19 Series · SOC 19-2099
Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $122,570
- Median / year
- $195,190
- Top 10% earn
- +0.6%
- Growth '23–'33
- 22,300
- US workers
Physical Scientists, All Other earn a median of $122,570 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $122,570, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $67,000 (10th percentile) to $195,190 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 22,300 US workers. District of Columbia pays the most ($156,730), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Physical Scientists, All Other earn a median of $122,570, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 91% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #7 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 0.6% by 2033.
- $122,570
- Median annual wage
- Top 9%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #7 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 2.9×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: District of Columbia at $156,730. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Physical Scientists, All Other (SOC 19-2099) pays a national median of $122,570 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $67,000 at the 10th percentile to $195,190 at the 90th, with a mean of $129,230 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 22,300 Americans work in this occupation across 40 reporting states and 70 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +0.6% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 2,000 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. District of Columbia pays the highest state median at $156,730, which is +28% above the national figure. The top metro is Providence-Warwick, RI-MA at $180,470 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$122,570
per year
Median Hourly
$58.93/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$129,230
average
Employment
22,300
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Physical Scientists, All Other pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$122,570 Top 9% higher than 91% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Physical Scientists, All Other; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 19-series occupations with growth data, Physical Scientists, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at +0.6% growth and $122,570 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+0.6%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
2,000
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Physical Scientists, All Other roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Manage or analyze data obtained from remote sensing systems to obtain meaningful results.
- ▸ Analyze data acquired from aircraft, satellites, or ground-based platforms, using statistical analysis software, image analysis software, or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
- ▸ Integrate other geospatial data sources into projects.
- ▸ Organize and maintain geospatial data and associated documentation.
- ▸ Compile and format image data to increase its usefulness.
- ▸ Prepare or deliver reports or presentations of geospatial project information.
- ▸ Discuss project goals, equipment requirements, or methodologies with colleagues or team members.
- ▸ Process aerial or satellite imagery to create products such as land cover maps.
- ▸ Design or implement strategies for collection, analysis, or display of geographic data.
- ▸ Develop or build databases for remote sensing or related geospatial project information.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$67,000
25th Percentile
$86,620
Median
$122,570
75th Percentile
$161,890
90th Percentile
$195,190
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 40 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $156,730 | +28% above national |
| 2 | Minnesota | $147,890 | +21% above national |
| 3 | North Dakota | $147,650 | +20% above national |
| 4 | Maryland | $141,290 | +15% above national |
| 5 | South Carolina | $141,130 | +15% above national |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $138,380 | +13% above national |
| 7 | Georgia | $137,680 | +12% above national |
| 8 | Alabama | $135,350 | +10% above national |
| 9 | Pennsylvania | $134,780 | +10% above national |
| 10 | Colorado | $134,440 | +10% above national |
| 11 | Washington | $133,980 | +9% above national |
| 12 | Florida | $131,690 | +7% above national |
| 13 | California | $130,610 | +7% above national |
| 14 | Tennessee | $129,570 | +6% above national |
| 15 | Arizona | $125,270 | +2% above national |
| 16 | New Mexico | $123,820 | +1% above national |
| 17 | Alaska | $120,240 | 2% below national |
| 18 | Michigan | $118,870 | 3% below national |
| 19 | New York | $117,820 | 4% below national |
| 20 | Utah | $115,920 | 5% below national |
| 21 | Hawaii | $112,880 | 8% below national |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $112,370 | 8% below national |
| 23 | Oklahoma | $112,260 | 8% below national |
| 24 | North Carolina | $110,030 | 10% below national |
| 25 | New Jersey | $109,990 | 10% below national |
| 26 | Oregon | $109,580 | 11% below national |
| 27 | Illinois | $108,970 | 11% below national |
| 28 | Mississippi | $108,890 | 11% below national |
| 29 | Ohio | $108,790 | 11% below national |
| 30 | Nebraska | $101,440 | 17% below national |
| 31 | Texas | $100,920 | 18% below national |
| 32 | Connecticut | $99,990 | 18% below national |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $97,470 | 20% below national |
| 34 | Puerto Rico | $97,150 | 21% below national |
| 35 | Montana | $94,520 | 23% below national |
| 36 | Louisiana | $94,320 | 23% below national |
| 37 | Kentucky | $81,260 | 34% below national |
| 38 | Iowa | $80,810 | 34% below national |
| 39 | Wyoming | $69,240 | 44% below national |
| 40 | Indiana | $68,670 | 44% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 70 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $180,470 | +47% above national |
| 2 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $176,440 | +44% above national |
