The average salary for a physicist in the United States is around $126,312 per year.
Avg Salary
Physicists earn an average yearly salary of $126,312.
Wages typically start from $65,679 and go up to $242,918.
118% above national average Updated in 2023
Physicist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level physicist earnings begin at:
$116.79 per hour
$242,918 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level physicist earnings begin at:
$85.68 per hour
$178,206 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level physicist earnings begin at:
$60.73 per hour
$126,312 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level physicist earnings begin at:
$43.04 per hour
$89,529 per year
10th percentile
Starting level physicist earnings begin at:
$31.58 per hour
$65,679 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Physicist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $99,830 |
| Delaware | $80,830 |
| Iowa | $79,500 |
| Vermont | $79,110 |
| Pennsylvania | $201,200 |
| Kansas | $193,110 |
| Arizona | $172,940 |
| Oklahoma | $170,280 |
| New York | $167,720 |
| California | $164,930 |
| Connecticut | $164,000 |
| Missouri | $163,980 |
| Colorado | $160,450 |
| Texas | $159,050 |
| Massachusetts | $153,310 |
| New Mexico | $148,620 |
| Florida | $142,480 |
| Utah | $138,100 |
| New Jersey | $136,610 |
| Illinois | $136,600 |
| Minnesota | $136,600 |
| Wisconsin | $136,600 |
| Maryland | $135,430 |
| District of Columbia | $131,870 |
| Rhode Island | $131,750 |
| Ohio | $130,760 |
| Virginia | $129,360 |
| North Carolina | $128,420 |
| Louisiana | $127,630 |
| Tennessee | $125,340 |
| Indiana | $119,770 |
| South Carolina | $119,770 |
| Washington | $110,970 |
| Georgia | $106,770 |
| Oregon | $106,680 |
| Maine | $106,020 |
| Mississippi | $104,250 |
| New Hampshire | $104,000 |
| Idaho | $102,870 |
| Michigan | $101,750 |
| Hawaii | $100,570 |
| Arkansas | $100,110 |
| Kentucky | $100,110 |
How do physicist salaries compare to similar careers?
Physicists earn 10% more than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than neuropsychologists but more than biostatisticians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Neuropsychologist salary | $115K |
| Physicist salary | $126K |
| Nanotechnology engineer salary | $120K |
| Biochemical engineer salary | $116K |
| Nanosystems engineer salary | $112K |
| Biostatistician salary | $102K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)