Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
The median pay for a physical scientists, all other in California is $130,610/year ($62.79/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $81K at the entry level to $211K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 106.14), so that salary is closer to $123,054 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,471/month, about 32% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across California. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $131K get you in California?
About physical scientists, all others
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What this looks like in California
Physical scientists, all other pay in California tracks closely to the national median, $131K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $2,471/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 6% above the national average (BEA RPP 106.14), so groceries and services cost more too. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, California
Entry-level physical scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $81K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $211K or more, a $130K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Scientists, All Other salary by metro in California
8 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $161K | +23% | 340 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $137K | +5% | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $136K | +4% | 820 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $132K | +1% | 180 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $132K | +1% | 50 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $129K | -1% | N/A |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $107K | -18% | 40 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $101K | -23% | 70 |
Compare to other states
Track physical scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when California numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in California?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 32.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,471/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,300/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical scientists, all others in California?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical scientists, all others typically earn — is $81K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,882/month. At HUD’s $2,471/month FMR, rent would take 51% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physical scientists, all other a high-paying job in California?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $131K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does California compare to the national average for physical scientists, all others?
California pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 106.14), the purchasing-power equivalent is $123K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physical scientists, all others make in California?
The median is $130,610 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $81,360, and experienced physical scientists, all others can clear $211,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in California?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,645/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,471/month, which eats 32.3% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a physical scientists, all other salary go in California?
California has a Regional Price Parity of 106.14 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physical scientists, all other salary is worth about $123,054 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physical scientists, all others get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.