U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Commerce / General Physical Science

Job-title file

General Physical Science

Carry out the duties of this position in support of the agency's public mission.

1,154 employees hold this title in Department of Commerce. Median total compensation for the role is $157,631, above the department median of $127,707.

Employees: 1,154
Total payroll: $177.3M
Role median: $157,631
Agency median: $127,707
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$0$221,900+

Hover a bar for its range; click to filter the list below.

How total compensation varies among the 1,154 people in this role. Even for one job title, pay differs with seniority, step, overtime, and tenure. Each bar is a pay range; the far-right bar collects the highest earners.

Compared with the local labor market

General Physical Science pay vs. the United States

Across all employers in the United States, the median wage for Physical Scientists, All Other — about 22,300 people — is $122,570. Department of Commerce pays a median base salary of $157,663 for this role, 29% above that figure — about the 72nd percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Commerce sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$67,000

$86,620

$122,570

$161,890

$195,190

Department of Commerce median · $157,663

The bar is the range of annual wages for Physical Scientists, All Other across every employer in the United States, from the 10th to the 90th percentile, with the middle 50% highlighted. The marker shows Department of Commerce’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 1,153 of 1,154 people in this role paid at least $25,000in base salary. The rest are part-year or part-time records, whose actual pay isn’t comparable to a full-time annual wage.

Median total compensation for this role at Department of Commerce is $157,631, which includes overtime and employer-paid benefits. The benchmark above excludes both, so total compensation is deliberately not compared against it.

Benchmark: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025). BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) covers all employers in the area — private, non-profit, and government alike — so this is a comparison against the whole local labor market for the occupation, not against private-sector pay. OEWS wages are straight-time pay and exclude overtime, shift differentials, and employer-paid benefits, so the government figure shown here is base pay on the same basis. Total compensation is not comparable to it. Job titles are matched to the closest standard occupation, so the comparison is between similar work rather than an identical job classification.

Compare departments

This role across U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)

General Physical Science is held in 24 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Commerce, the median of $157,631 ranks #10 of 24.

Highest-paying departments for this role

National Science Foundation

$204,000 · 157

Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

$185,824 · 496

Department of State

$181,216 · 20

Department of Justice

$171,923 · 11

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

$169,743 · 126

Department of Housing and Urban Developm

$162,629 · 5

International Joint Cmsn: U.S. & Canada

$162,166 · 4

U.S. Agency for International Development

$159,473 · 13

Office of Management and Budget

$157,983 · 2

Department of Transportation

$154,917 · 26

Nat Archives and Records Administration

$153,345 · 4

Department of Homeland Security

$153,336 · 81

Median total compensation for the General Physical Science role in other U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense)departments (highest first). Each bar links to that department’s page for this role.

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Zacharias Tripoulas

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$88,439

Sub-department: National Institute of Standards and Technician
Base pay: $88,439
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $88,439
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Gaithersburg
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $88,439
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,439
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240630031
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Zacharias Tripoulas works as a General Physical Science for Department of Commerce based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Zacharias earned $88,439 in 2024. Their pay grade is 03.

Bryna Mills

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$88,226

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $88,226
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $88,226
Pay grade: 03
Work city: College Park
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $88,226
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,226
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240370033
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Bryna Mills serves as a General Physical Science based in College Park, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $88,226. They are classified at grade 03.

Joseph Wikar

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$87,406

Sub-department: National Institute of Standards and Technician
Base pay: $87,406
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,406
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Gaithersburg
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $87,406
Basic Pay (before locality): $87,406
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240630031
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Joseph Wikar holds the role of General Physical Science at Department of Commerce based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. In 2024, their total compensation was $87,406. Their pay grade is 03.

Andrew Peck

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$87,150

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $87,150
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,150
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Silver Spring
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $87,150
Basic Pay (before locality): $87,150
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241450031
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Andrew Peck works as a General Physical Science for Department of Commerce based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Andrew earned $87,150 in 2024. Their pay grade is 03.

Garcia Negrete

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$87,062

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $87,062
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $87,062
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Plainsboro
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: New Jersey

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $87,062
Basic Pay (before locality): $87,062
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 342632023
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Garcia Negrete is a General Physical Science at Department of Commerce based in Plainsboro, New Jersey. 2024 total compensation came to $87,062. They are classified at grade 03.

Michael Daugherty

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$86,957

Sub-department: National Institute of Standards and Technician
Base pay: $86,957
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,957
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Gaithersburg
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $86,957
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,957
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240630031
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Michael Daugherty works as a General Physical Science for Department of Commerce based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Michael earned $86,957 in 2024. Their pay grade is 03.

Thomas Consiglio

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$86,787

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $86,787
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,787
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Silver Spring
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $86,787
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,787
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241450031
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Thomas Consiglio serves as a General Physical Science based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $86,787. They are classified at grade 03.

Anthony Preucil

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$86,746

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $86,746
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,746
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Plainsboro
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: New Jersey

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $86,746
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,746
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 342632023
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Anthony Preucil serves as a General Physical Science based in Plainsboro, New Jersey. Their 2024 pay totaled $86,746. They are classified at grade 03.

