U.S. Federal Government (non-Defense) / Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration / General Physical Science

Job-title file

General Physical Science

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

496 employees hold this title in Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration. Median total compensation for the role is $185,824, above the department median of $152,489.

Employees: 496
Total payroll: $86.6M
Role median: $185,824
Agency median: $152,489
Comparison: Above

What the records show

Role pay distribution

Pay distribution for this role

$0$211,583+

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

How total compensation varies among the 496 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. Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration pays a median base salary of $185,824 for this role, 52% above that figure — about the 86th percentile of local pay for the occupation.

Where Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration sits in the local pay range

10th

25th

Median

75th

90th

$67,000

$86,620

$122,570

$161,890

$195,190

Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration median · $185,824

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 Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration’s median base salary for this role. Both figures are base pay only.

Computed over the 494 of 496 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 Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration is $185,824, 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 Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration, the median of $185,824 ranks #2 of 24.

Highest-paying departments for this role

National Science Foundation

$204,000 · 157

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

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

Juan Torres-Perez

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$137,299

Sub-department: Ames Research Center
Base pay: $137,299
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $137,299
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Moffett Field
Work county: Santa Clara
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $137,299
Basic Pay (before locality): $94,422
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062205085
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Juan Torres-Perez works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Moffett Field, California. Juan earned $137,299 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Daniel Whitt

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$137,299

Sub-department: Ames Research Center
Base pay: $137,299
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $137,299
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Moffett Field
Work county: Santa Clara
Work state: California

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $137,299
Basic Pay (before locality): $94,422
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 062205085
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Daniel Whitt works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Moffett Field, California. Daniel earned $137,299 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Brian Getzewich

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$136,323

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $136,323
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $136,323
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $136,323
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,079
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration, Brian Getzewich serves as a General Physical Science based in Hampton, Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $136,323. They are classified at grade 13.

Wan Wu

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$136,306

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $136,306
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $136,306
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $136,306
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,065
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Wan Wu works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Hampton, Virginia. Wan earned $136,306 in 2024. Their pay grade is 14.

Travis Knepp

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$136,306

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $136,306
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $136,306
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $136,306
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,065
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration, Travis Knepp serves as a General Physical Science based in Hampton, Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $136,306. They are classified at grade 14.

Robert Damadeo

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$136,306

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $136,306
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $136,306
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $136,306
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,065
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Robert Damadeo holds the role of General Physical Science at Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Hampton, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $136,306. Their pay grade is 14.

Yolanda Shea

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$136,306

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $136,306
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $136,306
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $136,306
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,065
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 11
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Yolanda Shea is a General Physical Science at Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Hampton, Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $136,306. They are classified at grade 14.

John Smith

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$136,306

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $136,306
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $136,306
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $136,306
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,065
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

At Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration, John Smith serves as a General Physical Science based in Hampton, Virginia. Their 2024 pay totaled $136,306. They are classified at grade 14.

Tyler Thorsen

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$136,306

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $136,306
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $136,306
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $136,306
Basic Pay (before locality): $115,065
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Tyler Thorsen holds the role of General Physical Science at Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Hampton, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $136,306. Their pay grade is 14.

Mason Quick

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$135,545

Sub-department: George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Base pay: $135,545
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $135,545
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Redstone Arsenal
Work county: Madison
Work state: Alabama

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $135,545
Basic Pay (before locality): $111,578
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 012585089
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Mason Quick works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Mason earned $135,545 in 2024. Their pay grade is 14.

Ursula Koniges

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$133,692

Sub-department: Headquarters, Nasa
Base pay: $133,692
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,692
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Washington
Work county: District of Columbia
Work state: District of Columbia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $133,692
Basic Pay (before locality): $100,324
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 110010001
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Ursula Koniges holds the role of General Physical Science at Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Washington, District of Columbia. In 2024, their total compensation was $133,692. Their pay grade is 13.

