How much does a physical scientist make in Los Angeles?
$136,200a year
Median yearly pay for physical scientists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $65.46 an hour or $11,350 a month.
- Hourly
- $65.46
- Vs. national median
- +11%
- Rank among cities
- 18 of 68
- Jobs in the area
- 820
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $79,280Median: $136,200Highest 10%: $238,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,280 | $38.12 | |
| 25th | $93,920 | $45.15 | |
| Median | $136,200 | $65.46 | |
| 75th | $180,300 | $86.69 | |
| 90th | $238,300 | $114.57 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for physical scientists.
| San Jose, CA | $160,600 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $137,300 |
| San Diego, CA | $132,400 |
| Oxnard, CA | $131,600 |
| San Francisco, CA | $128,700 |
| Sacramento, CA | $101,100 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physicist | $160,300 |
| Psychologist | $153,600 |
| Economist | $151,500 |
| Materials Scientist | $150,000 |
| Medical Scientist | $134,900 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $131,700 |
| Sociologist | $124,500 |
| Hydrologist | $123,400 |
| School Psychologist | $122,400 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $111,800 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physical scientist make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $65.46 ($136,200 a year).
Do physical scientists make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
Yes: $136,200 against $122,600 nationally, 11% more.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $130,600, so Los Angeles pays 4% more.
Where does Los Angeles rank for physical scientist pay?
18 of 68 metro areas with data.
How much does a physical scientist make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $79,280 or less a year; the top 10% make $238,300 or more.
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.