Physical Scientists, All Other Salary
The median pay for a physical scientists, all other in New York is $117,820/year ($56.64/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $67K at the entry level to $176K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.21), that's roughly $119,967 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,917/month, or 26.4% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across New York. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $118K get you in New York?
About physical scientists, all others
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What this looks like in New York
Physical scientists, all other pay in New York tracks closely to the national median, $118K locally vs. $123K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,917/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 27% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 98.21) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, New York
Entry-level physical scientists, all others (10th percentile) start around $67K. Mid-career wages sit at $118K. Top earners bring in $176K or more, a $108K spread from bottom to top.
Physical Scientists, All Other salary by metro in New York
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $140K | +18% | 860 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $99K | -16% | 780 |
| Rochester | $96K | -19% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track physical scientists, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when New York numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physical scientists, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in New York?
Yes — at the median salary of $118K, rent takes 27% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,917/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physical scientists, all others in New York?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physical scientists, all others typically earn — is $67K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,033/month. At HUD’s $1,917/month FMR, rent would take 48% 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 New York?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $118K locally vs. $123K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does New York compare to the national average for physical scientists, all others?
New York pays $118K median vs. the U.S. average of $123K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.21), the purchasing-power equivalent is $120K — below the national median.
How much do physical scientists, all others make in New York?
The median is $117,820 a year, that works out to about $57 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,220, and experienced physical scientists, all others can clear $175,690. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $118K enough to live in New York?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,104/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,917/month, which eats 27% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physical scientists, all other salary go in New York?
New York has a Regional Price Parity of 98.21 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physical scientists, all other salary is worth about $119,967 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.