William Espinosa

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$133,692

Sub-department: Goddard Space Flight Center
Base pay: $133,692
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,692
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Greenbelt
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $133,692
Basic Pay (before locality): $100,324
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240710033
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

William Espinosa works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Greenbelt, Maryland. William earned $133,692 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

John Sullivan

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$133,692

Sub-department: Goddard Space Flight Center
Base pay: $133,692
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $133,692
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Greenbelt
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $133,692
Basic Pay (before locality): $100,324
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240710033
Length of Service (Years): 6
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

John Sullivan works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Greenbelt, Maryland. John earned $133,692 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Kevin Horn

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$132,628

Sub-department: George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Base pay: $132,628
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,628
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Redstone Arsenal
Work county: Madison
Work state: Alabama

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $132,628
Basic Pay (before locality): $109,177
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 012585089
Length of Service (Years): 0
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Kevin Horn works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Kevin earned $132,628 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Anum Ashraf

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$132,175

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $132,175
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,175
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $132,175
Basic Pay (before locality): $111,578
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 10
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Anum Ashraf works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Hampton, Virginia. Anum earned $132,175 in 2024. Their pay grade is 14.

Rajendra Bhatt

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$132,175

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $132,175
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,175
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $132,175
Basic Pay (before locality): $111,578
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Rajendra Bhatt is a General Physical Science at Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Hampton, Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $132,175. They are classified at grade 14.

Xiaomei Lu

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$132,175

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $132,175
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,175
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $132,175
Basic Pay (before locality): $111,578
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Xiaomei Lu is a General Physical Science at Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Hampton, Virginia. 2024 total compensation came to $132,175. They are classified at grade 14.

Jason Tackett

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$132,175

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $132,175
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $132,175
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Hampton
Work county: Hampton
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $132,175
Basic Pay (before locality): $111,578
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 511180650
Length of Service (Years): 4
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jason Tackett holds the role of General Physical Science at Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Hampton, Virginia. In 2024, their total compensation was $132,175. Their pay grade is 14.

Jennifer Wilson

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$131,863

Sub-department: John F. Kennedy Space Center
Base pay: $131,863
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,863
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Kennedy Space Center
Work county: Brevard
Work state: Florida

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $131,863
Basic Pay (before locality): $112,128
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 121567009
Length of Service (Years): 21
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Jennifer Wilson works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Jennifer earned $131,863 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Xulei Wu

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$131,181

Sub-department: Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
Base pay: $131,181
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $131,181
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Houston
Work county: Harris
Work state: Texas

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $131,181
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 483280201
Length of Service (Years): 2
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Xulei Wu is a General Physical Science at Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Houston, Texas. 2024 total compensation came to $131,181. They are classified at grade 13.

Ryan Stauffer

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$129,759

Sub-department: Goddard Space Flight Center
Base pay: $129,759
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $129,759
Pay grade: 13
Work city: Greenbelt
Work county: Prince George's
Work state: Maryland

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $129,759
Basic Pay (before locality): $97,373
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 240710033
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Ryan Stauffer works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Greenbelt, Maryland. Ryan earned $129,759 in 2024. Their pay grade is 13.

Cindy Young

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$128,045

Sub-department: Langley Research Center
Base pay: $128,045
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $0
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $128,045
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Smithfield
Work county: Isle of Wight
Work state: Virginia

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $128,045
Basic Pay (before locality): $108,091
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 512270093
Length of Service (Years): 7
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Cindy Young works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Smithfield, Virginia. Cindy earned $128,045 in 2024. Their pay grade is 14.

Paul Bremner

General Physical Science/Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration

2024 total comp

$127,273

Sub-department: George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
Base pay: $127,073
Overtime: $0
Other pay: $200
Benefits: $0
Total compensation: $127,273
Pay grade: 14
Work city: Redstone Arsenal
Work county: Madison
Work state: Alabama

Source-specific fields

Adjusted Basic Pay (incl. locality): $127,073
Basic Pay (before locality): $104,604
Country: United States
Duty Station Code: 012585089
Length of Service (Years): 3
Occupation Code (OPM): 1301
Pay Plan (OPM): GS

Paul Bremner works as a General Physical Science for Nat Aeronautics and Space Administration based in Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Paul earned $127,273 in 2024. Their pay grade is 14.