State comparison · 2025
Physicists salary: Pennsylvania vs Virginia
Physicists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $210,990. In Virginia, $145,040. After cost-of-living, the gap is 50.7% — not 45.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+45.5%
Pennsylvania vs Virginia
COL-adjusted gap
+50.7%
After BEA Regional Price Parities
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%
Virginia
Physicists
- Median
- $145,040
- p25
- $112,570
- p75
- $195,190
- p10
- $97,720
- p90
- $238,570
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 101.1
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -12%
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.