How much does a physicist make in Riverside?
$164,000a year
Median yearly pay for physicists in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area. That is $78.84 an hour or $13,670 a month.
- Hourly
- $78.84
- Vs. national median
- -5%
- Rank among cities
- 24 of 60
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $95,240Median: $164,000Highest 10%: $239,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $95,240 | $45.79 | |
| 25th | $123,100 | $59.17 | |
| Median | $164,000 | $78.84 | |
| 75th | $235,100 | $113.02 | |
| 90th | $239,800 | $115.29 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for physicists.
| San Jose, CA | $173,500 |
| Oxnard, CA | $163,200 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $160,300 |
| San Diego, CA | $156,500 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $135,300 |
| Sacramento, CA | $120,500 |
Related jobs in Riverside
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Psychologist | $148,500 |
| School Psychologist | $139,400 |
| Medical Scientist | $138,400 |
| Materials Scientist | $129,100 |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $108,800 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist | $104,100 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $103,300 |
| Microbiologist | $102,600 |
| Soil and Plant Scientist | $94,900 |
| Biological Scientist | $94,810 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make an hour in Riverside?
The median hourly pay in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area is $78.84 ($164,000 a year).
Do physicists make more in Riverside than the national average?
No: $164,000 against $172,300 nationally, 5% less.
How does Riverside compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $207,500, so Riverside pays 21% less.
Where does Riverside rank for physicist pay?
24 of 60 metro areas with data.
How much does a physicist make starting out in Riverside?
The lowest-paid 10% make $95,240 or less a year; the top 10% make $239,800 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.