How much does a physicist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $82.81 an hour or $14,350 a month.
- Hourly
- $82.81
- Average (mean)
- $171,200
- Jobs
- 20,430
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $82,110 | $39.48 | |
| 25th | $111,700 | $53.71 | |
| Median | $172,300 | $82.81 | |
| 75th | $222,800 | $107.10 | |
| 90th | $274,100 | $131.78 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Florida | $225,400 |
| New Hampshire | $214,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $211,000 |
| California | $207,500 |
| Oregon | $200,300 |
| Oklahoma | $200,100 |
| Texas | $184,000 |
| New York | $182,000 |
| Kentucky | $180,900 |
| Connecticut | $180,300 |
| Iowa | $178,100 |
| Maryland | $174,400 |
| North Carolina | $174,200 |
| Wisconsin | $173,100 |
| Minnesota | $171,200 |
| Louisiana | $166,200 |
| New Mexico | $165,300 |
| Tennessee | $165,000 |
| New Jersey | $163,300 |
| Ohio | $162,900 |
| District of Columbia | $157,000 |
| Utah | $156,800 |
| Rhode Island | $155,200 |
| Nevada | $154,000 |
| Virginia | $145,000 |
| Georgia | $144,900 |
| Missouri | $140,500 |
| Alabama | $139,300 |
| South Carolina | $138,400 |
| Illinois | $137,100 |
| Arkansas | $135,800 |
| Idaho | $135,200 |
| Washington | $134,800 |
| Arizona | $130,500 |
| Mississippi | $130,000 |
| Hawaii | $117,200 |
| Massachusetts | $106,400 |
| Indiana | $105,900 |
| Colorado | $104,600 |
| Montana | $103,800 |
| Michigan | $94,520 |
| South Dakota | $83,050 |
| Delaware | $82,590 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| Miami, FL | $272,500 |
| Tampa, FL | $266,300 |
| Cleveland, OH | $239,400 |
| Nashville, TN | $236,900 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $224,200 |
| Richmond, VA | $218,300 |
| Houston, TX | $199,800 |
| Detroit, MI | $199,200 |
| San Antonio, TX | $194,300 |
| New York, NY | $182,000 |
| Des Moines, IA | $178,100 |
| Buffalo, NY | $175,100 |
| San Jose, CA | $173,500 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $173,200 |
| Portland, OR | $172,100 |
In other countries
Physicist belongs to the international group "Physicists and astronomers".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Astronomer$128,800
- 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
- Physical Scientist$122,600
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $82.81 ($172,300 a year).
How much does a physicist make a month?
About $14,350 a month before tax, based on a median of $172,300 a year.
How much does a physicist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $82,110 or less a year ($39.48 an hour); the top 10% make $274,100 or more.
Which state pays physicists the most?
Florida, with a median of $225,400 a year, followed by New Hampshire ($214,000) and Pennsylvania ($211,000).
Which city pays physicists the most?
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL, with a median of $272,500 a year.
How many physicists are there in the United States?
About 20,430 people work as physicists.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.