Physicist salary in the U.S.
Physicists in the U.S. earn a median of $172,250 a year ($82.81 an hour), based on BLS data for 20,430 workers.
Pay ranges from $82,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $274,110 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $171,180, close to the median.
Pay range for physicists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,110 | $39.48 |
| 25th percentile | $111,720 | $53.71 |
| Median | $172,250 | $82.81 |
| 75th percentile | $222,760 | $107.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $274,110 | $131.79 |
| Average (mean) | $171,180 | $82.30 |
Half of physicists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $14,354.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,177.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,625 |
| Weekly | $3,312.50 |
| Hourly | $82.81 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Florida | $225,390 | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $214,030 | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $210,990 | 230 |
| California | $207,490 | 5,930 |
| Oregon | $200,320 | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $200,050 | 40 |
| Texas | $184,040 | 580 |
| New York | $181,970 | 1,140 |
| Kentucky | $180,910 | 50 |
| Connecticut | $180,300 | 60 |
| Iowa | $178,110 | 110 |
| Maryland | $174,390 | 1,200 |
| North Carolina | $174,180 | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $173,120 | 180 |
| Minnesota | $171,220 | 110 |
| Louisiana | $166,240 | 40 |
| New Mexico | $165,340 | 580 |
| Tennessee | $165,010 | 240 |
| New Jersey | $163,270 | 470 |
| Ohio | $162,900 | 630 |
| District of Columbia | $157,040 | 480 |
| Utah | $156,760 | 30 |
| Rhode Island | $155,150 | n/a |
| Nevada | $154,030 | 50 |
| Virginia | $145,040 | 940 |
| Georgia | $144,870 | 160 |
| Missouri | $140,460 | 90 |
| Alabama | $139,330 | 280 |
| South Carolina | $138,400 | 420 |
| Illinois | $137,140 | 1,590 |
| Arkansas | $135,820 | 60 |
| Idaho | $135,150 | n/a |
| Washington | $134,790 | 450 |
| Arizona | $130,500 | 120 |
| Mississippi | $129,970 | 80 |
| Hawaii | $117,190 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $106,410 | 1,150 |
| Indiana | $105,940 | 230 |
| Colorado | $104,580 | 1,050 |
| Montana | $103,800 | 30 |
| Michigan | $94,520 | 510 |
| South Dakota | $83,050 | 30 |
| Delaware | $82,590 | 50 |
Best-paying metro areas for physicists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $272,480 | 100 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $266,260 | 70 |
| Cleveland, OH | $239,360 | 240 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $236,920 | n/a |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $224,160 | 80 |
| Richmond, VA | $218,290 | 40 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $199,770 | 140 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $199,170 | 140 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $194,290 | 100 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $181,970 | 1,070 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $178,110 | 50 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $175,060 | 40 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $173,450 | 440 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $173,160 | 50 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $172,080 | 50 |
Metro areas with the most physicists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,520 | $171,580 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,510 | $137,140 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,070 | $181,970 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,060 | $106,000 |
| Boulder, CO | 860 | $104,580 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 550 | $160,270 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 440 | $173,450 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 330 | $165,340 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 290 | $156,480 |
| Cleveland, OH | 240 | $239,360 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 240 | $110,930 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 230 | $71,580 |
| Huntsville, AL | 180 | $149,990 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 150 | $164,850 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 150 | $140,370 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $101,920 | $49.00 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $122,570 | $58.93 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $99,070 | $47.63 |
| Materials Scientist | $117,790 | $56.63 |
| Hydrologist | $96,600 | $46.44 |
| Astronomer | $128,820 | $61.94 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $62,280 | $29.94 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| School Psychologist | $95,990 | $46.15 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for physicists in the U.S. is $172,250 a year, or $82.81 an hour. Pay ranges from $82,110 for the lowest-paid 10% to $274,110 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of physicists in the U.S. earn at least $274,110 a year. The top 25% earn $222,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $82,110 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $111,720 or less.
How many physicists work in the U.S.?
About 20,430 physicists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.