As of August 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Physical Engineer in Washington, DC is $72,377, equivalent to $35 per hour, $1,392 weekly, or $6,031 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Physical Engineer in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Physical Engineer in Washington, DC vary widely, spanning from $57,519 to $78,530. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($64,600) and 75th percentile ($75,597), while top earners (90th percentile) make $78,530 per year. This $10,997 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Analysis or Material Flow, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, Washington Physical Engineer often earn 0.5% higher than national averages. However, Washington currently ranks 79 statewide for Physical Engineer job salary. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Physical Engineer Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Physical Engineer Salary $57,519 Washington, DC August 01, 2026
25th Percentile Physical Engineer Salary $64,600 Washington, DC August 01, 2026
50th Percentile Physical Engineer Salary $72,377 Washington, DC August 01, 2026
75th Percentile Physical Engineer Salary $75,597 Washington, DC August 01, 2026
90th Percentile Physical Engineer Salary $78,530 Washington, DC August 01, 2026
25% $64,600 10% $57,519 90% $78,530 75% $75,597 $72,377 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
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Check out Physical Engineer jobs in Washington, District of Columbia

Director, Order to Cash

StevenDouglas - Washington, DC

Senior Loan Officer

The Menkiti Group - Washington, DC

Assistant Project Manager

SANJOSE CONSTRUCTION USA - Washington, DC

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What is A Physical Engineer ?

A Physical Engineer specializes in applying principles of physics and engineering to develop solutions for various technical challenges. Responsibilities include designing and testing equipment, conducting experiments, and analyzing data to improve product performance. Physical Engineers often collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to innovate and enhance technologies in fields such as aerospace, automotive, and energy. Salaries for Physical Engineers can vary widely based on factors such as experience, education, industry, and geographic location. On average, entry-level positions may sta...

Source: (as of 06/04/2025). Read more from

See user submitted job responsibilities for Physical Engineer.

Job Openings for Physical Engineer in Washington, DC

Career Path for this job

  1. This Job:

    Physical Engineer

    0 - 2 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  2. Up a level:

    Materials Engineer II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

Understand the total compensation opportunity for A Physical Engineer, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
64600
75597
72377

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
74137
88846
80505
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Physical Engineer in Washington, DC. The base salary for Physical Engineer ranges from $64,600 to $75,597 with the average base salary of $72,377. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $74,137 to $88,846 with the average total cash compensation of $80,505.

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64600
75597

 

About Washington, District of Columbia    Washington, D.C. is located in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. East Coast. Due to the District of Columbia retrocession, the city has a total area....More

Washington, District of Columbia  area prices were up 1.3% from a year ago

Physical Engineer Salary in popular cities:

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