Median Salary
$172,250
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$82.81
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$274,110
entry level starts ~$82,110
Pay Grade
A+
elite pay · 20,000 employed
How much does a Physicist make?
A Physicist earns a median annual salary of $172,250 in the United States, which works out to roughly $82.81 per hour for full-time work. Most Physicists earn between $82,110 at the entry level and $274,110 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $111,720 and $222,760 a year.
That is $110,860 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Physicist salary range by percentile
Half of all Physicists earn between $111,720 and $222,760 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $82,110 | $39.48 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $111,720 | $53.71 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $172,250 | $82.81 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $222,760 | $107.10 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $274,110 | $131.78 |
|
Highest-paying states for Physicist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Florida leads the country for Physicist pay at $225,390 a year, followed by New Hampshire ($214,030) and Pennsylvania ($210,990). At the other end, Delaware posts the lowest median at $82,590 — a gap of $142,800 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Physicist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 43 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $105,940Colorado $104,580Montana $103,800Michigan $94,520South Dakota $83,050Delaware $82,590
Workforce and education
About 20,000 people work as Physicists in the United States. On qualifications: a doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physicist make in the United States?
The median Physicist salary in the United States is $172,250 per year, or about $82.81 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $82,110, while the top 10% of earners make $274,110 or more.
How does Physicist pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A+ (elite pay), the Physicist median of $172,250 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Physicists the most?
Florida is the highest-paying state for Physicists, with a median salary of $225,390 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Physicist?
Becoming a Physicist typically requires 8 or more years of higher education. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
How many Physicists work in the United States?
About 20,000 people were employed as Physicists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
Related salaries
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.