State comparison · 2025
Physicists salary: District of Columbia vs Pennsylvania
Physicists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $210,990. In District of Columbia, $157,040. After cost-of-living, the gap is 33.9% — not 25.6%.
Nominal pay gap
-25.6%
District of Columbia vs Pennsylvania
COL-adjusted gap
-33.9%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
District of Columbia
Physicists
- Median
- $157,040
- p25
- $123,090
- p75
- $195,190
- p10
- $86,820
- p90
- $202,360
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 109.9
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +100%
Pennsylvania
Physicists
- Median
- $210,990
- p25
- $150,950
- p75
- $231,190
- p10
- $88,300
- p90
- $261,820
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 97.6
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- +73%
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities (overall index). Hiring velocity from DOL OFLC public disclosure data, recent 180 days vs prior. See methodology.