Physicist salary in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
Physicists in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn a median of $168,450 a year ($80.99 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $136,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $286,510 for the top 10%. That is 2% lower than the national median of $172,250. Pay here is 2% lower than the Minnesota statewide median of $171,220. There are 0.04 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.30). The average (mean) salary is $187,370, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $136,650 | $65.70 |
| 25th percentile | $165,130 | $79.39 |
| Median | $168,450 | $80.99 |
| 75th percentile | $185,100 | $88.99 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $286,510 | $137.74 |
| Average (mean) | $187,370 | $90.08 |
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 | $14,037.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,018.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,478.85 |
| Weekly | $3,239.42 |
| Hourly | $80.99 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $168,450 salary, see how much house you can afford in Minnesota 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $173,160 | 50 |
| Madison, WI | $136,450 | 80 |
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 Minnesota statewide figures.
Related jobs in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $99,280 | $47.73 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $176,440 | $84.83 |
| Materials Scientist | $132,160 | $63.54 |
| Hydrologist | $94,580 | $45.47 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $83,100 | $39.95 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $125,590 | $60.38 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $102,940 | $49.49 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $99,170 | $47.68 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $49,410 | $23.75 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $108,480 | $52.16 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $103,330 | $49.68 |
| School Psychologist | $87,510 | $42.07 |
| Chemical Technician | $62,820 | $30.20 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI
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 Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The median salary for physicists in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area is $168,450 a year, or $80.99 an hour. Pay ranges from $136,650 for the lowest-paid 10% to $286,510 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
The top 10% of physicists in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area earn at least $286,510 a year. The top 25% earn $185,100 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $136,650 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $165,130 or less.
How many physicists work in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI?
About 80 physicists are employed in the Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area, not counting the self-employed.