Physicists Salary in Lansing-East Lansing, MI
The median pay for a physicists in Lansing-East Lansing, MI is $67,710/year ($32.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $68K at the entry level to $135K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.99), which stretches that salary to about $71,281 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,268/month, or 28.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $68K get you in Lansing-East Lansing?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lansing-East Lansing’s Regional Price Parity (94.99). 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 physicists
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Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $68K. Mid-career wages sit at $68K. Top earners bring in $135K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
Physicists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $223K | +34% | 60 |
| Florida | $209K | +26% | 240 |
| Pennsylvania | $208K | +25% | 540 |
| Arizona | $191K | +15% | 70 |
| Oregon | $184K | +11% | 120 |
| California | $181K | +9% | 6,220 |
| Missouri | $180K | +9% | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $179K | +8% | 30 |
| New Mexico | $176K | +6% | 770 |
| New York | $174K | +5% | 1,190 |
| Wisconsin | $174K | +5% | 220 |
| Tennessee | $174K | +4% | 260 |
| Connecticut | $172K | +3% | 70 |
| North Carolina | $171K | +3% | 170 |
| Texas | $170K | +3% | 700 |
| Kentucky | $169K | +1% | 30 |
| New Jersey | $169K | +1% | 320 |
| Virginia | $164K | -1% | 1,260 |
| Maryland | $164K | -1% | 1,420 |
| Massachusetts | $154K | -7% | 570 |
| District of Columbia | $153K | -8% | 570 |
| Ohio | $136K | -18% | 710 |
| Utah | $134K | -19% | 60 |
| Idaho | $132K | -21% | 170 |
| Arkansas | $132K | -21% | 80 |
| Georgia | $132K | -21% | 190 |
| Illinois | $131K | -21% | 1,660 |
| South Carolina | $131K | -21% | 370 |
| Iowa | $121K | -27% | 120 |
| Mississippi | $121K | -27% | 70 |
| Washington | $120K | -28% | 430 |
| Nevada | $116K | -30% | N/A |
| Alabama | $115K | -31% | 360 |
| Maine | $115K | -31% | N/A |
| Indiana | $110K | -34% | 160 |
| Michigan | $108K | -35% | 550 |
| Oklahoma | $85K | -49% | 40 |
| Delaware | $83K | -50% | 40 |
| South Dakota | $78K | -53% | 30 |
Showing 1–10 of 39 states
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track physicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lansing-East Lansing numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do physicists make in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
The median is $67,710 a year, that works out to about $33 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $67,710, and experienced physicists can clear $135,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $68K enough to live in Lansing-East Lansing?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,429/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,268/month, which eats 28.6% 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 Lansing-East Lansing?
Lansing-East Lansing has a Regional Price Parity of 94.99 (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 $71,281 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.