Physicists Salary
The median pay for a physicists in Missouri is $140,460/year ($67.53/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $277K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.97), which stretches that salary to about $157,873 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,097/month, or 12.9% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Missouri. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $140K get you in Missouri?
About physicists
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What this looks like in Missouri
Pay for physicists in Missouri runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $172K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,097/month, 13.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 11% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Lower pay, lower costs, Missouri can be a reasonable trade-off for physicistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Missouri
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $140K. Top earners bring in $277K or more, a $206K spread from bottom to top.
Physicists salary by metro in Missouri
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | $141K | +1% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track physicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Missouri numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Missouri?
Yes — at the median salary of $140K, rent takes 13.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,097/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicists in Missouri?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicists typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,233/month. At HUD’s $1,097/month FMR, rent would take 26% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physicist a high-paying job in Missouri?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $140K here vs. $172K nationally. Cost of living is 11% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Missouri compare to the national average for physicists?
Missouri pays $140K median vs. the U.S. average of $172K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $158K — below the national median.
How much do physicists make in Missouri?
The median is $140,460 a year, that works out to about $68 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,550, and experienced physicists can clear $276,590. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $140K enough to live in Missouri?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,402/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,097/month, which eats 13.1% 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 Missouri?
Missouri has a Regional Price Parity of 88.97 (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 $157,873 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.