Physicists Salary in Seattle, WA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

Median annual salary $112,790 -32.2% vs national
Median hourly $54.23
10th percentile $67,240
90th percentile $226,310
Employed locally 120
National median $166,290

Compare Physicists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Seattle, WA stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Physicists
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Seattle, WA
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $67,240
    25th
    $67,240
    50th (median)
    $112,790
    75th
    $167,200
    90th
    $226,310

    Seattle economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $112,594 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 100% Median Physicists salary is 0% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Physicists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $266,260
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $226,750
    Cleveland, OH $225,930
    Minnesota $222,550
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $219,070
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $215,340

    Nearby metros — Physicists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $266,260
    Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI $196,680
    Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $188,400
    New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $177,490
    Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY $175,220
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $168,280

    Related occupations in Seattle, WA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $101,500
    Biological Technicians $58,090
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $98,950
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $99,680
    Urban and Regional Planners $103,410
    Biological Scientists, All Other $98,750

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in Seattle?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in Seattle, WA is $54.23, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $105.00 or more per hour.

    Is Seattle above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in Seattle, WA is 32.2% below the national median of $166,290. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Physicists in Seattle?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $67,240 per year in Seattle, WA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $67,240.