DOL Verified Employer

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory - Physicists

Government-verified salary data from 142 US Department of Labor filings.

Median Salary
$86,103
44 DOL filings
MA Approval Rate 70.4% · most recent FY 2025
Median Salary
$86,103
Certified filings
DOL Filings
44
Certified: 100
Unique Job Titles
21
SOC occupations
Approval Rate
70.4%
Certified vs filed

Salary Range

Based on 44 certified filings
DOL-Filed Salary Range
$63,232$75,222$86,103$92,737$125,322
Prevailing Wage Premium - a TruthWage exclusive
+32.5%

Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory pays 32.5% above the DOL minimum wage floor for its filed positions.

The prevailing wage is the minimum salary DOL sets as the floor for this occupation and location. A positive premium means the employer pays above that floor. Source: DOL LCA filings.

Salary Trend

FY2012 - FY2025

Salaries by Job Title

21 occupations with DOL-filed salary data
Job TitleFilingsMedian Salaryvs MarketSalary Range
Physicists 44 $86,103 -48.2%
$75,222$75,222$86,103$92,737$92,737
Astronomers 21 $82,721 -37.4%
$71,112$71,112$82,721$83,735$83,735
15-1132 13 $92,773 N/A
$79,491$79,491$92,773$94,520$94,520
19-2011.00 11 $106,332 N/A
$80,328$80,328$106,332$108,062$108,062
15-1035 7 $96,778 N/A
$94,590$94,590$96,778$97,671$97,671
15-1035.00 7 $102,517 N/A
$85,428$85,428$102,517$102,517$102,517
19-2012.00 7 $115,131 N/A
$102,601$102,601$115,131$115,131$115,131
Atmospheric and Space Scientists 5 $88,635 -9.1%
Insufficient data for salary range.
15-1036 4 $66,941 N/A
Insufficient data for salary range.
15-1022 3 $66,210 N/A
$63,386$63,386$66,210$69,033$69,033
15-1252.00 3 $77,738 N/A
Insufficient data for salary range.
15-1296.00 3 $108,705 N/A
$63,705$63,705$108,705$114,916$114,916
Physical Scientists, All Other 3 $125,133 +6.1%
Insufficient data for salary range.
Natural Sciences Managers 2 $93,660 -41.9%
Insufficient data for salary range.
Accountants and Auditors 2 $51,871 -36.5%
Insufficient data for salary range.
17-2144 2 $96,411 N/A
Insufficient data for salary range.
15-1037 1 $127,874 N/A
Insufficient data for salary range.
15-1131 1 $67,517 N/A
Insufficient data for salary range.
15-1142 1 N/A N/A
Insufficient data for salary range.
17-2076.00 1 $85,362 N/A
Insufficient data for salary range.
19-2021.00 1 $101,514 N/A
Insufficient data for salary range.

Individual DOL Filings for Physicists at Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

DateSalaryPrevailing WageLevelLocationEducationStatusSource
Sep 2019 $82,721 $81,162 - Cambridge MA N/A Certified LCA
Sep 2019 $82,721 $81,162 - Cambridge MA N/A Denied LCA
Sep 2019 $82,721 $81,162 - Cambridge MA N/A Certified-Withdrawn LCA
Jul 2019 $82,721 $81,162 - Cambridge MA N/A Certified-Withdrawn LCA
Apr 2019 $88,237 $81,515 - N/A MA N/A Certified LCA
Feb 2019 $125,322 $100,922 - Cambridge MA N/A Certified LCA
Feb 2019 $105,400 $50,794 - Cambridge MA N/A Certified LCA
Jul 2018 $99,572 $50,794 - AMADO AZ N/A Certified LCA
Apr 2018 $81,077 $51,459 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Dec 2017 $92,737 $52,187 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Aug 2017 $66,317 $62,878 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Aug 2017 $66,317 $62,878 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Withdrawn LCA
May 2017 $97,671 $66,123 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
May 2017 $79,851 $66,123 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified-Withdrawn LCA
May 2017 $97,671 $99,123 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Denied LCA
Apr 2017 $103,337 $79,851 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Nov 2016 $88,110 $50,398 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Aug 2016 $82,927 $50,389 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Jul 2016 $77,744 $49,462 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Jun 2016 $95,884 $94,702 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Feb 2016 $109,245 $66,934 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Jan 2016 $71,112 $66,934 - AMADO AZ N/A Denied LCA
Jan 2016 $71,112 $66,934 - AMADO AZ N/A Denied LCA
Jan 2016 $63,232 $63,232 - AMADO AZ N/A Certified LCA
May 2014 $86,103 $84,900 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Apr 2014 $86,103 $84,900 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Jan 2014 $75,974 $64,272 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Dec 2013 $75,222 $64,272 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Dec 2013 $75,222 $64,272 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Dec 2013 $75,222 $64,272 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Denied LCA
Dec 2013 $75,222 $64,272 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Denied LCA
Jul 2012 $75,222 $46,301 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Jul 2012 $75,222 $67,475 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Jul 2012 $75,222 $46,301 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Jun 2012 $85,251 $65,666 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
May 2012 $66,941 $65,666 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Feb 2012 $89,449 $77,958 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Feb 2012 $89,449 $77,958 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA
Feb 2012 $89,449 $77,958 - CAMBRIDGE MA N/A Certified LCA

DOL data does not contain worker names. Only employer, salary, and job details are shown.

Hiring Activity

Full tracker →
Filing volume has declined significantly, down 33% from the prior year. This can signal reduced hiring, a shift in workforce strategy, or business contraction.

Hiring Locations

MA 89 AZ 9 AR 2

Education Requirements

From PERM filings
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Source: US Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) public disclosure files (PERM Form ETA-9089 and LCA Form ETA-9035), and US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Salary figures represent employer filings and government survey estimates, not individual worker pay.

Data covers DOL filings from 2011 to 2025.