How much does a physicist make in Sacramento?
$120,500a year
Median yearly pay for physicists in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area. That is $57.93 an hour or $10,040 a month.
- Hourly
- $57.93
- Vs. national median
- -30%
- Rank among cities
- 50 of 60
- Jobs in the area
- 100
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $66,510Median: $120,500Highest 10%: $225,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $66,510 | $31.98 | |
| 25th | $91,990 | $44.23 | |
| Median | $120,500 | $57.93 | |
| 75th | $140,500 | $67.53 | |
| 90th | $225,800 | $108.55 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for physicists.
| San Jose, CA | $173,500 |
| Riverside, CA | $164,000 |
| Oxnard, CA | $163,200 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $160,300 |
| San Diego, CA | $156,500 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $135,300 |
Related jobs in Sacramento
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Psychologist | $166,500 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $153,100 |
| Medical Scientist | $137,600 |
| School Psychologist | $131,900 |
| Geoscientist | $120,000 |
| Microbiologist | $112,500 |
| Epidemiologist | $112,000 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist | $108,400 |
| Forester | $107,800 |
| Hydrologist | $106,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make an hour in Sacramento?
The median hourly pay in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $57.93 ($120,500 a year).
Do physicists make more in Sacramento than the national average?
No: $120,500 against $172,300 nationally, 30% less.
How does Sacramento compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $207,500, so Sacramento pays 42% less.
Where does Sacramento rank for physicist pay?
50 of 60 metro areas with data.
How much does a physicist make starting out in Sacramento?
The lowest-paid 10% make $66,510 or less a year; the top 10% make $225,800 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.