The average salary for a physicist in Washington is around $134,790 per year.
Avg Salary
Physicists earn an average yearly salary of $134,790.
Wages typically start from $77,860 and go up to $238,430.
85% above national average Updated in 2025
Physicist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level physicist earnings begin at:
$114.63 per hour
$238,430 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level physicist earnings begin at:
$83.96 per hour
$174,630 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level physicist earnings begin at:
$64.81 per hour
$134,790 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level physicist earnings begin at:
$53.34 per hour
$110,940 per year
10th percentile
Starting level physicist earnings begin at:
$37.43 per hour
$77,860 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Physicist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Michigan | $94,520 |
| South Dakota | $83,050 |
| Delaware | $82,590 |
| Vermont | $79,110 |
| Florida | $225,390 |
| New Hampshire | $214,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $210,990 |
| California | $207,490 |
| Oregon | $200,320 |
| Oklahoma | $200,050 |
| Kansas | $193,110 |
| Texas | $184,040 |
| New York | $181,970 |
| Kentucky | $180,910 |
| Connecticut | $180,300 |
| Iowa | $178,110 |
| Maryland | $174,390 |
| North Carolina | $174,180 |
| Wisconsin | $173,120 |
| Minnesota | $171,220 |
| Louisiana | $166,240 |
| New Mexico | $165,340 |
| Tennessee | $165,010 |
| New Jersey | $163,270 |
| Ohio | $162,900 |
| District of Columbia | $157,040 |
| Utah | $156,760 |
| Rhode Island | $155,150 |
| Nevada | $154,030 |
| Virginia | $145,040 |
| Georgia | $144,870 |
| Missouri | $140,460 |
| Alabama | $139,330 |
| South Carolina | $138,400 |
| Illinois | $137,140 |
| Arkansas | $135,820 |
| Idaho | $135,150 |
| Washington | $134,790 |
| Arizona | $130,500 |
| Mississippi | $129,970 |
| Hawaii | $117,190 |
| Massachusetts | $106,410 |
| Maine | $106,020 |
| Indiana | $105,940 |
| Colorado | $104,580 |
| Montana | $103,800 |
How do physicist salaries compare to similar careers?
Physicists earn about the same as related careers in Washington. On average, they make less than mathematicians but more than nanotechnology engineers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Mathematician salary | $162K |
| Pharmacist salary | $161K |
| Physicist salary | $135K |
| Materials scientist salary | $127K |
| Biochemical engineer salary | $135K |
| Nanosystems engineer salary | $135K |
| Nanotechnology engineer salary | $135K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)