Physicists pay range in Charlottesville
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $86,920 a year or less, while the top 10% make $229,570 or more. The middle half of physicists in Charlottesville earn between $109,490 and $202,960.
- $87K10th
- $109K25th
- $149KMedian
- $203K75th
- $230K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $160,270 | $13,356 | $77.05 |
| Median | $148,950 | $12,412 | $71.61 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $109,490 | $9,124 | $52.64 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $202,960 | $16,913 | $97.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Charlottesville vs. Virginia and the U.S.
Physicists in Charlottesville earn about the same as the Virginia average ($159,320) and 6% less than the U.S. average ($171,180). At the median the gap is -14% against the U.S. median of $172,250.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlottesville | $160,270 | $148,950 | $86,920 | $229,570 | 50 |
| Virginia | $159,320 | $145,040 | $97,720 | $238,570 | 940 |
| United States | $171,180 | $172,250 | $82,110 | $274,110 | 20,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physicists salary after taxes in Charlottesville
On the average salary of $160,270, a single filer in Charlottesville takes home about $112,409 a year, or $9,367 a month and $4,323 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Charlottesville a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Charlottesville area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 99.1), so the average $160,270 buys what about $161,650 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Charlottesville ($55,180). A typical home costs $473,058, or 3.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other Virginia cities
Charlottesville ranks 2nd of 3 Virginia metro areas for this job; Richmond pays the most ($202,250).
- Richmond$202,250
- Charlottesville$160,270
- Virginia Beach$124,960
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
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Physicists salary in Charlottesville: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Charlottesville?
$77.05 an hour on average, and $71.61 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Charlottesville?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $86,920 a year and the 25th percentile is $109,490, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Charlottesville?
About $112,409 a year ($9,367 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $160,270.
Do physicists earn more in Charlottesville than elsewhere?
The average here is 6% less than the U.S. average for this job ($171,180).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2012; area Charlottesville, VA (16820). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 9.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 3.62, this job is 3.6 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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