| 3 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $170,980 | +39% above national |
| 4 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $160,580 | +31% above national |
| 5 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $157,710 | +29% above national |
| 6 | Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $149,550 | +22% above national |
| 7 | Charlottesville, VA | $144,580 | +18% above national |
| 8 | Huntsville, AL | $142,650 | +16% above national |
| 9 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $142,080 | +16% above national |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $141,320 | +15% above national |
| 11 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $140,980 | +15% above national |
| 12 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $139,560 | +14% above national |
| 13 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $137,680 | +12% above national |
| 14 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $137,340 | +12% above national |
| 15 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $137,220 | +12% above national |
| 16 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $137,050 | +12% above national |
| 17 | Knoxville, TN | $136,990 | +12% above national |
| 18 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $136,160 | +11% above national |
| 19 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $134,720 | +10% above national |
| 20 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $133,590 | +9% above national |
| 21 | Kennewick-Richland, WA | $132,830 | +8% above national |
| 22 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $132,410 | +8% above national |
| 23 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $131,640 | +7% above national |
| 24 | Anchorage, AK | $131,060 | +7% above national |
| 25 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $130,940 | +7% above national |
| 26 | Colorado Springs, CO | $129,630 | +6% above national |
| 27 | Pittsburgh, PA | $128,750 | +5% above national |
| 28 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $128,720 | +5% above national |
| 29 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $128,380 | +5% above national |
| 30 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $125,070 | +2% above national |
| 31 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $123,750 | +1% above national |
| 32 | Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | $123,240 | +1% above national |
| 33 | Albuquerque, NM | $121,890 | 1% below national |
| 34 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $121,720 | 1% below national |
| 35 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $120,740 | 1% below national |
| 36 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $120,490 | 2% below national |
| 37 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $118,560 | 3% below national |
| 38 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $117,840 | 4% below national |
| 39 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $117,770 | 4% below national |
| 40 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $117,640 | 4% below national |
| 41 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $117,000 | 5% below national |
| 42 | Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL | $115,110 | 6% below national |
| 43 | Tucson, AZ | $115,000 | 6% below national |
| 44 | Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ | $113,800 | 7% below national |
| 45 | Ogden, UT | $112,400 | 8% below national |
| 46 | Oklahoma City, OK | $111,380 | 9% below national |
| 47 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $108,160 | 12% below national |
| 48 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $106,750 | 13% below national |
| 49 | Cleveland, OH | $106,620 | 13% below national |
| 50 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $106,330 | 13% below national |
| 51 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $101,070 | 18% below national |
| 52 | Asheville, NC | $100,690 | 18% below national |
| 53 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $99,460 | 19% below national |
| 54 | Waco, TX | $97,400 | 21% below national |
| 55 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $97,150 | 21% below national |
| 56 | Athens-Clarke County, GA | $96,820 | 21% below national |
| 57 | Rochester, NY | $95,850 | 22% below national |
| 58 | Madison, WI | $95,580 | 22% below national |
| 59 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $93,440 | 24% below national |
| 60 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $91,430 | 25% below national |
| 61 | Duluth, MN-WI | $81,920 | 33% below national |
| 62 | El Paso, TX | $80,880 | 34% below national |
| 63 | Southwest Louisiana nonmetropolitan area | $79,450 | 35% below national |
| 64 | Columbus, OH | $78,440 | 36% below national |
| 65 | Baton Rouge, LA | $78,300 | 36% below national |
| 66 | Lubbock, TX | $76,350 | 38% below national |
| 67 | McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | $71,580 | 42% below national |
| 68 | Lexington-Fayette, KY | $67,610 | 45% below national |
| 69 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $67,000 | 45% below national |
| 70 | Eastern Wyoming nonmetropolitan area | $65,040 | 47% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Physical Scientists, All Other make? ▼
What state pays Physical Scientists, All Other the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Physical Scientists, All Other? ▼
How dangerous is being a Physical Scientists, All Other? ▼
Is Physical Scientists, All Other a good career? ▼
How does Physical Scientists, All Other pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Physical Scientists, All Other? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Physical Scientists, All Other pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $161,890/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: District of Columbia leads at $156,730/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.