Physicist salary in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Physicists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median of $156,480 a year ($75.23 an hour), based on BLS data for 290 workers.
Pay ranges from $84,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,080 for the top 10%. That is 9% lower than the national median of $172,250. Pay here is 25% lower than the California statewide median of $207,490. There are 0.19 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 1.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $159,690, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $84,450 | $40.60 |
| 25th percentile | $107,970 | $51.91 |
| Median | $156,480 | $75.23 |
| 75th percentile | $209,670 | $100.80 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $219,080 | $105.33 |
| Average (mean) | $159,690 | $76.78 |
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 | $13,040 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,520 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,018.46 |
| Weekly | $3,009.23 |
| Hourly | $75.23 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $156,480 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 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,270 | 550 |
| 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $95,160 | $45.75 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,100 | $51.01 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $104,760 | $50.37 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $132,410 | $63.66 |
| Materials Scientist | $96,050 | $46.18 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $120,370 | $57.87 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $130,980 | $62.97 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $108,350 | $52.09 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $75,970 | $36.52 |
| Biological Technician | $67,060 | $32.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $72,090 | $34.66 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $101,230 | $48.67 |
| Chemical Technician | $57,270 | $27.54 |
| School Psychologist | $131,070 | $63.02 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The median salary for physicists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $156,480 a year, or $75.23 an hour. Pay ranges from $84,450 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,080 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
The top 10% of physicists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn at least $219,080 a year. The top 25% earn $209,670 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $84,450 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $107,970 or less.
How many physicists work in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA?
About 290 physicists are employed in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.