Texas Median
$184,040
per year
Hourly Rate
$88.48
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
+7% vs US median
US median $172,250
State Rank
#7 of 43
580 employed here
How much does a Physicist make in Texas?
Physicists in Texas take home a median of $184,040 annually — roughly $88.48 an hour — which runs 7% above the national median of $172,250.
Within Texas, entry-level pay starts around $69,960 while the top 10% make $289,950 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $95,530 and $253,070 a year.
Physicist salary range in Texas
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,960 | $33.63 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $95,530 | $45.93 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $184,040 | $88.48 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $253,070 | $121.67 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $289,950 | $139.40 |
|
How Texas compares
Texas ranks 7th 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 $200,050New 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 $105,940Colorado $104,580Montana $103,800Michigan $94,520South Dakota $83,050Delaware $82,590
Working as a Physicist in Texas
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 Texas pay ($184,040) 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 Texas?
The median Physicist salary in Texas is $184,040 per year, or about $88.48 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $69,960 at the entry level to $289,950 for the top 10% of earners.
How does Texas pay compare to the national average?
Texas pays Physicists about 7% more than the national median of $172,250. Texas ranks 7th out of 43 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is Texas a good state for Physicists?
Yes on pay — Texas pays above the national median for this occupation, at $184,040 a year. About 580 Physicists are employed in Texas. Weigh that against local housing and living costs before moving.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Texas?
The highest-paying occupations in Texas include Cardiologist ($410,150), Neurologist ($360,640), Physician, Pathologists ($345,830), 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.