Physicists Salary in Washington, DC
In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Physicists in Washington, DC have a median annual salary of $171,580, with 1,520 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $98,950 at the 10th percentile to $225,680 at the 90th percentile.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22
Salary overview
Median annual salary
$171,580
Data year: 2025
Hourly median
$82.49
Employment
1,520
Source
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS
Salary distribution
Local compared with national
Washington, DC
$171,580
Median annual · 2025
United States
$172,250
Median annual · 2025
The Washington, DC median is 0.4% below the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $670).
Top skills
- 1.ScienceImportance 4.9
- 2.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.6
- 3.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.5
- 4.SpeakingImportance 4.5
- 5.MathematicsImportance 4.5
- 6.Active LearningImportance 4.5
- 7.WritingImportance 4.4
- 8.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 4.4
- 9.Active ListeningImportance 4.1
- 10.Learning StrategiesImportance 4.0
- 11.InstructingImportance 3.9
- 12.MonitoringImportance 3.8
Career information
Education and experience
- Typical education
- Doctoral Degree
- Experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
- Job zone
- 5
Technology used
- Adobe Audition
- Adobe Photoshop
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Ansible software
- Aptech Systems GAUSS
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- C
- C++
- Canu
- CERN Physics Analysis Workstation PAW
- CERN ROOT
- COMSOL Multiphysics
- Criss Software XRF11
- Database application software
- Dose modeling software
Common tasks
- Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
- Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.
- Observe the structure and properties of matter, and the transformation and propagation of energy, using equipment such as masers, lasers, and telescopes, to explore and identify the basic principles governing these phenomena.
- Write research proposals to receive funding.
- Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- Teach physics to students.
- Develop theories and laws on the basis of observation and experiments, and apply these theories and laws to problems in areas such as nuclear energy, optics, and aerospace technology.
Related careers
Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.
Physicists salary in other locations
- Physicists Salary in Miami, FLMedian $272,480
- Physicists Salary in Tampa, FLMedian $266,260
- Physicists Salary in Cleveland, OHMedian $239,360
- Physicists Salary in Nashville, TNMedian $236,920
- Physicists Salary in FLMedian $225,390
- Physicists Salary in Pittsburgh, PAMedian $224,160
- Physicists Salary in Richmond, VAMedian $218,290
- Physicists Salary in NHMedian $214,030
- Physicists Salary in PAMedian $210,990
- Physicists Salary in CAMedian $207,490
- Physicists Salary in ORMedian $200,320
- Physicists Salary in OKMedian $200,050
Other occupations in Washington, DC
- Radiologists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $443,020
- Anesthesiologists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $397,210
- Dermatologists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $329,990
- Cardiologists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $253,610
- Orthodontists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $248,110
- Psychiatrists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $246,990
- Physicians, Pathologists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $237,190
- Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric Salary in Washington, DCMedian $226,640
- Family Medicine Physicians Salary in Washington, DCMedian $225,140
- Surgeons, All Other Salary in Washington, DCMedian $224,860
- General Internal Medicine Physicians Salary in Washington, DCMedian $223,250
- Nurse Anesthetists Salary in Washington, DCMedian $223,150