Colorado Median
$104,580
per year
Hourly Rate
$50.28
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-39% vs US median
US median $172,250
State Rank
#39 of 43
1,050 employed here
How much does a Physicist make in Colorado?
A Physicist working in Colorado earns a median salary of $104,580 per year, or about $50.28 per hour. That is 39% below the national median of $172,250 for this occupation.
Within Colorado, entry-level pay starts around $82,340 while the top 10% make $210,950 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $82,340 and $168,240 a year.
Physicist salary range in Colorado
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,340 | $39.59 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $82,340 | $39.59 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $104,580 | $50.28 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $168,240 | $80.88 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $210,950 | $101.42 |
|
How Colorado compares
Colorado ranks 39th out of 43 states and territories for Physicist pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Physicist salary in other states
Florida $225,390New Hampshire $214,030Pennsylvania $210,990California $207,490Oregon $200,320Oklahoma $200,050Texas $184,040New York $181,970Kentucky $180,910Connecticut $180,300Iowa $178,110Maryland $174,390North Carolina $174,180Wisconsin $173,120Minnesota $171,220Louisiana $166,240New Mexico $165,340Tennessee $165,010New Jersey $163,270Ohio $162,900District of Columbia $157,040Utah $156,760Rhode Island $155,150Nevada $154,030Virginia $145,040Georgia $144,870Missouri $140,460Alabama $139,330South Carolina $138,400Illinois $137,140Arkansas $135,820Idaho $135,150Washington $134,790Arizona $130,500Mississippi $129,970Hawaii $117,190Massachusetts $106,410Indiana $105,940Montana $103,800Michigan $94,520South Dakota $83,050Delaware $82,590
Working as a Physicist in Colorado
Nationally, about 20,000 people work as Physicists in the United States. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
Considering a move? Compare Colorado pay ($104,580) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physicist make in Colorado?
The median Physicist salary in Colorado is $104,580 per year, or about $50.28 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $82,340 at the entry level to $210,950 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Colorado pay compare to the national average?
Colorado pays Physicists about 39% less than the national median of $172,250. Colorado ranks 39th out of 43 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Colorado a good state for Physicists?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $104,580 a year. About 1,050 Physicists are employed in Colorado. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Colorado?
The highest-paying occupations in Colorado include Orthodontist ($416,000), Dermatologist ($398,810), Orthopedic Surgeon, Except Pediatric ($385,410), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Physicist salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.