Salary distribution
Where Pennsylvania physicists fall on the wage curve.
Distribution not available
The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage percentiles for this occupation and state when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish without revealing individual firm pay. National figures and adjacent states below remain a useful reference.
Physicists in Pennsylvania: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 31 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $114,400. 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 | 13 | $72,800 |
| Level II — qualified | 3 | $130,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $143,794 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 2 | $158,650 |
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 | 5 | $71,000 |
| precess medical derivatives | medical physicist | 4 | $96,720 |
| West Penn Allegheny Health System | Medical Physicist | 3 | $204,422 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | Assistant Research Professor | 3 | $67,020 |
| Temple University--A Commonwealth University | Assistant Professor (NTT) | 2 | $84,000 |
| Agni Semiconductor LLC | Senior Scientist | 2 | $68,640 |
| Precess Medical Derivatives | medical physicist | 2 | $105,040 |
| precess medical drivativess | medical physicist | 1 | $108,160 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Medical Physicist at West Penn Allegheny Health System$204,422PittsburghDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-479328
- Medical Physicist at UPCI Cancer Services$165,401AltoonaDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-471916
- Assistant Research Professor at The Pennsylvania State University$92,568University ParkDecided Dec 10, 2025I-200-25337-453618
- Assistant Professor (NTT) at Temple University--A Commonwealth University$90,000PhiladelphiaDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-329021
- Assistant Research Professor at The Pennsylvania State University$67,018University ParkWage Level IDecided Sep 11, 2025I-200-25247-287128
- Postdoctoral Fellow Research Associate at Temple University--A Commonwealth University$78,000PhiladelphiaWage Level IDecided Sep 8, 2025I-200-25241-275994
- Medical Physicist at UPCI Cancer Services$156,399MonroevilleWage Level IIIDecided Sep 5, 2025I-200-25240-273798
- Senior Medical Dosimetrist at UPCI Cancer Services$131,189PittsburghWage Level IIIDecided Aug 11, 2025I-200-25216-219034
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 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 19 certified offers. The most common variant is medical physicist at a median of $123,118.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| medical physicist | precess medical derivatives | 13 | $123,118 |
| Physicist | UPCI Cancer Services | 3 | $212,629 |
| Assistant Professor (NTT) | TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | 3 | $117,000 |
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 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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Explore coursesTop metros in Pennsylvania
Metro-level salary data for physicists in major Pennsylvania metropolitan areas.
- Pittsburgh$211,600
- Philadelphia$165,730
Compare Physicists pay across nearby states
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 $208,470.
- How does Pennsylvania compare to the national median for Physicists?
- The Pennsylvania median is +28.8% versus the BLS national figure of $161,819.
- 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.