SOC 19-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicists — District of Columbia
District of Columbia · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Physicists in District of Columbia is $157,040 per year, 8.8% below the national median of $172,250.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Physicists in District of Columbia is $157,040 per year, 8.8% below the national median of $172,250. Pay ranges from under $86,820 at the tenth percentile to more than $202,360 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $123,090 to $195,190.
The area has 480 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.7 of every thousand jobs. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, District of Columbia ranks 21st by median wage. Washington leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $171,580. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 35th of 465 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $86,820 | −49.6% |
| 25th | $123,090 | −28.5% |
| Median (50th) | $157,040 | −8.8% |
| 75th | $195,190 | +13.3% |
| 90th | $202,360 | +17.5% |
| Mean | $156,320 | −9.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in District of Columbia
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $171,580 | 1,520 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in District of Columbia run 9.9% above the national average, so the median of $157,040 buys what $142,894 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 17.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$157,040as reported by BLSLocal price level
109.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$142,894US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $157,040 a year, 8.8% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $86,820 to $202,360 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 480 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 21st of 43 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Washington, at $171,580.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicists in District of Columbia?
The median annual wage is $157,040, or $75.50 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 $172,250, so pay in District of Columbia is 8.8% lower. 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 District of Columbia earns more than $202,360 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $86,820 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 Washington, at $171,580 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 480 jobs in this occupation in District of Columbia. 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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