Physical Scientist Salary in Java, VA

How much does a Physical Scientist make in Java, VA?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Physical Scientist in Java, VA is $90,734 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $44.

However, a Physical Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $113,349
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $80,115 to $102,572
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,446
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View as table View as graph 25% $80,115 10% $70,446 90% $113,349 75% $102,572 $90,734 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Physical Scientist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $102,572 $8,548 $1,973 $49
Average $90,734 $7,561 $1,745 $44
25th Percentile $80,115 $6,676 $1,541 $39
Check out Physical Scientist Job Openings in Java, VA
Physical Scientist

EmergencyMD - Sterling, VA

Physical Scientist Technician

EmergencyMD - Sterling, VA

Supervisory Physical Scientist

DLA Careers - Arlington, VA

Lead Physical Scientist CBRNE&amp Life

DLA Careers - Arlington, VA

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Key Factors That Influence Physical Scientist Salaries

A Physical Scientist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, skills and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Physical Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Physical Scientist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $54,694
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $63,304
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $89,864
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $97,118
  • Expert (over 8 years): $144,608
Levels Salary
Clinical ... Level Physical Scientist$54,694
Clinical ... Level Physical Scientist$63,304
Physical ... Level Physical Scientist$89,864
Clinical ... Level Physical Scientist$97,118
Clinical ... Level Physical Scientist$144,608
$54,694 0 yr
$63,304 < 2 yrs
$89,864 2-4 yrs
$97,118 5-8 yrs
$144,608 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Physical Scientists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $127,414
  • San Francisco: $126,161
  • Oakland: $123,363

What Skills Can Increase a Physical Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 10.33% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 2.98% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
  • Process Development (Mentioned in 1.99% Job Postings): Process development consists of designing and developing, as well as evaluating costs and efficiency.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 10.33%
SOP 2.98%
Process Development 1.99%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Physical Scientist's salary.
  • Drug Discovery: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Cell Culture: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Chromatography: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Drug Discovery
$105,252
16%
Cell Culture
$104,345
15%
Chromatography
$99,808
10%
Process Development
$98,900
9%
Biotechnology
$98,900
9%
Insight
$97,086
7%
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Physical Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Physical Scientist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on April 01, 2026

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Cost of Living In Java, VA

Cost of Living in Java, VA is
-6.5% Lower
than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

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Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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