19 Series · SOC 19-2012
Physicists Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $172,250
- Median / year
- $274,110
- Top 10% earn
- +4%
- Growth '23–'33
- 20,430
- US workers
Physicists earn a median of $172,250 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $172,250, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $82,110 (10th percentile) to $274,110 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 20,430 US workers. Florida pays the most ($225,390), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Physicists earn a median of $172,250, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 97% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #2 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2033.
- $172,250
- Median annual wage
- Top 3%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #2 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 3.3×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: Florida at $225,390. Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
Physicists (SOC 19-2012) pays a national median of $172,250 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $82,110 at the 10th percentile to $274,110 at the 90th, with a mean of $171,180 indicating a compressed distribution clustered near the median. An estimated 20,430 Americans work in this occupation across 43 reporting states and 63 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +4% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as about average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 1,700 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Doctoral or professional degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Florida pays the highest state median at $225,390, which is +31% above the national figure. The top metro is Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL at $272,480 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$172,250
per year
Median Hourly
$82.81/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$171,180
average
Employment
20,430
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Physicists pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$172,250 Top 3% higher than 97% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Physicists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 24 19-series occupations with growth data, Physicists sits on the slower-growing side at +4% growth and $172,250 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+4%
About average
Annual Openings
1,700
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Career Intelligence
Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Physicists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.
Top Skills
Knowledge Areas
Key Tasks
- ▸ Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- ▸ Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- ▸ Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- ▸ Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- ▸ Write research proposals to receive funding.
- ▸ Teach physics to students.
- ▸ Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
- ▸ Observe the structure and properties of matter, and the transformation and propagation of energy, using equipment such as masers, lasers, and telescopes, to explore and identify the basic principles governing these phenomena.
- ▸ Develop theories and laws on the basis of observation and experiments, and apply these theories and laws to problems in areas such as nuclear energy, optics, and aerospace technology.
- ▸ Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.
Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$82,110
25th Percentile
$111,720
Median
$172,250
75th Percentile
$222,760
90th Percentile
$274,110
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
View all 43 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | $225,390 | +31% above national |
| 2 | New Hampshire | $214,030 | +24% above national |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $210,990 | +22% above national |
| 4 | California | $207,490 | +20% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $200,320 | +16% above national |
| 6 | Oklahoma | $200,050 | +16% above national |
| 7 | Texas | $184,040 | +7% above national |
| 8 | New York | $181,970 | +6% above national |
| 9 | Kentucky | $180,910 | +5% above national |
| 10 | Connecticut | $180,300 | +5% above national |
| 11 | Iowa | $178,110 | +3% above national |
| 12 | Maryland | $174,390 | +1% above national |
| 13 | North Carolina | $174,180 | +1% above national |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $173,120 | +1% above national |
| 15 | Minnesota | $171,220 | 1% below national |
| 16 | Louisiana | $166,240 | 3% below national |
| 17 | New Mexico | $165,340 | 4% below national |
| 18 | Tennessee | $165,010 | 4% below national |
| 19 | New Jersey | $163,270 | 5% below national |
| 20 | Ohio | $162,900 | 5% below national |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $157,040 | 9% below national |
| 22 | Utah | $156,760 | 9% below national |
| 23 | Rhode Island | $155,150 | 10% below national |
| 24 | Nevada | $154,030 | 11% below national |
| 25 | Virginia | $145,040 | 16% below national |
| 26 | Georgia | $144,870 | 16% below national |
| 27 | Missouri | $140,460 | 18% below national |
| 28 | Alabama | $139,330 | 19% below national |
| 29 | South Carolina | $138,400 | 20% below national |
| 30 | Illinois | $137,140 | 20% below national |
| 31 | Arkansas | $135,820 | 21% below national |
| 32 | Idaho | $135,150 | 22% below national |
| 33 | Washington | $134,790 | 22% below national |
| 34 | Arizona | $130,500 | 24% below national |
| 35 | Mississippi | $129,970 | 25% below national |
| 36 | Hawaii | $117,190 | 32% below national |
| 37 | Massachusetts | $106,410 | 38% below national |
| 38 | Indiana | $105,940 | 38% below national |
