Physics Degree in Washington, DC — Salary & ROI 2026
Physics degree analysis for Washington, DC. COL-adjusted salary data, local tuition costs, ROI calculator, and job market outlook.
Starting Salary
$91K
COL-adjusted
Mid-Career
$153K
COL-adjusted
ROI Payback
3.5 yrs
in Washington
Cost of Living
146
index (100 = avg)
Physics in Washington, DC Overview
Washington is one of District of Columbia's top college towns, with 42 institutions and a student population of 55,233. Public tuition averages $12,276/year here — near the national average for public universities. Physics enrollment is stable nationwide, with steady demand for graduates skilled in Quantum Mechanics and Thermodynamics. The adjusted starting salary in Washington is approximately $90,520, growing to $153,300 by mid-career.
Category
STEM
Local Colleges
42
Public Tuition
$12,276/yr
Private Tuition
$51,262/yr
Room & Board
$22,009/yr
Avg Fin. Aid
$8,537/yr
Unemployment
5.8%
Graduation Rate
60%
Physics Salary in Washington (COL-Adjusted)
Salaries adjusted for Washington's cost of living index of 146 (national average = 100).
Note: National average Physics salary: $62,000 starting, $105,000 mid-career, $130,000 senior level.Washington adjustment factor: 1.46x based on the local cost of living index.
Physics ROI Calculator for Washington
Estimate your return on investment for a Physics degree using local Washington tuition and cost of living data.
Public avg: $12,276 | Private avg: $51,262
Washington avg aid: $8,537/yr
Federal avg: 6.5% | Private: 4-14%
Total Education Cost
$137,140
tuition + room & board - aid
Annual Earnings Premium
$39,420
vs HS diploma in Washington
ROI Payback Period
3.5 years
to break even
Lifetime Return in Washington
$957,860
Lifetime earnings premium ($1,095,000) minus total education cost ($137,140)
Student Loan Payoff for Physics in Washington
Standard Plan (10 years)
Aggressive Plan (5 years)
Colleges in Washington for Physics
Georgetown University
private
$62,052/yr
$248,208 total
George Washington University
private
$60,770/yr
$243,080 total
Howard University
private
$30,964/yr
$123,856 total
Community Colleges (2-Year Transfer)
University of the District of Columbia Community College
$3,120/yr
Top Employers for Physics in Washington
Washington offers opportunities in Tech companies, Research labs, Government agencies for Physics graduates. National top employers in this field include:
Key Washington Hiring Sectors for STEM
Tech companies
Research labs
Government agencies
Startups
Consulting firms
Common Physics Job Titles
Other STEM Majors in Washington
Prompt Engineering
$73K starting · 1.5 yr ROI
Computational Linguistics
$139K starting · 2 yr ROI
Computer Science
$124K starting · 2.8 yr ROI
Software Engineering
$128K starting · 2.7 yr ROI
Data Science
$120K starting · 3 yr ROI
Actuarial Science
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Cybersecurity
$117K starting · 3 yr ROI
Robotics Engineering
$73K starting · 3 yr ROI
Physics Degree in Washington — FAQ
Data Sources: Salary data from BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook. Cost of living from BLS Regional Data. College data from NCES/IPEDS. Updated March 2026.
Explore More
Compare Physics ROI in other cities, or explore other majors in Washington.