Entry-level Physicist salary in Washington, DC
Based on 42 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes College Park, Gaithersburg, Greenbelt, Bethesda, Washington Dc.
Also listed as: Medical Physicist, Assistant Physicist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $67,018 |
| 25th | $71,097 |
| 50th (median) | $78,796 |
| 75th | $86,000 |
| 90th | $110,511 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $64,785 | $61,810 | $75,597 | 32 |
| FY2021 | $75,000 | $69,400 | $88,928 | 25 |
| FY2022 | $75,000 | $64,500 | $80,500 | 24 |
| FY2023 | $66,266 | $62,069 | $77,833 | 22 |
| FY2024 | $78,735 | $67,780 | $83,561 | 28 |
| FY2025 | $78,592 | $69,254 | $84,112 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $79,000 | $73,500 | $97,500 | 22 |
Cost of living
Washington's median entry-level Physicist salary of $78,796 is worth about $72,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Washington = 108.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Physicists in the Washington, DC area earned a median of $171,580 in May 2025 (1,520 employed). The H-1B median here is $78,796, 54% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland College Park | $78,592 | 30 |
| George Mason University | too few | 2 |
| Georgetown University | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $78,796 | 42 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 4 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $67,018 | $78,796 | 42 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.