Salary distribution
Where Maryland physicists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $127,470 and $191,880, with a median of $163,950.
Physicists in Maryland: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 49 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $81,370. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 37 | $78,592 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $123,870 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $178,269 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Physicists in Maryland. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland College Park | Post-Doctoral Associate | 13 | $75,750 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Assistant Research Scientist | 12 | $76,610 |
| University of Maryland, Baltimore County | Assistant Research Scientist | 7 | $98,600 |
| University of Maryland, College Park | Postdoctoral Associate | 7 | $80,000 |
| University of Maryland Baltimore | Postdoctoral Fellow | 3 | $75,564 |
| The Catholic University of America | Senior Research Scientist | 2 | $155,000 |
| Error Corp. | physicist | 1 | $118,560 |
| Georgetown University | Senior Research Fellow | 1 | $105,000 |
| Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab | Space Plasmas Data Analytics | 1 | $123,247 |
| In Physics, LLC | Medical Physicist | 1 | $110,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Post-Doctoral Associate at University of Maryland College Park$80,000College ParkDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25353-496950
- physicist at Error Corp.$118,560BethesdaDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-469004
- Senior Research Fellow at Georgetown University$105,000GaithersburgDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-348668
- Space Plasmas Data Analytics at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab$123,247LaurelDecided Nov 6, 2025I-200-25272-341602
- Assistant Research Scientist at Johns Hopkins University$77,126BaltimoreWage Level IDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-328110
- Instructor at Johns Hopkins University$81,370BaltimoreWage Level IDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-328930
- Post-doctoral Associate at University of Maryland College Park$67,018College ParkWage Level IDecided Sep 29, 2025I-200-25265-325787
- Post-doctoral Associate at University of Maryland College Park$67,018College ParkWage Level IDecided Sep 18, 2025I-200-25254-303014
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Physicists pay by experience level in Maryland
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Physicists specialties in Maryland
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 36 certified offers. The most common variant is Assistant Research Scientist at a median of $100,500.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Research Scientist | Johns Hopkins University | 16 | $100,500 |
| Post-Doctoral Associate | University of Maryland College Park | 9 | $75,750 |
| Postdoctoral Fellow | Johns Hopkins University | 6 | $72,544 |
| Postdoctoral Associate | University of Maryland, College Park | 5 | $78,592 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Physicists in Maryland, by industry
Median offered wage across 49 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $80,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | University of Maryland College Park | 45 | $80,000 |
| Professional services | Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab | 3 | $123,247 |
| Retail and wholesale | Error Corp. | 1 | $118,560 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Maryland over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
- 4.6 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.5 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Mathematics
Basic skill
- 4.3 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- 02
Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- 03
Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- 04
Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- 05
Write research proposals to receive funding.
- 06
Teach physics to students.
- 07
Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
- 08
Conduct research pertaining to potential environmental impacts of atomic energy-related industrial development to determine licensing qualifications.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Metro-level salary data for physicists in major Maryland metropolitan areas.
- Baltimore$162,490
Compare Physicists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physicists in Maryland?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physicists in Maryland is $163,950.
- How does Maryland compare to the national median for Physicists?
- The Maryland median is +1.3% versus the BLS national figure of $161,819.
- What is the salary range for Physicists in Maryland?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $101,040 and the 90th-percentile at $211,240, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Physicists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Physicists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.