Physicists in Virginia. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where Virginia physicists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $112,570 and $195,190, with a median of $145,040.
Physicists in Virginia: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 38 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $92,500. 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 | 22 | $67,687 |
| Level II — qualified | 8 | $119,500 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $173,614 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLC | Staff Scientist II | 6 | $115,684 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | Postdoctoral Associate | 6 | $62,878 |
| Jefferson Science Associates, LLC | Staff Scientist II | 5 | $124,701 |
| The College of William and Mary | Postdoctoral Research Associate of Physics | 3 | $68,355 |
| Jefferson Science Associates LLC | Staff Scientist I | 2 | $114,957 |
| Mississippi State University | Postdoctoral Associate | 2 | $64,948 |
| The University of Virginia | Research Associate | 2 | $75,000 |
| University of Connecticut | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 2 | $65,000 |
| Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | Medical Physicist | 2 | $215,000 |
| Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Postdoctoral Associate | 2 | $62,878 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Staff Scientist II at Jefferson Science Associates, LLC$126,880NEWPORT NEWSWage Level IIDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26051-653708
- STAFF SCIENTIST I at JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLC$108,368NEWPORT NEWSWage Level IDecided Feb 27, 2026I-200-26051-653742
- STAFF SCIENTIST I at Jefferson Science Associates LLC$113,850NEWPORT NEWSWage Level IDecided Feb 18, 2026I-200-26041-631224
- Senior Medical Physicist at Varian Medical Systems, Inc.$245,000PulaskiWage Level IIIDecided Feb 6, 2026I-200-26031-611158
- Postdoctoral Research Associate of Physics at The College of William and Mary$68,355WilliamsburgWage Level IDecided Jan 30, 2026I-200-26024-588123
- Research Specialist II at Howard Hughes Medical Institute$100,000AshburnWage Level IIDecided Jan 28, 2026I-200-26021-577078
- Postdoctoral Associate at Mississippi State University$67,018Newport NewsWage Level IDecided Dec 22, 2025I-200-25349-484373
- Postdoctoral Associate at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$67,018BlacksburgWage Level IDecided Dec 16, 2025I-200-25343-467714
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 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 22 certified offers. The most common variant is Staff Scientist at a median of $116,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Scientist | JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLC | 11 | $116,000 |
| Postdoctoral Associate | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 8 | $62,878 |
| 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 38 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $65,000.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University | 19 | $65,000 |
| Professional services | JEFFERSON SCIENCE ASSOCIATES, LLC | 16 | $114,925 |
| Manufacturing | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | 2 | $215,000 |
| Healthcare | INOVA HEALTH CARE SERVICES | 1 | $218,029 |
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 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 Virginia
Metro-level salary data for physicists in major Virginia metropolitan areas.
- Richmond$218,290
- Virginia Beach$110,930
Compare Physicists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare Virginia with another state
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 $145,040.
- How does Virginia compare to the national median for Physicists?
- The Virginia median is -12.7% versus the BLS national figure of $166,057.
- What is the salary range for Physicists in Virginia?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $97,720 and the 90th-percentile at $238,570, 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.