Physical Scientists, All Other
Physical Scientists, All Other (SOC 19-2099) earn a median $122,570 a year ($58.93 an hour) in the United States, with 22,300 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is District of Columbia.
What physical scientists, all other do
Physical scientists, all other, is the residual category for scientists in the physical sciences whose work does not fit a more specific classification such as chemists, physicists, astronomers, atmospheric and space scientists, materials scientists, geoscientists, or hydrologists. Their work draws on the physical sciences in some form of research, testing, or analysis. Titles reported to O*NET under this heading include physical scientist, research scientist, wood technologist, and inventor, which suggests the range. Because the category is a catch-all, the tasks, the education required, and the pay depend on the specialty and the employer, and the data used for this page do not give a single set of tasks or a single education level for the group. Within the SOC the group covers any physical scientist who has no more specific code.
Also called: Physical Scientist, Research Scientist, Inventor, Wood Technologist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $32.21 | $41.64 | $58.93 | $77.83 | $93.84 | $62.13 | 22,300 |
| Annual | $67,000 | $86,620 | $122,570 | $161,890 | $195,190 | $129,230 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where physical scientists, all other earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $48.75 | $59.90 | $75.35 | $89.05 | $93.84 | $73.31 | 790 | 1.13 | 7.88 |
| Annual | $101,400 | $124,590 | $156,730 | $185,220 | $195,190 | $152,480 | ||||
| Minnesota | Hourly | $31.24 | $39.32 | $71.10 | $84.83 | $107.68 | $72.81 | 540 | 0.18 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $64,980 | $81,780 | $147,890 | $176,440 | $223,980 | $151,450 | ||||
| North Dakota | Hourly | $39.83 | $42.78 | $70.99 | $71.11 | $71.95 | $61.63 | 70 | 0.17 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $82,840 | $88,990 | $147,650 | $147,920 | $149,650 | $128,190 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $36.93 | $45.01 | $67.93 | $89.05 | $93.84 | $67.94 | 1,810 | 0.65 | 4.56 |
| Annual | $76,820 | $93,620 | $141,290 | $185,220 | $195,190 | $141,310 | ||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $42.60 | $51.65 | $67.85 | $77.83 | $90.26 | $66.42 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.22 |
| Annual | $88,610 | $107,430 | $141,130 | $161,890 | $187,740 | $138,140 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $39.11 | $51.19 | $62.79 | $82.34 | $101.52 | $68.90 | 2,320 | 0.13 | 0.89 |
| Annual | $81,360 | $106,480 | $130,610 | $171,270 | $211,150 | $143,310 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $28.45 | $36.06 | $48.52 | $64.52 | $86.76 | $54.77 | 2,310 | 0.16 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $59,170 | $75,000 | $100,920 | $134,210 | $180,460 | $113,910 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $36.93 | $45.01 | $67.93 | $89.05 | $93.84 | $67.94 | 1,810 | 0.65 | 4.56 |
| Annual | $76,820 | $93,620 | $141,290 | $185,220 | $195,190 | $141,310 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $32.32 | $42.22 | $56.64 | $72.90 | $84.47 | $58.65 | 1,510 | 0.16 | 1.09 |
| Annual | $67,220 | $87,820 | $117,820 | $151,630 | $175,690 | $121,990 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | * | * | * | * | * | * | 1,450 | 0.35 | 2.46 |
| Annual | * | * | * | * | * | * | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | Hourly | $46.09 | $54.69 | $86.77 | $86.77 | $86.77 | $71.42 | 70 | 0.10 | 0.69 |
