Physicist salary in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
Physicists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn a median of $173,450 a year ($83.39 an hour), based on BLS data for 440 workers.
Pay ranges from $122,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $302,040 for the top 10%. That is 1% higher than the national median of $172,250. Pay here is 16% lower than the California statewide median of $207,490. There are 0.39 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.0× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $189,390, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $122,840 | $59.06 |
| 25th percentile | $150,460 | $72.34 |
| Median | $173,450 | $83.39 |
| 75th percentile | $226,750 | $109.01 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $302,040 | $145.21 |
| Average (mean) | $189,390 | $91.05 |
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 | $14,454.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,227.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,671.15 |
| Weekly | $3,335.58 |
| Hourly | $83.39 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $173,450 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $114,890 | $55.24 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $160,580 | $77.20 |
| Materials Scientist | $231,920 | $111.50 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $136,120 | $65.44 |
| Hydrologist | $142,640 | $68.58 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $159,300 | $76.59 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $128,980 | $62.01 |
| Biological Technician | $72,940 | $35.07 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $133,790 | $64.32 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $102,710 | $49.38 |
| Chemical Technician | $67,140 | $32.28 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $83,160 | $39.98 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $75,010 | $36.06 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 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 Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The median salary for physicists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area is $173,450 a year, or $83.39 an hour. Pay ranges from $122,840 for the lowest-paid 10% to $302,040 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
The top 10% of physicists in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area earn at least $302,040 a year. The top 25% earn $226,750 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $122,840 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $150,460 or less.
How many physicists work in San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA?
About 440 physicists are employed in the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.