How much does a physical scientist make?
Answer: A typical physical scientist in the United States makes $122,570 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 22,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Physical scientist pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $67,000 | $122,570 | $195,190 | about 22,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $156,730 | about 790 |
| Minnesota | $147,890 | about 540 |
| Maryland | $141,290 | about 2,000 |
| Georgia | $137,680 | about 1,000 |
| Colorado | $134,440 | about 710 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., experience, useful skills, advanced degrees, and credentials can affect pay. Pay also differs by employer or industry and location, where local demand and living costs vary.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a physical scientist do?
All physical scientists not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
This broad group covers many specialties, so days differ. A remote-sensing scientist might analyze satellite, aircraft, or ground data with mapping software, then collect field data to check the results.
How to get this job
In the U.S., a bachelor's degree is the usual starting point. Since this is a broad group, the subject you study and any further schooling depend on the specialty.
Did you know?
Some remote-sensing scientists in this group use data to spot dust clouds or model surface water to help address environmental problems.
Similar jobs
Jobs using similar skills (O*NET)Earn more in the same field
Life, Physical, and Social Science jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/about/data-for-occupations-not-covered-in-detail.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-2099.00
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-2099.01
- www.onetonline.org/link/details/19-2099.01
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes192099.htm
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY