Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
The median pay for a physical scientists, all other in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is $136,160/year ($65.46/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $79K at the entry level to $238K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 113.57), so that salary is closer to $119,891 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,601/month, about 32.4% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $136K get you in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim’s Regional Price Parity (113.57). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About physical scientists, all others
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What this looks like in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim sits well above the national pay line for physical scientists, all other, local pay runs about 11% higher than the U.S. median of $123K. Rent runs $2,601/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.8% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 113.57), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physical scientists, all others in metros near Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $129K | $111K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $161K | $145K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $132K | $118K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $101K | $95K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Entry-level physical scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $79K. Mid-career wages sit at $136K. Top earners bring in $238K or more, a $159K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Scientists, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Physical Scientists, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $157K | +28% | 790 |
| Minnesota | $148K | +21% | 540 |
| North Dakota | $148K | +20% | 70 |
| Maryland | $141K | +15% | 1,810 |
| South Carolina | $141K | +15% | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $138K | +13% | 350 |
| Georgia | $138K | +12% | 1,020 |
| Alabama | $135K | +10% | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | $135K | +10% | 460 |
| Colorado | $134K | +10% | 710 |
| Washington | $134K | +9% | 450 |
| Florida | $132K | +7% | 340 |
| California | $131K | +7% | 2,320 |
| Tennessee | $130K | +6% | 120 |
| Arizona | $125K | +2% | 170 |
| New Mexico | $124K | +1% | 240 |
| Alaska | $120K | -2% | 140 |
| Michigan | $119K | -3% | 130 |
| New York | $118K | -4% | 1,510 |
| Utah | $116K | -5% | 250 |
| Hawaii | $113K | -8% | 100 |
| New Hampshire | $112K | -8% | 210 |
| Oklahoma | $112K | -8% | 80 |
| North Carolina | $110K | -10% | 650 |
| New Jersey | $110K | -10% | 590 |
| Oregon | $110K | -11% | 290 |
| Illinois | $109K | -11% | 580 |
| Mississippi | $109K | -11% | 380 |
| Ohio | $109K | -11% | 430 |
| Nebraska | $101K | -17% | 40 |
| Texas | $101K | -18% | 2,310 |
| Connecticut | $100K | -18% | 370 |
| Wisconsin | $97K | -20% | 70 |
| Montana | $95K | -23% | 100 |
| Louisiana | $94K | -23% | 280 |
| Kentucky | $81K | -34% | 260 |
| Iowa | $81K | -34% | 100 |
| Wyoming | $69K | -44% | 60 |
| Indiana | $69K | -44% | 1,240 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physical scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a physical scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $136K, rent takes 32.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,601/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,400/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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical scientists, all others typically earn — is $79K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,757/month. At HUD’s $2,601/month FMR, rent would take 55% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Local pay is 11% above the national median — $136K here vs. $123K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 14% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim compare to the national average for physical scientists, all others?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim pays $136K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s +11%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 113.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $120K — below the national median.
How much do physical scientists, all others make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median is $136,160 a year, that works out to about $65 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $79,280, and experienced physical scientists, all others can clear $238,310. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $136K enough to live in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,918/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,601/month, which eats 32.8% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a Regional Price Parity of 113.57 (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 $119,891 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.