How much does a physical scientist make in Philadelphia?
Median yearly pay for physical scientists in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area. That is $65.97 an hour or $11,440 a month.
- Hourly
- $65.97
- Vs. national median
- +12%
- Rank among cities
- 15 of 68
- Jobs in the area
- 310
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $81,470 | $39.17 | |
| 25th | $104,200 | $50.07 | |
| Median | $137,200 | $65.97 | |
| 75th | $176,500 | $84.88 | |
| 90th | $280,600 | $134.89 |
Other cities in Pennsylvania
Median yearly pay for physical scientists.
| Pittsburgh, PA | $128,800 |
Related jobs in Philadelphia
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $164,900 |
| Economist | $139,500 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $134,100 |
| Materials Scientist | $127,500 |
| Psychologist | $120,000 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $112,700 |
| Biological Scientist | $106,700 |
| Medical Scientist | $103,000 |
| Microbiologist | $102,000 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $97,570 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical scientist make an hour in Philadelphia?
The median hourly pay in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area is $65.97 ($137,200 a year).
Do physical scientists make more in Philadelphia than the national average?
Yes: $137,200 against $122,600 nationally, 12% more.
How does Philadelphia compare with the rest of Pennsylvania?
The median in Pennsylvania is $134,800, so Philadelphia pays 2% more.
Where does Philadelphia rank for physical scientist pay?
15 of 68 metro areas with data.
How much does a physical scientist make starting out in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% make $81,470 or less a year; the top 10% make $280,600 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.