How much do Physical Scientists, All Other make in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV?

Percentile spread

For Physical Scientists, All Other, the published 10th percentile is $95,870 and the 90th percentile is $263,580. The difference is $167,710, which is 98.1% of the median. Ten percent of measured wages fall below the 10th percentile and ten percent fall above the 90th. How to read a percentile.

The middle half of the distribution, from the 25th percentile at $131,810 to the 75th at $195,190, covers $63,380.

The mean annual wage is $166,920, which sits below the median of $170,980. Median and mean measure different points in the same distribution.

National and state comparison

The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV median is 39.5% higher than the national median of $122,570 for Physical Scientists, All Other. In 2024 national prices the local median is $157,029, which is 28.1% higher than that same national median. The national figure is already in national prices because the United States parity is 100.

It is 9.1% higher than the District of Columbia median of $156,730.

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV covers more than one state. The state comparison uses District of Columbia, the primary state on the BLS area record.

Price-adjusted pay

The 2024 all-items regional price parity for Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is 108.884, with the United States at 100. The Bureau of Economic Analysis released those parities on February 19, 2026. Dividing the May 2025 median of $170,980 by that parity and multiplying by 100 puts Physical Scientists, All Other at $157,029 in national prices. The wage year and the price year are different. Compare this wage after prices.

Nearby metros

7 other metropolitan areas within 200 miles publish a annual median for Physical Scientists, All Other. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV ranks 1st of 8 on that median, counting itself. Distance is the great-circle mileage between Census Bureau internal points (U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer Files, Core Based Statistical Areas, internal points (INTPTLAT, INTPTLONG).).

• Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD is 60 miles away, with a median of $108,160 and employment of 570. That median is 36.7% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $103,515, against $157,029 here.
• Charlottesville, VA is 85 miles away, with a median of $144,580 and employment of 100. That median is 15.4% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $145,825, against $157,029 here.
• Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD is 138 miles away, with a median of $137,220 and employment of 310. That median is 19.7% lower than the median here. In 2024 national prices it is $133,803, against $157,029 here.

Employment share

Physical Scientists, All Other accounts for 0.09% of wage-and-salary employment in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (2,740 of 3,136,190). Nationally the occupation is 0.01% of employment (22,300 of 155,495,730). The local share is 6.09 times the national share. That ratio is the location quotient computed from these May 2025 employment counts. It is not copied from the location-quotient column in the BLS bulk file.