State comparison · 2025
Physicists salary: Pennsylvania vs Washington
Physicists in Pennsylvania earn a median of $210,990. In Washington, $134,790. After cost-of-living, the gap is 71.6% — not 56.5%.
Nominal pay gap
+56.5%
Pennsylvania vs Washington
COL-adjusted gap
+71.6%
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%
Washington
Physicists
- Median
- $134,790
- p25
- $110,940
- p75
- $174,630
- p10
- $77,860
- p90
- $238,430
- COL index (BEA RPP)100 = US average
- 107.0
- Hiring velocity (180d)
- -50%
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.