General Physical Science salary by state and agency

How median pay for full-time federal employees in the General Physical Science series (series 1301) differs by where they work and who employs them. Nationally the median is $142,712. Full general physical science salary profile →

Highest state median

$180,565

Maryland

Lowest state median

$101,443

Wisconsin

Agency spread

$100,092

highest vs. lowest agency median

National median

$142,712

5,448 full-time employees

State differences come largely from locality pay, which raises federal salaries in high-cost labor markets, and from differences in the grade mix of the jobs located there. Agency differences often reflect different pay plans and grade structures. Only states and agencies with at least 30 full-time employees with published pay are listed.

By state, highest to lowest median

General Physical Science median pay by state
State	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
Maryland	856	$180,565	$146,143–$197,200
South Carolina	40	$163,440	$130,625–$173,352
District of Columbia	710	$163,104	$133,964–$191,850
New Jersey	117	$161,116	$137,552–$183,422
Virginia	303	$160,154	$129,904–$197,200
Alabama	59	$148,455	$126,152–$168,199
New York	160	$147,280	$112,752–$163,062
California	317	$146,366	$115,626–$177,083
New Mexico	69	$139,857	$106,010–$176,185
Colorado	414	$138,456	$119,761–$163,615
Tennessee	46	$138,370	$117,848–$163,320
Michigan	63	$136,970	$115,185–$163,016
Pennsylvania	237	$136,833	$117,284–$160,389
Texas	227	$134,579	$107,038–$154,970
Washington	194	$134,162	$114,017–$153,582
North Carolina	272	$133,377	$114,852–$161,992
Missouri	58	$133,079	$106,437–$144,875
Ohio	76	$133,039	$118,256–$165,949
Massachusetts	115	$132,604	$114,893–$156,715
Alaska	62	$131,978	$112,172–$164,736
Illinois	249	$130,080	$106,731–$154,682
Oregon	79	$129,976	$118,507–$149,091
Idaho	44	$127,725	$104,427–$150,935
Georgia	151	$127,564	$104,120–$146,325
Oklahoma	33	$125,142	$119,733–$163,514
West Virginia	62	$124,177	$110,653–$138,370
Florida	70	$123,927	$113,356–$139,807
Kansas	104	$122,597	$102,340–$140,627
Arizona	42	$117,921	$92,491–$138,862
Utah	46	$117,081	$98,459–$134,822
Montana	51	$113,533	$98,459–$124,177
Wisconsin	37	$101,443	$75,923–$136,911

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

By agency, highest to lowest median

General Physical Science median pay by agency
Agency	Employees	Median pay	Middle 50%
National Science Foundation	95	$209,600	$193,260–$209,600
National Aeronautics and Space Administration	388	$187,093	$164,347–$197,200
Nuclear Regulatory Commission	116	$167,110	$133,964–$188,696
Department of Commerce	1,029	$163,104	$133,142–$187,093
Department of Justice	160	$163,104	$128,889–$187,093
Department of Energy	609	$159,337	$132,870–$186,987
Department of Homeland Security	180	$156,699	$129,904–$187,093
Department of Health and Human Services	76	$143,038	$125,280–$170,662
Environmental Protection Agency	2,017	$134,500	$115,626–$154,682
Department of the Treasury	32	$133,964	$122,620–$153,509
Department of the Interior	788	$113,378	$90,219–$136,840
Department of Agriculture	184	$109,508	$92,107–$134,229

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