Physicists Salary
The median pay for a physicists in Ohio is $162,900/year ($78.32/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $65K at the entry level to $239K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 91.45), which stretches that salary to about $178,130 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,188/month, or 12% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Ohio. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $163K get you in Ohio?
About physicists
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What this looks like in Ohio
Physicists pay in Ohio tracks closely to the national median, $163K locally vs. $172K nationwide, a 5% difference. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,188/month, 12.1% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 91.45 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 9% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Ohio
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $65K. Mid-career wages sit at $163K. Top earners bring in $239K or more, a $175K spread from bottom to top.
Physicists salary by metro in Ohio
4 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $239K | +47% | 240 |
| Columbus | $170K | +5% | 70 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $151K | -7% | 130 |
| Cincinnati | $142K | -13% | 60 |
Compare to other states
Track physicists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Ohio numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a physicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Ohio?
Yes — at the median salary of $163K, rent takes 12.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,188/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicists in Ohio?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicists typically earn — is $65K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,892/month. At HUD’s $1,188/month FMR, rent would take 31% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is physicist a high-paying job in Ohio?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $163K locally vs. $172K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Ohio compare to the national average for physicists?
Ohio pays $163K median vs. the U.S. average of $172K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 91.45), the purchasing-power equivalent is $178K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do physicists make in Ohio?
The median is $162,900 a year, that works out to about $78 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $64,860, and experienced physicists can clear $239,360. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $163K enough to live in Ohio?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $9,819/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,188/month, which eats 12.1% 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 Ohio?
Ohio has a Regional Price Parity of 91.45 (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 $178,130 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.