Life, Physical, and Social Science

Physical Scientists, All Other

See live physical scientists, all other jobs Compare this career
22/100
Jobs.best score
#259 of 825
$122,570
median pay, U.S.
22,300
employed (2024)
+0.6%
growth, 2024–34
2,000
openings per year
Bachelor's degree
typical entry education

Is physical scientists, all other a good career?

It scores 22/100 and ranks #259 of 825 occupations on pay, growth, employment and openings. Here's what the federal data says, with no editorializing.

Advantages

  • Pays well above the U.S. median wage ($122,570 vs $61,390)

Possible tradeoffs

  • Slower-than-average projected growth (+0.6%)
  • Typically requires a bachelor's degree

What physical scientists, all other earn

Wages: BLS OEWS May 2025

Pay is a range, not a number. Half of U.S. physical scientists, all other earn between $86,620 and $161,890 a year.

Best-paying states

same axis · ranked by median
District of Columbia statewide
$156,730
Minnesota statewide
$147,890
North Dakota statewide
$147,650
Maryland statewide
$141,290
South Carolina statewide
$141,130
Massachusetts statewide
$138,380
Georgia statewide
$137,680
Alabama statewide
$135,350
Pennsylvania statewide
$134,780
Colorado statewide
$134,440
$60k $150k $240k

Best-paying metros

01 Providence, RI $180,470
02 Minneapolis, MN $176,440
03 Washington, DC $170,980
04 San Jose, CA $160,580
05 Palm Bay, FL $157,710
06 Augusta, GA $149,550
07 Charlottesville, VA $144,580
08 Huntsville, AL $142,650

Strongest employment concentration

01 California 2,320
02 Texas 2,310
03 Maryland 1,810
04 New York 1,510
05 Indiana 1,240
06 Georgia 1,020

Live physical scientists, all other jobs

United States Fleet Forces CommandVerified from company ATS

PHYSICAL SCIENTIST

Suitland, MD Full-time On-site
$143,913–$187,093/yr View job →
Department of the Air Force HeadquartersVerified from company ATS

Physical Scientist

Eielson AFB, AK Full-time On-site
$74,678–$192,331/yr View job →

How to become a physical scientists, all other

Typical education
Bachelor's degree
Work experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Requirements from the Employment Projections program. This occupation has no Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.

Related occupations

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Bachelor's degree · $82,220 median
Chemists
Bachelor's degree · $91,240 median
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Bachelor's degree · $101,920 median
Questions about becoming a physical scientists, all other
How much do physical scientists, all other make?

The national median wage is $122,570 a year, with the middle half earning between $86,620 and $161,890 (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Is physical scientists, all other a good career?

On the Jobs.best index it scores 22 of 100 and ranks #259 of 825 occupations, weighing pay, growth, employment and openings. Employment is projected to change +0.6% through 2034.

What education do you need to become a physical scientists, all other?

The typical entry-level education is bachelor's degree.

Where do physical scientists, all other earn the most?

Among states, District of Columbia pays the highest median ($156,730). Local pay for every state and metro is below.

U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsWages: BLS OEWS May 2025 · Projections: BLS EP 2024–34
Sources: OEWS-M2025 · EP-2024-34. How we score careers →
See where this ranks — Best paying jobs in science