Physicists Salary
The median pay for a physicists in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ is $130,500/year ($62.74/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $110K at the entry level to $257K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 103.32), that's roughly $126,307 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,839/month, or 22.7% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $131K get you in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler’s Regional Price Parity (103.32). 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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What this looks like in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler
Pay for physicists in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler runs about 24% below the U.S. median of $172K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,839/month, 22.8% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 103.32) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler can be a reasonable trade-off for physicistss who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for physicists in metros near Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Tucson | $171K | $177K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $164K | $154K |
| Boulder | $105K | , |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $160K | $141K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
Entry-level physicists (10th percentile) start around $110K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $257K or more, a $146K spread from bottom to top.
Physicists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Physicists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $225K | +31% | 340 |
| New Hampshire | $214K | +24% | 30 |
| Pennsylvania | $211K | +22% | 230 |
| California | $207K | +20% | 5,930 |
| Oregon | $200K | +16% | 90 |
| Oklahoma | $200K | +16% | 40 |
| Texas | $184K | +7% | 580 |
| New York | $182K | +6% | 1,140 |
| Kentucky | $181K | +5% | 50 |
| Connecticut | $180K | +5% | 60 |
| Iowa | $178K | +3% | 110 |
| Maryland | $174K | +1% | 1,200 |
| North Carolina | $174K | +1% | 150 |
| Wisconsin | $173K | +1% | 180 |
| Minnesota | $171K | -1% | 110 |
| Louisiana | $166K | -3% | 40 |
| New Mexico | $165K | -4% | 580 |
| Tennessee | $165K | -4% | 240 |
| New Jersey | $163K | -5% | 470 |
| Ohio | $163K | -5% | 630 |
| District of Columbia | $157K | -9% | 480 |
| Utah | $157K | -9% | 30 |
| Rhode Island | $155K | -10% | N/A |
| Nevada | $154K | -11% | 50 |
| Virginia | $145K | -16% | 940 |
| Georgia | $145K | -16% | 160 |
| Missouri | $140K | -18% | 90 |
| Alabama | $139K | -19% | 280 |
| South Carolina | $138K | -20% | 420 |
| Illinois | $137K | -20% | 1,590 |
| Arkansas | $136K | -21% | 60 |
| Idaho | $135K | -22% | N/A |
| Washington | $135K | -22% | 450 |
| Arizona | $131K | -24% | 120 |
| Mississippi | $130K | -25% | 80 |
| Hawaii | $117K | -32% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $106K | -38% | 1,150 |
| Indiana | $106K | -38% | 230 |
| Colorado | $105K | -39% | 1,050 |
| Montana | $104K | -40% | 30 |
| Michigan | $95K | -45% | 510 |
| South Dakota | $83K | -52% | 30 |
| Delaware | $83K | -52% | 50 |
Showing 1–10 of 43 states with published data
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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a physicist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 22.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,839/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for physicists in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new physicists typically earn — is $110K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $6,626/month. At HUD’s $1,839/month FMR, rent would take 28% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is physicist a high-paying job in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Local pay runs 24% below the national median — $131K here vs. $172K nationally.
How does Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler compare to the national average for physicists?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $172K — that’s -24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 103.32), the purchasing-power equivalent is $126K — below the national median.
How much do physicists make in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ?
The median is $130,500 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $110,430, and experienced physicists can clear $256,600. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $8,057/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,839/month, which eats 22.8% 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 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler?
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler has a Regional Price Parity of 103.32 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median physicists salary is worth about $126,307 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.