Average Salary for Physicists
SOC 19-2012 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Physicists in the United States is $166,290 ($79.95/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. An estimated 21,340 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 51.7% since 2014.
Median Annual
$166,290
Mean Annual
$166,000
10th Pct
$80,020
75th Pct
$210,260
Employment
21,340
Salary Distribution
$80k
10th
$117k
25th
$166k
Median
$210k
75th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | $226,750 |
| Cleveland, OH | $225,930 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $219,070 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $215,340 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $214,520 |
| Richmond, VA | $212,950 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $212,050 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $211,600 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $206,070 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $202,610 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | $196,680 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $188,400 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | $180,450 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $177,490 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $175,220 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | $222,550 |
| Florida | $209,020 |
| Pennsylvania | $208,470 |
| Arizona | $190,960 |
| Oregon | $183,860 |
| California | $180,900 |
| Missouri | $180,450 |
| New Hampshire | $179,440 |
| New Mexico | $175,960 |
| New York | $174,160 |
| Wisconsin | $174,010 |
| Tennessee | $173,660 |
| Connecticut | $171,630 |
| North Carolina | $170,690 |
| Texas | $170,450 |
| Kentucky | $168,660 |
| New Jersey | $168,610 |
| Virginia | $164,180 |
| Maryland | $163,950 |
| Massachusetts | $153,890 |
| District of Columbia | $153,340 |
| Colorado | $144,670 |
| Ohio | $135,550 |
| Utah | $133,900 |
| Idaho | $132,060 |
| Arkansas | $131,880 |
| Georgia | $131,500 |
| Illinois | $131,260 |
| South Carolina | $131,100 |
| Iowa | $120,810 |
| Mississippi | $120,640 |
| Washington | $120,080 |
| Nevada | $116,080 |
| Alabama | $114,690 |
| Maine | $114,610 |
| Indiana | $110,410 |
| Michigan | $107,640 |
| Oklahoma | $84,570 |
| Delaware | $82,780 |
| South Dakota | $78,390 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Physicists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | $236,130 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $225,930 |
| Offices of Physicians | $225,930 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $225,930 |
| Hospitals | $222,390 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $221,230 |
| Employment Services | $219,760 |
| Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers | $212,960 |
| Outpatient Care Centers | $211,990 |
| Wholesale Trade | $206,320 |
| Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods | $206,320 |
| Temporary Help Services | $191,350 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $191,350 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $171,070 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $171,070 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $170,480 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $170,480 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $170,480 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $169,810 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $167,980 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $167,980 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $166,290 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $166,290 |
| Manufacturing | $163,680 |
| Engineering Services | $158,490 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $155,980 |
| Machinery Manufacturing | $151,850 |
| Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) | $148,490 |
| Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $143,170 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $143,170 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $143,110 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | $136,780 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $135,820 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $135,820 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $133,000 |
| Testing Laboratories and Services | $131,500 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $127,690 |
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | $120,680 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $109,250 |
| Educational Services | $109,250 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $107,780 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $104,260 |
| Educational Services | $104,260 |
| Utilities | $104,200 |
| Utilities | $104,200 |
| Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution | $104,200 |
| Nuclear Electric Power Generation | $104,200 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $102,610 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $82,720 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $166,290 |
| 2023 | $155,680 |
| 2022 | $142,850 |
| 2021 | $152,430 |
| 2020 | $129,850 |
| 2019 | $122,850 |
| 2018 | $120,950 |
| 2017 | $118,830 |
| 2016 | $115,870 |
| 2015 | $111,580 |
| 2014 | $109,600 |