Physicist salary in Washington
In Washington, space employers offer physicists, astronomers and optical engineers a median of $163k a year, the middle half $130k–$182k $3.7k above the national posted median. From 10 jobs at 4 employers that name a salary in their postings.
- 25th percentile$130,057/yr
- Median (50th)$163,250/yr
- 75th percentile$181,688/yr
- Distinct posted rates10
- Jobs stating a salary10
- Employers4
The median is the middle of the 10 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $130,057–$181,688 a year, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- 25th percentile$130,057/yr
- Median (50th)$163,250/yr
- 75th percentile$181,688/yr
- Distinct posted rates10
- Jobs stating a salary10
- Employers4
The median is the middle of the 10 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $130,057–$181,688 a year, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- Median posted pay, a year$163,300
- Hours in a full-time year2,080
- The same per hour, full time$78.49/hr
Every figure here is a year's pay: a job that posts pay counts at 2,080 hours (40 a week for 52 weeks). Rounded to the nearest $100.
Jobs stating pay, the employers with the most first: 10 in all, at 4 employers.
The jobs themselves: Physicist jobs in Washington · Physicist pay nationwide
What physicists, astronomers and optical engineers are paid in Washington
Each bar counts the open jobs posting pay in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint).
Median $163k a year. Middle half $130k to $182k. Point at a bar for its count. Tap a bar for its count.
Posted on open jobs in Washington
Middle half of 10 distinct posted rates (a job posted many times at one rate counted once), median $163k. 100% of the 10 open physicist jobs in Washington state pay.
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Physicist pay by town in Washington
Towns where at least three open jobs state pay, the towns with the most such jobs first.
| Town | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs (employers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $165k | $81.3k–$257k | 5 (2) |
| Redmond | $162k | $105k–$235k | 5 (2) |
Median of employers' rates in the town, the lowest and highest rate posted, and the jobs and employers behind them. A town opens its own job page.
Physicist pay by employer in Washington
What each employer posts for physicists, astronomers and optical engineers here, the employers with the most jobs stating pay first.
| Employer | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs stating pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Origin | $145k | $81.3k–$257k | 3 |
| SpaceX | $125k | $105k–$235k | 3 |
| Amazon Leo | $174k | $137k–$215k | 2 |
| K2 Space | $165k | $130k–$200k | 2 |
Median of each employer's jobs in Washington (a range at its midpoint), and its lowest and highest rate here. An employer's name opens its pay for physicists, astronomers and optical engineers nationwide when it has such a page.
Best-paid open physicist jobs in Washington
The open jobs posting the highest pay figures tonight, at most two from one employer.
$183,807–$257,329/yr
$140,000–$235,000/yr
$159,200–$215,300/yr
$130,000–$200,000/yr
$130,000–$200,000/yr
$137,300–$185,700/yr
$121,023–$169,432/yr
$105,000–$145,000/yr
Physicist salary in Washington: common questions
How much does a physicist make in Washington?
Open physicist jobs in Washington that state pay post a median of $163k, the middle half $130k–$182k (10 jobs from 4 employers).
Where in Washington do physicists, astronomers and optical engineers earn the most?
By the median rate open jobs post, in the towns with the most jobs stating pay: Seattle ($165k) and Redmond ($162k). The town table lists 2.
Which employers in Washington pay physicists, astronomers and optical engineers the most?
Among employers stating a rate on at least three open jobs here: Blue Origin ($145k) and SpaceX ($125k).
How does Washington compare with the rest of the country?
The posted median in Washington ($163k) is $3.7k above the national posted median of $160k.
Where do these figures come from?
From the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own job board: 10 of 10 open physicist jobs in Washington (100%) state pay. No pay is estimated for a job that states none; "up to" ceilings and weekly travel rates are left out.
Sources and method
Cite this page
SpaceJobs.Now. (2026). Physicist salary in Washington. Data as of 10 Nov 2026. https://spacejobs.now/salaries/physicists/washington