Physicist salary in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Physicists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median of $160,270 a year ($77.05 an hour), based on BLS data for 550 workers.
Pay ranges from $88,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $275,560 for the top 10%. That is 7% lower than the national median of $172,250. Pay here is 23% lower than the California statewide median of $207,490. There are 0.09 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.67). The average (mean) salary is $165,380, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $88,000 | $42.31 |
| 25th percentile | $114,070 | $54.84 |
| Median | $160,270 | $77.05 |
| 75th percentile | $203,420 | $97.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $275,560 | $132.48 |
| Average (mean) | $165,380 | $79.51 |
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 | $13,355.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,677.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,164.23 |
| Weekly | $3,082.12 |
| Hourly | $77.05 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $160,270 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Physicist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $173,450 | 440 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $163,990 | n/a |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $163,210 | 50 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $156,480 | 290 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $135,260 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $120,490 | 100 |
Highest-paying states for physicists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Florida | $225,390 |
| New Hampshire | $214,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $210,990 |
| California | $207,490 |
| Oregon | $200,320 |
| Oklahoma | $200,050 |
| Texas | $184,040 |
| New York | $181,970 |
| Kentucky | $180,910 |
| Connecticut | $180,300 |
See Physicist pay in every state or the California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $87,060 | $41.86 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $105,340 | $50.64 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $136,160 | $65.46 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $94,660 | $45.51 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $111,790 | $53.74 |
| Materials Scientist | $149,980 | $72.11 |
| Hydrologist | $123,420 | $59.34 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $134,890 | $64.85 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,610 | $49.33 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $99,250 | $47.72 |
| School Psychologist | $122,390 | $58.84 |
| Chemical Technician | $58,070 | $27.92 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $96,380 | $46.34 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $59,240 | $28.48 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median salary for physicists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $160,270 a year, or $77.05 an hour. Pay ranges from $88,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $275,560 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The top 10% of physicists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn at least $275,560 a year. The top 25% earn $203,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $88,000 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $114,070 or less.
How many physicists work in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
About 550 physicists are employed in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.