How much does a physicist make in Houston?
$199,800a year
Median yearly pay for physicists in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area. That is $96.04 an hour or $16,650 a month.
- Hourly
- $96.04
- Vs. national median
- +16%
- Rank among cities
- 7 of 60
- Jobs in the area
- 140
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $79,270Median: $199,800Highest 10%: $290,000
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,270 | $38.11 | |
| 25th | $108,900 | $52.33 | |
| Median | $199,800 | $96.04 | |
| 75th | $271,500 | $130.50 | |
| 90th | $290,000 | $139.40 |
Other cities in Texas
Median yearly pay for physicists.
| San Antonio, TX | $194,300 |
| Dallas, TX | $156,800 |
| Austin, TX | $107,300 |
Related jobs in Houston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Geoscientist | $174,500 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $108,400 |
| Chemist | $106,700 |
| Hydrologist | $99,320 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $98,190 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist | $95,170 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $94,320 |
| Physical Scientist | $91,430 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientist | $88,570 |
| Food Scientist and Technologist | $88,210 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make an hour in Houston?
The median hourly pay in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area is $96.04 ($199,800 a year).
Do physicists make more in Houston than the national average?
Yes: $199,800 against $172,300 nationally, 16% more.
How does Houston compare with the rest of Texas?
The median in Texas is $184,000, so Houston pays 9% more.
Where does Houston rank for physicist pay?
7 of 60 metro areas with data.
How much does a physicist make starting out in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $79,270 or less a year; the top 10% make $290,000 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.