Physicists salary
The median pay for physicists in the United States is $172,250 a year. About 20,430 people hold this job.
- 10th percentile
- $82,110
- 25th percentile
- $111,720
- Median percentile
- $172,250
- 75th percentile
- $222,760
- 90th percentile
- $274,110
Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience. BLS does not report experience, so reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only a rough guide. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.
How to become: education, skills and job outlook
Highest-paying states · Highest-paying cities
By state
- 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
- Iowa $178,110
- Maryland $174,390
- North Carolina $174,180
- Wisconsin $173,120
- Minnesota $171,220
- Louisiana $166,240
- New Mexico $165,340
- Tennessee $165,010
- New Jersey $163,270
- Ohio $162,900
- District of Columbia $157,040
- Utah $156,760
- Nevada $154,030
- Virginia $145,040
- Georgia $144,870
- Missouri $140,460
- Alabama $139,330
- South Carolina $138,400
- Illinois $137,140
- Arkansas $135,820
- Washington $134,790
- Arizona $130,500
- Mississippi $129,970
- Hawaii $117,190
- Massachusetts $106,410
- Indiana $105,940
- Colorado $104,580
- Montana $103,800
- Michigan $94,520
- South Dakota $83,050
- Delaware $82,590
By metro area
- Miami, FL $272,480
- Tampa, FL $266,260
- Cleveland, OH $239,360
- Pittsburgh, PA $224,160
- Richmond, VA $218,290
- Houston, TX $199,770
- Detroit, MI $199,170
- San Antonio, TX $194,290
- New York, NY $181,970
- Des Moines, IA $178,110
- Buffalo, NY $175,060
- San Jose, CA $173,450
- Milwaukee, WI $173,160
- Portland, OR $172,080
- Washington, DC $171,580
- Tucson, AZ $171,190
- Columbus, OH $170,400
- Minneapolis, MN $168,450
- Denver, CO $166,140
- Albuquerque, NM $165,340
- Knoxville, TN $165,010
- Philadelphia, PA $164,850
- Oxnard, CA $163,210
- Los Angeles, CA $160,270
- Albany, NY $159,240
- Colorado Springs, CO $158,070
- Dallas, TX $156,750
- San Diego, CA $156,480
- Worcester, MA $153,990
- Dayton, OH $151,050
- Huntsville, AL $149,990
- Charlottesville, VA $148,950
- Palm Bay, FL $146,350
- Atlanta, GA $144,870
- Cincinnati, OH $142,180
- Kansas City, MO $141,200
- Seattle, WA $140,370
- Chicago, IL $137,140
- Madison, WI $136,450
- Bakersfield, CA $135,260
- Lexington Park, MD $132,770
- Phoenix, AZ $130,500
- Greenville, SC $128,040
- Sacramento, CA $120,490
- Urban Honolulu, HI $117,190
- Las Cruces, NM $112,400
- Virginia Beach, VA $110,930
- Austin, TX $107,340
- Boston, MA $106,000
- Indianapolis, IN $105,940
- Boulder, CO $104,580
- Lansing, MI $71,580
- Ann Arbor, MI $64,380
- Portland, ME $57,780