| Annual | $95,870 | $113,760 | $180,470 | $180,470 | $180,470 | $148,560 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $37.76 | $48.38 | $84.83 | $107.68 | $117.83 | $83.05 | 410 | 0.21 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $78,550 | $100,630 | $176,440 | $223,980 | $245,090 | $172,740 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $46.09 | $63.37 | $82.20 | $93.84 | $126.72 | $80.25 | 2,740 | 0.87 | 6.08 |
| Annual | $95,870 | $131,810 | $170,980 | $195,190 | $263,580 | $166,920 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $43.82 | $55.67 | $77.20 | $101.52 | $155.69 | $85.28 | 340 | 0.30 | 2.09 |
| Annual | $91,150 | $115,780 | $160,580 | $211,150 | $323,840 | $177,370 | ||||
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | Hourly | $54.44 | $65.29 | $75.82 | $84.69 | $93.84 | $76.32 | 80 | 0.32 | 2.22 |
| Annual | $113,240 | $135,800 | $157,710 | $176,160 | $195,190 | $158,750 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $46.09 | $63.37 | $82.20 | $93.84 | $126.72 | $80.25 | 2,740 | 0.87 | 6.08 |
| Annual | $95,870 | $131,810 | $170,980 | $195,190 | $263,580 | $166,920 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $41.73 | $51.18 | $66.19 | $84.00 | $84.00 | $64.85 | 930 | 0.32 | 2.25 |
| Annual | $86,790 | $106,460 | $137,680 | $174,730 | $174,730 | $134,890 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $36.61 | $50.93 | $67.10 | $80.35 | $91.72 | $65.18 | 860 | 0.09 | 0.63 |
| Annual | $76,150 | $105,930 | $139,560 | $167,130 | $190,780 | $135,570 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $38.11 | $45.15 | $65.46 | $86.69 | $114.57 | $68.95 | 820 | 0.13 | 0.91 |
| Annual | $79,280 | $93,920 | $136,160 | $180,320 | $238,310 | $143,420 | ||||
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | Hourly | $31.25 | $38.42 | $47.82 | $57.42 | $69.69 | $48.82 | 780 | 1.73 | 12.09 |
| Annual | $64,990 | $79,920 | $99,460 | $119,440 | $144,960 | $101,550 | ||||
Top industries employing physical scientists, all other
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 43.3% of physical scientists, all other nationally (9,650 jobs) at a median $134,220 a year ($64.53 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (18.0%) and Scientific Research and Development Services (9.2%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 9,650 | 43.3% | $134,220 | $64.53 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 4,020 | 18.0% | $83,230 | $40.01 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 2,050 | 9.2% | $128,720 | $61.88 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 1,790 | 8.0% | $90,430 | $43.48 |
| Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing NAICS 336400 | 960 | 4.3% | $221,110 | $106.30 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (22,300). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $104,100 for physical scientists, all other in May 2021 and $122,570 in May 2025, with employment of 19,680 and 22,300.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $104,100 | $50.05 | 19,680 |
| May 2022 | $107,970 | $51.91 | 19,820 |
| May 2023 | $112,280 | $53.98 | 20,820 |
| May 2024 | $117,960 | $56.71 | 22,580 |
| May 2025 | $122,570 | $58.93 | 22,300 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
41 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia profile | $75.35 | $156,730 | $101,400 | $195,190 | 790 | 1.13 | 7.88 |
| 2 | Minnesota profile | $71.10 | $147,890 | $64,980 | $223,980 | 540 | 0.18 | 1.28 |
| 3 | North Dakota profile | $70.99 | $147,650 | $82,840 | $149,650 | 70 | 0.17 | 1.16 |
