Physical Scientists, All Other: salary, outlook & degrees
All physical scientists not listed separately.
Middle half $86,620–$161,890. 22,300 jobs.
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
100% hold a bachelor's or higher. Those with one: $76,144.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers with at least a high school diploma; EducationGuide calculation
About 1,400 openings a year, including replacements.
BLS Employment Projections 2025-35
BLS; O*NET 31.0 job zone
Degrees that lead to this career
What workers ages 25-34 in this job studied, among those with a bachelor's or higher. This is what people actually did, not a requirement.
| Field of bachelor's degree | Share | Degree pages |
|---|---|---|
| Biology | 15% | Biology |
| Chemistry | 9% | Chemistry |
| Biochemical Sciences | 5% | Biochemistry |
| Psychology | 4% | Psychology |
| Physics | 4% | Physics |
| Chemical Engineering | 3% | Chemical Engineering |
| Electrical Engineering | 3% | Electrical Engineering |
| Mechanical Engineering | 3% | Mechanical Engineering |
| Computer Science | 2% | Computer Science |
| Molecular Biology | 2% | Neuroscience · Cell / Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, employed, bachelor's or higher; top 10 fields); EducationGuide calculation.
Pay by state and metro
| State | Median wage |
|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $156,730 |
| Minnesota | $147,890 |
| North Dakota | $147,650 |
| Maryland | $141,290 |
| South Carolina | $141,130 |
| Massachusetts | $138,380 |
| Georgia | $137,680 |
| Alabama | $135,350 |
| Pennsylvania | $134,780 |
| Colorado | $134,440 |
| Washington | $133,980 |
| Florida | $131,690 |
| California | $130,610 |
| Tennessee | $129,570 |
| Arizona | $125,270 |
| New Mexico | $123,820 |
| Alaska | $120,240 |
| Michigan | $118,870 |
| New York | $117,820 |
| Utah | $115,920 |
| Hawaii | $112,880 |
| New Hampshire | $112,370 |
| Oklahoma | $112,260 |
| North Carolina | $110,030 |
| New Jersey | $109,990 |
| Oregon | $109,580 |
| Illinois | $108,970 |
| Mississippi | $108,890 |
| Ohio | $108,790 |
| Nebraska | $101,440 |
| Texas | $100,920 |
| Connecticut | $99,990 |
| Wisconsin | $97,470 |
| PR | $97,150 |
| Montana | $94,520 |
| Louisiana | $94,320 |
| Kentucky | $81,260 |
| Iowa | $80,810 |
| Wyoming | $69,240 |
| Indiana | $68,670 |
Florida metro areas
- Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville$157,710
- Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach$130,940
- Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin$115,110
- Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater$106,330
Virginia metro areas
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria$170,980
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk$117,640
- Charlottesville$144,580
California metro areas
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim$136,160
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara$160,580
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad$132,410
- Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom$101,070
- Bakersfield-Delano$137,340
- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura$131,640
- Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario$106,750
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont$128,720
BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025: median annual wage, all workers in the job. Metro areas: the largest by employment.
Physical Scientists, All Other: questions
How much do physical Scientists, All Other make?
Physical Scientists, All Other earn a U.S. median $122,570 a year; the middle half earn $86,620 to $161,890 (BLS, May 2025). Workers ages 25-34 in this job earn a median $76,144 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is physical Scientists, All Other a growing field?
BLS projects growth of 2.1% from 2025 to 2035, with about 1,400 openings a year, including replacements.
What degree do you need to be a physical Scientists, All Other?
BLS lists the typical entry education as bachelor's degree. Among workers ages 25-34 with a bachelor's, the most common field of degree is biology (15%).
How much do physical Scientists, All Other make in Florida?
The median in Florida is $131,690 a year (BLS, May 2025), compared with $122,570 nationally.
Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS May 2025; Employment Projections 2025-35); O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0); U.S. Census Bureau ACS microdata. SOC 19-2099. Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all careers
Cite this: “Physical Scientists, All Other: salary, outlook and degrees,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/careers/physical-scientists-all-other.