Salary distribution
Where Washington physicists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $100,610 and $172,020, with a median of $120,080.
Physicists in Washington: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 17 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $114,070. 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 | 6 | $99,355 |
| Level II — qualified | 4 | $131,940 |
| Level III — experienced | 4 | $153,650 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Physicists in Washington. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battelle Memorial Institute | Physicist | 7 | $114,070 |
| California Institute of Technology | Detector Engineer | 2 | $95,949 |
| University of Washington | Research Scientist / Engineer 3 | 2 | $83,942 |
| Meta Platforms, Inc | Optical Scientist | 2 | $192,176 |
| ALLEN INSTITUTE | Optical Engineer II | 1 | $111,300 |
| Avalanche Energy Designs Inc. | Computational Physicist | 1 | $150,000 |
| BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE | POST DOCTORATE RA - QUANTUM CHEMISTRY/PHYSICS | 1 | $101,050 |
| Amazon.com Services LLC | Applied Scientist III | 1 | $114,525 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Detector Engineer at California Institute of Technology$110,696RichlandDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25309-379823
- Research Scientist / Engineer 3 at University of Washington$96,000SeattleDecided Aug 26, 2025I-200-25231-251993
- Computational Scientist (Marine Physics) at Battelle Memorial Institute$157,299RichlandWage Level IIIDecided Aug 22, 2025I-200-25227-245353
- Optical Engineer II at ALLEN INSTITUTE$111,300SeattleWage Level IIDecided Jul 22, 2025I-200-25196-177111
- Detector Specialist at California Institute of Technology$81,201RichlandWage Level IDecided Jul 17, 2025I-200-25191-166578
- Computational Physicist at Avalanche Energy Designs Inc.$150,000TukwilaWage Level IIIDecided Jun 13, 2025I-200-25157-063585
- POST DOCTORATE RA - QUANTUM CHEMISTRY/PHYSICS at BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE$101,050RICHLANDWage Level IDecided May 14, 2025I-200-25128-951437
- Optical Scientist at Meta Platforms, Inc$171,604RedmondWage Level IIDecided May 7, 2025I-200-25120-920106
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 Washington
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 in Washington, by industry
Median offered wage across 17 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $114,070.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Battelle Memorial Institute | 10 | $114,070 |
| Education | California Institute of Technology | 4 | $88,601 |
| Technology and software | Meta Platforms, Inc | 2 | $192,176 |
| Retail and wholesale | Amazon.com Services LLC | 1 | $114,525 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Washington 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 Washington
Metro-level salary data for physicists in major Washington metropolitan areas.
- Seattle$112,790
Compare Physicists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physicists in Washington?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physicists in Washington is $120,080.
- How does Washington compare to the national median for Physicists?
- The Washington median is -25.8% versus the BLS national figure of $161,819.
- What is the salary range for Physicists in Washington?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $67,240 and the 90th-percentile at $224,320, 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.