U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Department of Commerce / Geophysics

Job-title file

Geophysics at Department of Commerce, U.S. Federal Government

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

7 employees hold this title in Department of Commerce. Median total compensation for the role is $166,775, above the department median of $134,142.

Employees: 7
Total payroll: $1.2M
Role median: $166,775
Agency median: $134,142
Comparison: Above

Compare departments

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

Geophysics is held in 7 U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) departments. In Department of Commerce, the median of $166,775 ranks #4 of 7.

Highest-paying departments for this role

National Science Foundation

$207,000 · 3

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

$197,201 · 7

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

$197,200 · 13

Department of Interior

$143,307 · 326

Department of Agriculture

$111,652 · 1

Department of State

$0 · 1

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

Same department

Other job titles in Department of Commerce

Able Seaman 98
Accounting 344
Administration and Office Support Student Trainee 79
Administrative Officer 219
Auditing 117
Biological Science Technician 74
Budget Analysis 405
Cartography 146
Chemistry 298
Civil Engineering 72
Computer Science 346
Consumer Safety 95
Contracting 479
Data Science Series 85
Design Patent Examining 413
Ecology 81
Economist 567
Electronics Engineering 303
Electronics Technical 486
Emergency Management Specialist 72
Engineering Technical 181
Financial Administration and Program 308
Fish and Wildlife Administration 94
Fish Biology 786
General Arts and Information 183
General Attorney 1,822
General Business and Industry 826
General Engineering 306
General Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences 945
General Physical Science 1,354
Geography 174
Grants Management 199
Human Resources Management 612
Hydrology 303
Information Technology Management 3,647
Legal Instruments Examining 161
Management and Program Analysis 2,472
Materials Engineering 96
Mathematical Statistics 456
Mechanical Engineering 171
Meteorological Technician 152
Meteorology 2,615
Miscellaneous Administration and Program 2,578
Miscellaneous Clerk and Assistant 10,957
Miscellaneous Vessel Jobs 107
Oceanography 172
Paralegal Specialist 157
Patent Administration 475
Patent Attorney 319
Patent Examining 10,759
Physical Science Technician 132
Physics 462
Program Management 393
Public Affairs 147
Security Administration 180
Social Science 87
Statistical Assistant 453
Statistics 1,687
Support Services Administration 99
Trade Specialist 609

Record list

Employees with this title

Page 1

Walter Smith

Geophysics/Department of Commerce

2024 total comp

$181,216

Sub-department: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Base pay: $181,216
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $181,216
Pay grade: 04
Work city: College Park
Work state: Maryland
Middle name: H F

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $181,216
Agency Code (OPM): CM
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): CM54
Basic Pay (before locality): $181,216
Duty Station Code: 240370033
Duty Station State: MD
Length of Service (Years): 31
Occupation Code (OPM): 1313

At Department of Commerce, Walter Smith serves as a Geophysics based in College Park, Maryland. Their 2024 pay totaled $181,216. They are classified at grade 04.

Laura Kong

Geophysics/Department of Commerce

2026 total comp

$172,108

Sub-department: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Base pay: $170,708
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,400
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $172,108
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Honolulu
Work state: Hawaii
Middle name: Sau Lin

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $170,708
Agency Code (OPM): CM
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): CM54
Basic Pay (before locality): $139,684
Duty Station Code: 152400003
Duty Station State: HI
Length of Service (Years): 30
Occupation Code (OPM): 1313

Laura Kong is a Geophysics at Department of Commerce based in Honolulu, Hawaii. 2026 total compensation came to $172,108. They are classified at grade 14.

Stuart Weinstein

Geophysics/Department of Commerce

2025 total comp

$169,012

Sub-department: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Base pay: $169,012
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $169,012
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Honolulu
Work state: Hawaii
Middle name: A

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $169,012
Agency Code (OPM): CM
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): CM54
Basic Pay (before locality): $138,296
Duty Station Code: 152400003
Duty Station State: HI
Length of Service (Years): 27
Occupation Code (OPM): 1313

Stuart Weinstein holds the role of Geophysics at Department of Commerce based in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 2025, their total compensation was $169,012. Their pay grade is 14.

Calvin Varnado

Geophysics/Department of Commerce

2025 total comp

$166,775

Sub-department: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Base pay: $164,275
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $166,775
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Palmer
Work state: Alaska
Middle name: M

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $164,275
Agency Code (OPM): CM
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): CM54
Basic Pay (before locality): $124,112
Duty Station Code: 022000170
Duty Station State: AK
Length of Service (Years): 33
Occupation Code (OPM): 1313

Calvin Varnado works as a Geophysics for Department of Commerce based in Palmer, Alaska. Calvin earned $166,775 in 2025. Their pay grade is 14.

David Walsh

Geophysics/Department of Commerce

2025 total comp

$165,978

Sub-department: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Base pay: $164,678
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,300
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $165,978
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Honolulu
Work state: Hawaii

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $164,678
Agency Code (OPM): CM
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): CM54
Basic Pay (before locality): $134,750
Duty Station Code: 152400003
Duty Station State: HI
Length of Service (Years): 22
Occupation Code (OPM): 1313

At Department of Commerce, David Walsh serves as a Geophysics based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Their 2025 pay totaled $165,978. They are classified at grade 14.

Summer Ohlendorf

Geophysics/Department of Commerce

2026 total comp

$163,680

Sub-department: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Base pay: $161,180
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $2,500
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $163,680
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Palmer
Work state: Alaska
Middle name: J

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $161,180
Agency Code (OPM): CM
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): CM54
Basic Pay (before locality): $121,774
Duty Station Code: 022000170
Duty Station State: AK
Length of Service (Years): 10
Occupation Code (OPM): 1313

Summer Ohlendorf is a Geophysics at Department of Commerce based in Palmer, Alaska. 2026 total compensation came to $163,680. They are classified at grade 14.

Jonathan Weiss

Geophysics/Department of Commerce

2026 total comp

$141,995

Sub-department: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Base pay: $140,065
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $1,930
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $141,995
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Honolulu
Work state: Hawaii
Middle name: R

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $140,065
Agency Code (OPM): CM
Agency Sub-element Code (OPM): CM54
Basic Pay (before locality): $114,610
Duty Station Code: 152400003
Duty Station State: HI
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 1313

At Department of Commerce, Jonathan Weiss serves as a Geophysics based in Honolulu, Hawaii. Their 2026 pay totaled $141,995. They are classified at grade 14.