Physicists
SOC Code: 19-2012 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Physicists. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN | $131,851 | $184,662 | $237,474 | $290,285 |
| Rochester, MN | $129,418 | $182,936 | $236,434 | $289,952 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $159,994 | $199,784 | $239,554 | $279,344 |
| Jacksonville, FL | $190,507 | $217,589 | $244,691 | $271,773 |
| Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI | $160,493 | $196,352 | $232,190 | $268,050 |
| Gainesville, FL | $193,024 | $217,755 | $242,466 | $267,197 |
| Southeast Minnesota nonmetropolitan area | $129,646 | $175,386 | $221,146 | $266,885 |
| Spartanburg, SC | $136,074 | $179,067 | $222,082 | $265,075 |
| Duluth, MN-WI | $121,950 | $169,582 | $217,214 | $264,846 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $168,501 | $200,013 | $231,525 | $263,037 |
H-1B Filing Data
Top H-1B Employers
| Employer | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| Brookhaven National Laboratory | 181 | $121,746 |
| UT-BATTELLE, LLC (OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY) | 100 | $119,294 |
| Triad National Security, LLC | 98 | $119,549 |
| Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/SLAC National Accelerator Lab | 87 | $101,723 |
| Fermi Research Alliance, LLC | 84 | $75,734 |
| Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | 74 | $116,129 |
| THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | 71 | $93,012 |
| UChicago Argonne LLC | 60 | $81,931 |
| Fermi Forward Discovery Group, LLC | 59 | $83,472 |
| Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC | 59 | $8,578,383 |
Filing Trend
| Year | Filings | Avg Wage |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 203 | $90,130 |
| 2021 | 165 | $90,289 |
| 2022 | 224 | $92,207 |
| 2023 | 483 | $97,091 |
| 2024 | 876 | $97,249 |
| 2025 | 1,031 | $589,423 |
| 2026 | 250 | $679,047 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Science | 4.6 | |
| Mathematics | 4.2 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.2 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 | |
| Speaking | 4.1 | |
| Active Learning | 4.0 | |
| Active Listening | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 4.0 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.9 | |
| Learning Strategies | 3.9 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Physics | 4.9 |
| Mathematics | 4.8 |
| Engineering and Technology | 4.5 |
| Computers and Electronics | 4.4 |
| English Language | 3.7 |
| Education and Training | 3.4 |
| Chemistry | 3.2 |
| Administration and Management | 2.6 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-first professional | 49.0% |
| Other | 39.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 8.1% |
| Bachelor's degree | 3.8% |
Typical Tasks
- Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
- Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- Teach physics to students.
- Write research proposals to receive funding.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Photoshop Amazon Web Services AWS software Ansible software Autodesk AutoCAD C C++ Eclipse IDE Extensible markup language XML Git JavaScript Linux Microsoft Access Microsoft Azure software Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software
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