Physicists Salary
The median pay for a physicists in Florida is $225,390/year ($108.36/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $113K at the entry level to $309K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.58), that's roughly $228,637 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,658/month, or 11.7% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Florida. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $225K get you in Florida?
About physicists
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What this looks like in Florida
Florida sits well above the national pay line for physicists, local pay runs about 31% higher than the U.S. median of $172K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,658/month, 11.9% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 98.58) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Combined with manageable housing costs, Florida offers a genuinely strong financial position for physicistss at the median.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Florida
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $113K. Mid-career wages sit at $225K. Top earners bring in $309K or more, a $195K spread from bottom to top.
Physicists salary by metro in Florida
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach | $272K | +21% | 100 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater | $266K | +18% | 70 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | $146K | -35% | 30 |
Compare to other states
Track physicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Florida numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Florida?
Yes — at the median salary of $225K, rent takes 11.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,658/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicists in Florida?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicists typically earn — is $113K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,794/month. At HUD’s $1,658/month FMR, rent would take 24% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physicist a high-paying job in Florida?
Local pay is 31% above the national median — $225K here vs. $172K nationally.
How does Florida compare to the national average for physicists?
Florida pays $225K median vs. the U.S. average of $172K — that’s +31%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.58), the purchasing-power equivalent is $229K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physicists make in Florida?
The median is $225,390 a year, that works out to about $108 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $113,240, and experienced physicists can clear $308,580. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $225K enough to live in Florida?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $13,882/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,658/month, which eats 11.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a physicists salary go in Florida?
Florida has a Regional Price Parity of 98.58 (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 physicists salary is worth about $228,637 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do physicists 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.