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

Job-title file

General Physical Science

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

819 employees hold this title in Department of Energy. Median total compensation for the role is $140,142, above the department median of $134,419.

Employees: 819
Total payroll: $101.6M
Role median: $140,142
Agency median: $134,419
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$0$204,000+

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

How total compensation varies among the 819 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 Energy pays a median base salary of $149,465 for this role, 22% above that figure — about the 67th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Department of Energy sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$67,000

$86,620

$122,570

$161,890

$195,190

Department of Energy median · $149,465

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 Energy’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 685 of 819 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 Energy is $140,142, 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 Energy, the median of $140,142 ranks #15 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 Commerce

$157,631 · 1,154

Department of Transportation

$154,917 · 26

Nat Archives and Records Administration

$153,345 · 4

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 2

Aubrey Tremelling

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$106,856

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $106,856
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $106,856
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Idaho Falls
Work county: Bonneville
Work state: Idaho

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $106,856
Basic Pay (before locality): $91,471
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 160790019
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Aubrey Tremelling is a General Physical Science at Department of Energy based in Idaho Falls, Idaho. 2024 total compensation came to $106,856. They are classified at grade 13.

Katherine Rinaldi

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$105,812

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $105,812
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $105,812
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $105,812
Basic Pay (before locality): $79,403
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Katherine Rinaldi works as a General Physical Science for Department of Energy based in Washington, District of Columbia. Katherine earned $105,812 in 2024. Their pay grade is 12.

Jordan Mey

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$104,893

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $104,893
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $104,893
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Pittsburgh
Work county: Allegheny
Work state: Pennsylvania

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $104,893
Basic Pay (before locality): $86,846
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 426600003
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jordan Mey is a General Physical Science at Department of Energy based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 2024 total compensation came to $104,893. They are classified at grade 12.

Candice Long

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,709

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $300
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,709
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Grand Junction
Work county: Mesa
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 081040077
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Candice Long serves as a General Physical Science based in Grand Junction, Colorado. Their 2024 pay totaled $103,709. They are classified at grade 13.

Bradley Belcher

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,409

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,409
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Morgantown
Work county: Monongalia
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 541840061
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Bradley Belcher serves as a General Physical Science based in Morgantown, West Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $103,409. They are classified at grade 13.

Amber Igoe

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,409

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,409
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Richland
Work county: Benton
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531850005
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Amber Igoe is a General Physical Science at Department of Energy based in Richland, Washington. 2024 total compensation came to $103,409. They are classified at grade 13.

Rebecca Blackwell

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,409

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,409
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Richland
Work county: Benton
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531850005
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Rebecca Blackwell serves as a General Physical Science based in Richland, Washington. Their 2024 pay totaled $103,409. They are classified at grade 13.

Reid Elwood

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,409

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,409
Pay grade: 03
Work city: Aiken
Work county: Aiken
Work state: South Carolina

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 450020003
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): EK

At Department of Energy, Reid Elwood serves as a General Physical Science based in Aiken, South Carolina. Their 2024 pay totaled $103,409. They are classified at grade 03.

Brett Hakey

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,409

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,409
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Morgantown
Work county: Monongalia
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 541840061
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Brett Hakey works as a General Physical Science for Department of Energy based in Morgantown, West Virginia. Brett earned $103,409 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Krista Hill

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,409

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,409
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Morgantown
Work county: Monongalia
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 541840061
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Krista Hill is a General Physical Science at Department of Energy based in Morgantown, West Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $103,409. They are classified at grade 13.

Robin Matson

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,409

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,409
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Richland
Work county: Benton
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531850005
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Robin Matson serves as a General Physical Science based in Richland, Washington. Their 2024 pay totaled $103,409. They are classified at grade 13.

Kaitlyn Nelson

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,409

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,409
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Richland
Work county: Benton
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531850005
Length of Service (Years): 5
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kaitlyn Nelson works as a General Physical Science for Department of Energy based in Richland, Washington. Kaitlyn earned $103,409 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Kyle Parker

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,409

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,409
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Richland
Work county: Benton
Work state: Washington

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 531850005
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kyle Parker is a General Physical Science at Department of Energy based in Richland, Washington. 2024 total compensation came to $103,409. They are classified at grade 13.

Christian Robinson

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,409

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,409
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,409
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Charleston
Work county: Kanawha
Work state: West Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,409
Basic Pay (before locality): $88,520
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 540480039
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Christian Robinson holds the role of General Physical Science at Department of Energy based in Charleston, West Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $103,409. Their pay grade is 13.

Briana Colon

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,129

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,129
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,129
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Golden
Work county: Jefferson
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,129
Basic Pay (before locality): $79,403
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 081000059
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Briana Colon holds the role of General Physical Science at Department of Energy based in Golden, Colorado. In 2024, their total compensation was $103,129. Their pay grade is 12.

Alexander Jansen

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,129

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $103,129
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,129
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Golden
Work county: Jefferson
Work state: Colorado

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $103,129
Basic Pay (before locality): $79,403
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 081000059
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Alexander Jansen is a General Physical Science at Department of Energy based in Golden, Colorado. 2024 total compensation came to $103,129. They are classified at grade 12.

Geoffrey Kahl

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$103,028

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $99,778
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $3,250
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $103,028
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Portland
Work county: Multnomah
Work state: Oregon

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $99,778
Basic Pay (before locality): $79,403
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 411650051
Length of Service (Years): 9
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Geoffrey Kahl is a General Physical Science at Department of Energy based in Portland, Oregon. 2024 total compensation came to $103,028. They are classified at grade 12.

Elizabeth Mcnamara

General Physical Science/Department of Energy

2024 total comp

$102,506

Sub-department: Department of Energy
Base pay: $102,506
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $102,506
Pay grade: 12
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $102,506
Basic Pay (before locality): $76,922
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 1
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Department of Energy, Elizabeth Mcnamara serves as a General Physical Science based in Washington, District of Columbia. Their 2024 pay totaled $102,506. They are classified at grade 12.