How much does a physicist make in Columbus?
$170,400a year
Median yearly pay for physicists in the Columbus, OH metro area. That is $81.92 an hour or $14,200 a month.
- Hourly
- $81.92
- Vs. national median
- -1%
- Rank among cities
- 18 of 60
- Jobs in the area
- 70
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $62,090Median: $170,400Highest 10%: $271,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $62,090 | $29.85 | |
| 25th | $106,800 | $51.36 | |
| Median | $170,400 | $81.92 | |
| 75th | $218,500 | $105.06 | |
| 90th | $271,800 | $130.69 |
Other cities in Ohio
Median yearly pay for physicists.
| Cleveland, OH | $239,400 |
| Dayton, OH | $151,100 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $142,200 |
Related jobs in Columbus
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Psychologist | $127,100 |
| Materials Scientist | $104,400 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $104,400 |
| School Psychologist | $100,700 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialist | $98,920 |
| Hydrologist | $98,200 |
| Chemist | $94,170 |
| Medical Scientist | $84,300 |
| Geoscientist | $84,140 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $83,100 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make an hour in Columbus?
The median hourly pay in the Columbus, OH metro area is $81.92 ($170,400 a year).
Do physicists make more in Columbus than the national average?
No: $170,400 against $172,300 nationally, 1% less.
How does Columbus compare with the rest of Ohio?
The median in Ohio is $162,900, so Columbus pays 5% more.
Where does Columbus rank for physicist pay?
18 of 60 metro areas with data.
How much does a physicist make starting out in Columbus?
The lowest-paid 10% make $62,090 or less a year; the top 10% make $271,800 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.