Physicists in Pennsylvania. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Pennsylvania physicists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $150,950 and $231,190, with a median of $210,990.
Physicists in Pennsylvania: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 39 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $108,160. 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 | 19 | $72,800 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $135,720 |
| Level III — experienced | 8 | $204,422 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 6 | $189,015 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Physicists in Pennsylvania. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPCI Cancer Services | Physicist | 9 | $158,650 |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | Postdoctoral Researcher | 7 | $71,000 |
| West Penn Allegheny Health System | Medical Physicist | 5 | $204,422 |
| precess medical derivatives | medical physicist | 4 | $96,720 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | Assistant Research Professor | 4 | $67,068 |
| Temple University--A Commonwealth University | Assistant Professor (NTT) | 3 | $90,000 |
| Agni Semiconductor LLC | Senior Scientist | 2 | $68,640 |
| Precess Medical Derivatives | medical physicist | 2 | $105,040 |
| precess medical drivativess | medical physicist | 2 | $96,720 |
| Lancaster General Hospital | Physicist | 1 | $198,786 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Associate Professor (NTT) at Temple University--A Commonwealth University$90,000PhiladelphiaDecided Mar 27, 2026I-200-26079-718676
- Postdoctoral Scholar at The Pennsylvania State University$67,116University ParkWage Level IDecided Mar 19, 2026I-200-26071-698552
- Physicist at Lancaster General Hospital$198,786LancasterWage Level IIDecided Feb 19, 2026I-200-26042-633709
- Research Associate at TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA$70,720PhiladelphiaWage Level IDecided Feb 6, 2026I-200-26030-607496
- Research Specialist C at TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA$78,481PhiladelphiaWage Level IDecided Jan 30, 2026I-200-26023-585941
- medical physicist at precess medical drivativess$85,280DarbyWage Level IDecided Jan 27, 2026I-200-26020-572848
- Medical Physicist at West Penn Allegheny Health System$204,422KittanningWage Level IIIDecided Jan 2, 2026I-200-25358-509777
- Medical Physicist at West Penn Allegheny Health System$204,422PittsburghWage Level IIIDecided Jan 2, 2026I-200-25358-509781
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.
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Physicists pay by experience level in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 24 certified offers. The most common variant is medical physicist at a median of $132,279.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| medical physicist | West Penn Allegheny Health System | 16 | $132,279 |
| Physicist | UPCI Cancer Services | 4 | $212,629 |
| Assistant Professor | Temple University--A Commonwealth University | 4 | $103,500 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Physicists in Pennsylvania, by industry
Median offered wage across 31 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $184,912.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | UPCI Cancer Services | 12 | $184,912 |
| Education | TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | 10 | $74,500 |
| Professional services | precess medical derivatives | 7 | $99,840 |
| Manufacturing | Agni Semiconductor LLC | 2 | $68,640 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Pennsylvania over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Pennsylvania
Metro-level salary data for physicists in major Pennsylvania metropolitan areas.
- Pittsburgh$224,160
- Philadelphia$164,850
Compare Physicists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Pennsylvania with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physicists in Pennsylvania?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physicists in Pennsylvania is $210,990.
- How does Pennsylvania compare to the national median for Physicists?
- The Pennsylvania median is +27.1% versus the BLS national figure of $166,057.
- What is the salary range for Physicists in Pennsylvania?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $88,300 and the 90th-percentile at $261,820, 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.