Patrick Mcgovern

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$86,528

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $86,528
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,528
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Seattle
Work county: King
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $86,528
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,528
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531960033
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Patrick Mcgovern holds the role of General Physical Science at Department of Commerce based in Seattle, Washington. In 2024, their total compensation was $86,528. Their pay grade is 03.

James Spore

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$86,199

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $86,199
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $86,199
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Silver Spring
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $86,199
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,199
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241450031
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, James Spore serves as a General Physical Science based in Silver Spring, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $86,199. They are classified at grade 03.

Benjamen Korzeniewski

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$85,844

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $85,844
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,844
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Asheville
Work county: Buncombe
Work state: North Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,844
Basic Pay (before locality): $85,844
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 370170021
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Benjamen Korzeniewski serves as a General Physical Science based in Asheville, North Carolina. Their 2024 pay totaled $85,844. They are classified at grade 02.

William Skorski

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$85,844

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $85,844
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,844
Pay grade: 02
Work city: South Pole Station
Work state: No Data Reported

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,844
Basic Pay (before locality): $85,844
Country: Antarctica
Duty Station Code: AY7500000
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, William Skorski serves as a General Physical Science based in South Pole Station, No Data Reported. Their 2024 pay totaled $85,844. They are classified at grade 02.

Maxwell Pike

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$85,269

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $85,269
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,269
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Plainsboro
Work county: Middlesex
Work state: New Jersey

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,269
Basic Pay (before locality): $85,269
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 342632023
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Maxwell Pike is a General Physical Science at Department of Commerce based in Plainsboro, New Jersey. 2024 total compensation came to $85,269. They are classified at grade 03.

Peter Trask

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$85,189

Sub-department: National Institute of Standards and Technician
Base pay: $85,189
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $85,189
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Gaithersburg
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $85,189
Basic Pay (before locality): $85,189
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240630031
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Peter Trask serves as a General Physical Science based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $85,189. They are classified at grade 02.

Calie Payne

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$84,299

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $84,299
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,299
Pay grade: 02
Work city: Boulder
Work county: Boulder
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $84,299
Basic Pay (before locality): $84,299
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 080200013
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Calie Payne holds the role of General Physical Science at Department of Commerce based in Boulder, Colorado. In 2024, their total compensation was $84,299. Their pay grade is 02.

Rita Bowker

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$84,096

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $84,096
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $84,096
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Norfolk
Work county: Norfolk
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $84,096
Basic Pay (before locality): $84,096
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511760710
Length of Service (Years): 12
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Rita Bowker holds the role of General Physical Science at Department of Commerce based in Norfolk, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $84,096. Their pay grade is 03.

Jonathan Haines

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$83,983

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $83,983
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,983
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Norfolk
Work county: Norfolk
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $83,983
Basic Pay (before locality): $83,983
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511760710
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Jonathan Haines holds the role of General Physical Science at Department of Commerce based in Norfolk, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $83,983. Their pay grade is 03.

David Wright

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$83,847

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $83,847
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $83,847
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Ann Arbor
Work county: Washtenaw
Work state: Michigan

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $83,847
Basic Pay (before locality): $83,847
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 260150161
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, David Wright serves as a General Physical Science based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Their 2024 pay totaled $83,847. They are classified at grade 03.

John Gray

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$82,830

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $82,830
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,830
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Gulfport
Work county: Harrison
Work state: Mississippi

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,830
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,830
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 281020047
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

John Gray works as a General Physical Science for Department of Commerce based in Gulfport, Mississippi. John earned $82,830 in 2024. Their pay grade is 03.

Riccardo Torsi

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$82,764

Sub-department: National Institute of Standards and Technician
Base pay: $82,764
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,764
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Gaithersburg
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,764
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,764
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240630031
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Riccardo Torsi works as a General Physical Science for Department of Commerce based in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Riccardo earned $82,764 in 2024. Their pay grade is 03.

Henry Wald

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$82,764

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $82,764
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,764
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Silver Spring
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,764
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,764
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241450031
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Henry Wald holds the role of General Physical Science at Department of Commerce based in Silver Spring, Maryland. In 2024, their total compensation was $82,764. Their pay grade is 03.

Ballester Algarin

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$82,764

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $82,764
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $82,764
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Silver Spring
Work county: Montgomery
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $82,764
Basic Pay (before locality): $82,764
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 241450031
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Ballester Algarin is a General Physical Science at Department of Commerce based in Silver Spring, Maryland. 2024 total compensation came to $82,764. They are classified at grade 03.

Amanda Finn

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$78,535

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $78,535
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $78,535
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Norfolk
Work county: Norfolk
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $78,535
Basic Pay (before locality): $78,535
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511760710
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

At Department of Commerce, Amanda Finn serves as a General Physical Science based in Norfolk, Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $78,535. They are classified at grade 03.

Charles Corea

General Physical Science/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$77,957

Sub-department: Nat Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrative
Base pay: $77,957
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $77,957
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Norfolk
Work county: Norfolk
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $77,957
Basic Pay (before locality): $77,957
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511760710
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): ZP

Charles Corea is a General Physical Science at Department of Commerce based in Norfolk, Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $77,957. They are classified at grade 03.