Physical Scientists, All Other Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for physical scientists, all other in the U.S. is $122,570 ($58.93 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $122,570
- Mean annual wage
- $129,230
- Median hourly wage
- $58.93
- Employment
- 22,300
22,300 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $67,000 | $32.21 |
| 25th percentile | $86,620 | $41.64 |
| Median (50th) | $122,570 | $58.93 |
| 75th percentile | $161,890 | $77.83 |
| 90th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
Highest-paying states for physical scientists, all other
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $156,730 | 790 |
| Minnesota | $147,890 | 540 |
| North Dakota | $147,650 | 70 |
| Maryland | $141,290 | 1,810 |
| South Carolina | $141,130 | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $138,380 | 350 |
| Georgia | $137,680 | 1,020 |
| Alabama | $135,350 | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $134,780 | 460 |
| Colorado | $134,440 | 710 |
Lowest-paying states
- Indiana: $68,670 median annual wage
- Wyoming: $69,240 median annual wage
- Iowa: $80,810 median annual wage
- Kentucky: $81,260 median annual wage
- Louisiana: $94,320 median annual wage
About this occupation
All physical scientists not listed separately.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's degree | 27.8% |
| Master's degree | 22.5% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 49.8% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,150
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220
- Chemists$91,240
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$100,580
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,280
- Biological Technicians$57,510
- School Psychologists$95,990
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.