| 4 | Maryland profile | $67.93 | $141,290 | $76,820 | $195,190 | 1,810 | 0.65 | 4.56 |
| 5 | South Carolina profile | $67.85 | $141,130 | $88,610 | $187,740 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.22 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $66.53 | $138,380 | $74,590 | $195,770 | 350 | 0.10 | 0.66 |
| 7 | Georgia profile | $66.19 | $137,680 | $86,790 | $174,730 | 1,020 | 0.21 | 1.46 |
| 8 | Alabama profile | $65.07 | $135,350 | $97,470 | $206,060 | 140 | 0.07 | 0.47 |
| 9 | Pennsylvania profile | $64.80 | $134,780 | $76,440 | $195,190 | 460 | 0.08 | 0.53 |
| 10 | Colorado profile | $64.63 | $134,440 | $82,760 | $225,810 | 710 | 0.25 | 1.72 |
| 11 | Washington profile | $64.41 | $133,980 | $94,540 | $195,190 | 450 | 0.13 | 0.88 |
| 12 | Florida profile | $63.31 | $131,690 | $88,610 | $263,640 | 340 | 0.03 | 0.24 |
| 13 | California profile | $62.79 | $130,610 | $81,360 | $211,150 | 2,320 | 0.13 | 0.89 |
| 14 | Tennessee profile | $62.29 | $129,570 | $46,680 | $241,340 | 120 | 0.04 | 0.27 |
| 15 | Arizona profile | $60.23 | $125,270 | $88,610 | $165,400 | 170 | 0.05 | 0.38 |
| 16 | New Mexico profile | $59.53 | $123,820 | $77,230 | $192,480 | 240 | 0.28 | 1.91 |
| 17 | Alaska profile | $57.81 | $120,240 | $83,600 | $171,850 | 140 | 0.42 | 2.96 |
| 18 | Michigan profile | $57.15 | $118,870 | $81,540 | $164,380 | 130 | 0.03 | 0.21 |
| 19 | New York profile | $56.64 | $117,820 | $67,220 | $175,690 | 1,510 | 0.16 | 1.09 |
| 20 | Utah profile | $55.73 | $115,920 | $64,390 | $149,430 | 250 | 0.14 | 0.99 |
| 21 | Hawaii profile | $54.27 | $112,880 | $69,600 | $169,000 | 100 | 0.16 | 1.08 |
| 22 | New Hampshire profile | $54.02 | $112,370 | $66,850 | $195,190 | 210 | 0.31 | 2.19 |
| 23 | Oklahoma profile | $53.97 | $112,260 | $84,220 | $161,890 | 80 | 0.05 | 0.33 |
| 24 | North Carolina profile | $52.90 | $110,030 | $62,320 | $169,040 | 650 | 0.13 | 0.92 |
| 25 | New Jersey profile | $52.88 | $109,990 | $57,630 | $182,920 | 590 | 0.14 | 0.96 |
| 26 | Oregon profile | $52.69 | $109,580 | $72,830 | $147,600 | 290 | 0.15 | 1.02 |
| 27 | Illinois profile | $52.39 | $108,970 | $53,140 | $169,480 | 580 | 0.10 | 0.66 |
| 28 | Mississippi profile | $52.35 | $108,890 | $61,110 | $153,570 | 380 | 0.33 | 2.26 |
| 29 | Ohio profile | $52.30 | $108,790 | $63,460 | $174,640 | 430 | 0.08 | 0.54 |
| 30 | Nebraska profile | $48.77 | $101,440 | $74,670 | $138,360 | 40 | 0.04 | 0.27 |
| 31 | Texas profile | $48.52 | $100,920 | $59,170 | $180,460 | 2,310 | 0.16 | 1.15 |
| 32 | Connecticut profile | $48.07 | $99,990 | $80,080 | $278,160 | 370 | 0.22 | 1.51 |
| 33 | Wisconsin profile | $46.86 | $97,470 | $63,130 | $161,890 | 70 | 0.02 | 0.17 |
| 34 | Montana profile | $45.44 | $94,520 | $52,790 | $122,930 | 100 | 0.19 | 1.35 |
| 35 | Louisiana profile | $45.35 | $94,320 | $68,930 | $161,890 | 280 | 0.15 | 1.02 |
| 36 | Kentucky profile | $39.07 | $81,260 | $41,370 | $108,410 | 260 | 0.13 | 0.92 |
| 37 | Iowa profile | $38.85 | $80,810 | $61,110 | $177,200 | 100 | 0.06 | 0.44 |
| 38 | Wyoming profile | $33.29 | $69,240 | $63,130 | $105,370 | 60 | 0.20 | 1.42 |
| 39 | Indiana profile | $33.02 | $68,670 | $52,600 | $105,510 | 1,240 | 0.39 | 2.70 |
| – | Rhode Island profile | * | * | * | * | 70 | 0.15 | 1.02 |
| – | Virginia profile | * | * | * | * | 1,450 | 0.35 | 2.46 |
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-2099 Physical Scientists, All Other.
*- Wage estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-2099, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-2099.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.