Physicists salary in California
The median physicists in California earns $207,490 a year, 20% above the US median. After tax that is roughly $11,660 a month.
- 10th percentile
- $125,390
- 25th percentile
- $173,450
- Median percentile
- $207,490
- 75th percentile
- $222,760
- 90th percentile
- $296,740
Based on 5,930 employed. Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025. Percentiles show the spread of pay, not experience; reading the 25th percentile as "entry level" is only an approximation.
What you keep
$139,919 take-home a year
| Gross pay | $207,490 |
| Federal income tax | −$38,532 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$14,515 |
| California income tax (approx.) | −$14,524 |
| Monthly take-home | $11,660 |
| Every two weeks | $5,382 |
Does it go far here?
$187,401Median pay in California is worth this at average US prices (local price level 110.7 vs 100).
17%of take-home pay goes to the median rent ($2,036 a month, Census ACS).
Top-paying jobs in California
| Job | Median pay |
|---|---|
| Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric | $400,150 |
| Neurologists | $357,080 |
| Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers | $353,900 |
| Psychiatrists | $353,500 |
| General Internal Medicine Physicians | $313,890 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | $301,240 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | $292,410 |
| Physicians, All Other | $281,590 |