How much does a physical scientist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $58.93 an hour or $10,210 a month.
- Hourly
- $58.93
- Average (mean)
- $129,200
- Jobs
- 22,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $67,000 | $32.21 | |
| 25th | $86,620 | $41.64 | |
| Median | $122,600 | $58.93 | |
| 75th | $161,900 | $77.83 | |
| 90th | $195,200 | $93.84 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| District of Columbia | $156,700 |
| Minnesota | $147,900 |
| North Dakota | $147,700 |
| Maryland | $141,300 |
| South Carolina | $141,100 |
| Massachusetts | $138,400 |
| Georgia | $137,700 |
| Alabama | $135,400 |
| Pennsylvania | $134,800 |
| Colorado | $134,400 |
| Washington | $134,000 |
| Florida | $131,700 |
| California | $130,600 |
| Tennessee | $129,600 |
| Arizona | $125,300 |
| New Mexico | $123,800 |
| Alaska | $120,200 |
| Michigan | $118,900 |
| New York | $117,800 |
| Utah | $115,900 |
| Hawaii | $112,900 |
| New Hampshire | $112,400 |
| Oklahoma | $112,300 |
| North Carolina | $110,000 |
| New Jersey | $110,000 |
| Oregon | $109,600 |
| Illinois | $109,000 |
| Mississippi | $108,900 |
| Ohio | $108,800 |
| Nebraska | $101,400 |
| Texas | $100,900 |
| Connecticut | $99,990 |
| Wisconsin | $97,470 |
| Montana | $94,520 |
| Louisiana | $94,320 |
| Kentucky | $81,260 |
| Iowa | $80,810 |
| Wyoming | $69,240 |
| Indiana | $68,670 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Providence, RI | $180,500 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $176,400 |
| Washington, DC | $171,000 |
| San Jose, CA | $160,600 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $157,700 |
| Augusta, GA | $149,600 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $144,600 |
| Huntsville, AL | $142,700 |
| Dayton, OH | $142,100 |
| Boulder, CO | $141,300 |
| Denver, CO | $141,000 |
| New York, NY | $139,600 |
| Atlanta, GA | $137,700 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $137,300 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $137,200 |
Similar jobs
- Astronomer$128,800
- Physicist$172,300
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist$99,070
- Chemist$91,240
- Materials Scientist$117,800
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist$82,220
- Geoscientist$101,900
- Hydrologist$96,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical scientist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $58.93 ($122,600 a year).
How much does a physical scientist make a month?
About $10,210 a month before tax, based on a median of $122,600 a year.
How much does a physical scientist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $67,000 or less a year ($32.21 an hour); the top 10% make $195,200 or more.
Which state pays physical scientists the most?
District of Columbia, with a median of $156,700 a year, followed by Minnesota ($147,900) and North Dakota ($147,700).
Which city pays physical scientists the most?
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA, with a median of $180,500 a year.
How many physical scientists are there in the United States?
About 22,300 people work as physical scientists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.