How much does a physicist make in Boston?
$106,000a year
Median yearly pay for physicists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. That is $50.96 an hour or $8,833 a month.
- Hourly
- $50.96
- Vs. national median
- -38%
- Rank among cities
- 55 of 60
- Jobs in the area
- 1,060
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $82,050Median: $106,000Highest 10%: $213,200
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $82,050 | $39.45 | |
| 25th | $82,070 | $39.46 | |
| Median | $106,000 | $50.96 | |
| 75th | $170,200 | $81.82 | |
| 90th | $213,200 | $102.48 |
Other cities in Massachusetts
Median yearly pay for physicists.
| Providence, RI | $155,200 |
Related jobs in Boston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physical Scientist | $137,100 |
| Political Scientist | $133,900 |
| Materials Scientist | $132,600 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $131,600 |
| Medical Scientist | $129,500 |
| Chemist | $127,300 |
| Microbiologist | $122,400 |
| Historian | $121,700 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $121,300 |
| Anthropologist and Archeologist | $117,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make an hour in Boston?
The median hourly pay in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $50.96 ($106,000 a year).
Do physicists make more in Boston than the national average?
No: $106,000 against $172,300 nationally, 38% less.
How does Boston compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
The median in Massachusetts is $106,400, so Boston pays 0% more.
Where does Boston rank for physicist pay?
55 of 60 metro areas with data.
How much does a physicist make starting out in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $82,050 or less a year; the top 10% make $213,200 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.