Physicists Salary in Virginia Beach, VA-NC

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC

Median annual salary $114,630 -31.1% vs national
Median hourly $55.11
10th percentile $96,890
90th percentile $189,470
Employed locally 290
National median $166,290

Compare Physicists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Virginia Beach, VA-NC stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Physicists
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Virginia Beach, VA-NC
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    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $96,890
    25th
    $102,880
    50th (median)
    $114,630
    75th
    $174,890
    90th
    $189,470

    Virginia Beach economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.10% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $80,533 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 142% Median Physicists salary is 42% 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $214,520
    Richmond, VA $212,950
    Pennsylvania $208,470
    Charlottesville, VA $170,040
    Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $168,280
    Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $155,560

    Related occupations in Virginia Beach, VA-NC

    OccupationMedian salary
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $81,210
    Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other $73,650
    Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other $115,340
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $87,110
    Biological Scientists, All Other $78,290
    Physical Scientists, All Other $96,990

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in Virginia Beach?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in Virginia Beach, VA-NC is $55.11, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $92.00 or more per hour.

    Is Virginia Beach above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in Virginia Beach, VA-NC is 31.1% 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 Virginia Beach?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $96,890 per year in Virginia Beach, VA-NC. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $102,880.