| 39 | Colorado | $104,580 | 39% below national |
| 40 | Montana | $103,800 | 40% below national |
| 41 | Michigan | $94,520 | 45% below national |
| 42 | South Dakota | $83,050 | 52% below national |
| 43 | Delaware | $82,590 | 52% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 63 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $272,480 | +58% above national |
| 2 | Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | $266,260 | +55% above national |
| 3 | Cleveland, OH | $239,360 | +39% above national |
| 4 | Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $236,920 | +38% above national |
| 5 | Pittsburgh, PA | $224,160 | +30% above national |
| 6 | Richmond, VA | $218,290 | +27% above national |
| 7 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $199,770 | +16% above national |
| 8 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $199,170 | +16% above national |
| 9 | San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $194,290 | +13% above national |
| 10 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $181,970 | +6% above national |
| 11 | Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | $178,110 | +3% above national |
| 12 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $175,060 | +2% above national |
| 13 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $173,450 | +1% above national |
| 14 | Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $173,160 | +1% above national |
| 15 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $172,080 | same as national |
| 16 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $171,580 | same as national |
| 17 | Tucson, AZ | $171,190 | 1% below national |
| 18 | Columbus, OH | $170,400 | 1% below national |
| 19 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $168,450 | 2% below national |
| 20 | Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | $166,140 | 4% below national |
| 21 | Albuquerque, NM | $165,340 | 4% below national |
| 22 | Knoxville, TN | $165,010 | 4% below national |
| 23 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $164,850 | 4% below national |
| 24 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $163,990 | 5% below national |
| 25 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $163,210 | 5% below national |
| 26 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,270 | 7% below national |
| 27 | Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area | $160,090 | 7% below national |
| 28 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $159,240 | 8% below national |
| 29 | Colorado Springs, CO | $158,070 | 8% below national |
| 30 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $156,750 | 9% below national |
| 31 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $156,480 | 9% below national |
| 32 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $155,150 | 10% below national |
| 33 | Worcester, MA | $153,990 | 11% below national |
| 34 | Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | $151,050 | 12% below national |
| 35 | Huntsville, AL | $149,990 | 13% below national |
| 36 | Charlottesville, VA | $148,950 | 14% below national |
| 37 | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | $146,350 | 15% below national |
| 38 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $144,870 | 16% below national |
| 39 | Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $142,180 | 17% below national |
| 40 | Kansas City, MO-KS | $141,200 | 18% below national |
| 41 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $140,370 | 19% below national |
| 42 | Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $139,810 | 19% below national |
| 43 | Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $138,740 | 19% below national |
| 44 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $137,140 | 20% below national |
| 45 | Madison, WI | $136,450 | 21% below national |
| 46 | Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $135,260 | 21% below national |
| 47 | Idaho Falls, ID | $135,150 | 22% below national |
| 48 | Trenton-Princeton, NJ | $135,030 | 22% below national |
| 49 | Lexington Park, MD | $132,770 | 23% below national |
| 50 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $130,500 | 24% below national |
| 51 | Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $128,040 | 26% below national |
| 52 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $120,490 | 30% below national |
| 53 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $117,190 | 32% below national |
| 54 | Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | $117,170 | 32% below national |
| 55 | Las Cruces, NM | $112,400 | 35% below national |
| 56 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $110,930 | 36% below national |
| 57 | Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $107,340 | 38% below national |
| 58 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $106,000 | 38% below national |
| 59 | Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | $105,940 | 38% below national |
| 60 | Boulder, CO | $104,580 | 39% below national |
| 61 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $71,580 | 58% below national |
| 62 | Ann Arbor, MI | $64,380 | 63% below national |
| 63 | Portland-South Portland, ME | $57,780 | 66% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Physicists make? ▼
What state pays Physicists the most? ▼
What education do you need to become a Physicists? ▼
How dangerous is being a Physicists? ▼
Is Physicists a good career? ▼
How does Physicists pay vary by state? ▼
Which metro areas pay the most for Physicists? ▼
What to do with this data
How to use Physicists pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $222,760/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: Florida leads at $225,390/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.