PublicPay

Physical Science Technician federal salary series 1311

Full-time federal employees in the Physical Science Technician series earned a median of $77,083 in annualized adjusted basic pay in September 2026, 30% below the all-federal median of $109,641. The middle half earned between $60,553 and $97,087.

Median pay
$77,083
full-time, September 2026
Middle 50%
$60,553–$97,087
25th–75th percentile
Employees
1,586
in this series, all schedules
Change in median
+3.3%
vs. September 2025
Pay distribution, full-time employees with published pay, September 2026
Physical Science Technician
All federal (full-time)

What shapes physical science technician pay

The most common grade with published pay is GS-11 (361 employees, median $97,087). The largest employer of this series with published pay is the Department of Agriculture (153 employees). Federal pay depends mostly on grade and step, plus a locality adjustment for where the job is located; see the GS pay scale explainer.

OPM withheld pay for 72% of employees in this series. The figures here describe only employees with published pay; withholding is concentrated in certain agencies (see data coverage).

Physical Science Technician pay by grade

Grades with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay. GS grades are listed first; other pay plans follow.

Physical Science Technician pay by grade
Pay plan–grade Employees Median pay Middle 50%
GS-7 135 $54,938 $50,714–$63,081
GS-8 75 $65,480 $59,607–$70,554
GS-9 221 $77,370 $71,686–$80,243
GS-11 361 $97,087 $88,373–$109,234
ZT-4 58 $120,450 $110,762–$132,348

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Physical Science Technician pay by agency

Physical Science Technician pay by agency
Agency Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Department of Agriculture 153 $71,906 $62,577–$79,804
Department of the Interior 151 $57,055 $50,460–$80,363
Department of Commerce 92 $115,916 $99,792–$133,142

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Physical Science Technician pay by state

The 2 states with the most employees in this series and published pay.

Physical Science Technician pay by state
State Employees Median pay Middle 50%
Maryland 80 $116,131 $101,097–$133,142
California 54 $71,493 $50,925–$98,701

middle 50% (25th–75th percentile) 10th–90th percentile median all-federal median ($109,641)

Compare physical science technician pay across all states and agencies →

Change since September 2025

The median moved +3.3% from $74,654 in September 2025 to $77,083 in September 2026. Headcount went from 1,733 to 1,586 (−8.5%). A change in the median reflects both pay adjustments and who joined or left the workforce, so it is not the same as a pay raise.

Related occupations in Physical Sciences Group