,520, while the highest tenth earn more than $185,950.
The area has 100 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 6.25 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Virginia Beach leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $117,640. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 18th of 344 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $98,520 | −19.6% |
| 25th | $116,580 | −4.9% |
| Median (50th) | $144,580 | +18.0% |
| 75th | $170,850 | +39.4% |
| 90th | $185,950 | +51.7% |
| Mean | $144,720 | +18.1% |
Other metro areas in Virginia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia Beach | $117,640 | 310 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Charlottesville sit close to the national average, so $144,580 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$144,580as reported by BLSLocal price level
101.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$143,007US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $144,580 a year, 18.0% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $98,520 to $185,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 100 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Virginia Beach, at $117,640.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physical Scientists, All Other in Charlottesville, VA?
The median annual wage is $144,580, or $69.51 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 Charlottesville, VA is 18.0% 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 Charlottesville, VA earns more than $185,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $98,520 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 Virginia Beach, at $117,640 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 100 jobs in this occupation in Charlottesville, VA. 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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