Salary distribution
Where Virginia 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 Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 29 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $67,018. 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 | $63,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 5 | $116,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 3 | $129,198 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Physicists in Virginia. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Postdoctoral Associate | 6 | $62,878 |
| Jefferson Science Associates, LLC | Staff Physicist II | 4 | $120,351 |
| JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLC | Staff Scientist II | 3 | $123,000 |
| Mississippi State University | Postdoctoral Associate | 2 | $64,948 |
| The College of William and Mary | Postdoctoral Research Associate of Physics | 2 | $67,687 |
| University of Connecticut | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 2 | $65,000 |
| The University of Virginia | Research Scientist | 2 | $75,000 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Postdoctoral Associate | 2 | $62,878 |
| SOIL AND LAND USE TECHNOLOGY, INC. | RESEARCH ENGINEER-3 | 1 | $110,864 |
| INOVA HEALTH CARE SERVICES | Radiation Physicist | 1 | $218,029 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoctoral Associate at Mississippi State University$67,018Newport NewsDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-484373
- Postdoctoral Associate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$67,018BlacksburgDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-467714
- Postdoctoral Research Associate of Physics at The College of William and Mary$67,018WilliamsburgDecided Dec 9, 2025I-200-25336-451154
- Postdoctoral Research Associate at University of Connecticut$65,000Newport NewsDecided Dec 5, 2025I-200-25332-443291
- Research Scientist at The University of Virginia$85,000CharlottesvilleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25311-385868
- RESEARCH ENGINEER-3 at SOIL AND LAND USE TECHNOLOGY, INC.$110,864MCLEANWage Level IDecided Aug 22, 2025I-200-25227-245599
- Radiation Physicist at INOVA HEALTH CARE SERVICES$218,029Falls ChurchWage Level IIIDecided Jul 28, 2025I-200-25202-188023
- Postdoctoral Research Fellow at George Mason University$70,000FairfaxWage Level IDecided Jun 11, 2025I-200-25155-052521
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 Virginia
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 Virginia
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 16 certified offers. The most common variant is Postdoctoral Associate at a median of $62,878.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Associate | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 8 | $62,878 |
| Staff Scientist | JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLC | 5 | $116,000 |
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | University of Connecticut | 3 | $65,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Physicists in Virginia, by industry
Median offered wage across 29 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $64,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 18 | $64,000 |
| Professional services | Jefferson Science Associates, LLC | 9 | $116,000 |
| Healthcare | INOVA HEALTH CARE SERVICES | 1 | $218,029 |
| Manufacturing | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | 1 | $185,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Virginia 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 Virginia
Metro-level salary data for physicists in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Richmond$212,950
- Virginia Beach$114,630
Compare Physicists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physicists in Virginia?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physicists in Virginia is $164,180.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Physicists?
- The Virginia median is +1.5% 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.