Physicists Salary in U.S. (2024)
The median pay for a physicists in U.S. is $166,290/year ($79.95/hour), per BLS data. Entry-level workers start around $80K. (BLS did not publish a top-end figure for this area.)
Updated
AffordMap analysis of BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2024
So what does $166K get you in U.S.?
About physicists
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, U.S.
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $80K. Mid-career wages sit at $166K.BLS did not publish 90th percentile data for this occupation in this area (sample size too small).
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 |
Track physicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when U.S. numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
How much do physicists make in U.S.?
The median is $166,290 a year - that works out to about $79.95 an hour. The range is wide: entry-level workers start around $80,020. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $166K enough to live in U.S.?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $10,368/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,412/month, which eats 13.6% 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 U.S.?
U.S. has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physicists salary is worth about $166,290 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.