How much does a physicist make in Los Angeles?
$160,300a year
Median yearly pay for physicists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area. That is $77.05 an hour or $13,360 a month.
- Hourly
- $77.05
- Vs. national median
- -7%
- Rank among cities
- 26 of 60
- Jobs in the area
- 550
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $88,000Median: $160,300Highest 10%: $275,600
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $88,000 | $42.31 | |
| 25th | $114,100 | $54.84 | |
| Median | $160,300 | $77.05 | |
| 75th | $203,400 | $97.80 | |
| 90th | $275,600 | $132.48 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for physicists.
| San Jose, CA | $173,500 |
| Riverside, CA | $164,000 |
| Oxnard, CA | $163,200 |
| San Diego, CA | $156,500 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $135,300 |
| Sacramento, CA | $120,500 |
Related jobs in Los Angeles
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Psychologist | $153,600 |
| Economist | $151,500 |
| Materials Scientist | $150,000 |
| Physical Scientist | $136,200 |
| 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 physicist make an hour in Los Angeles?
The median hourly pay in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $77.05 ($160,300 a year).
Do physicists make more in Los Angeles than the national average?
No: $160,300 against $172,300 nationally, 7% less.
How does Los Angeles compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $207,500, so Los Angeles pays 23% less.
Where does Los Angeles rank for physicist pay?
26 of 60 metro areas with data.
How much does a physicist make starting out in Los Angeles?
The lowest-paid 10% make $88,000 or less a year; the top 10% make $275,600 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.