Physicists salary by location
National median: $172,250 (2025 OEWS). Percentages below describe each area's published median against that national figure.
| Location | Type | Median | vs national | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | metropolitan | $272,480 | +58.2% | 100 | 2025 |
| Tampa, FL | metropolitan | $266,260 | +54.6% | 70 | 2025 |
| Cleveland, OH | metropolitan | $239,360 | +39.0% | 240 | 2025 |
| Nashville, TN | metropolitan | $236,920 | +37.5% | — | 2025 |
| FL | state | $225,390 | +30.9% | 340 | 2025 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | metropolitan | $224,160 | +30.1% | 80 | 2025 |
| Richmond, VA | metropolitan | $218,290 | +26.7% | 40 | 2025 |
| NH | state | $214,030 | +24.3% | 30 | 2025 |
| PA | state | $210,990 | +22.5% | 230 | 2025 |
| CA | state | $207,490 | +20.5% | 5,930 | 2025 |
| OR | state | $200,320 | +16.3% | 90 | 2025 |
| OK | state | $200,050 | +16.1% | 40 | 2025 |
| Houston, TX | metropolitan | $199,770 | +16.0% | 140 | 2025 |
| Detroit, MI | metropolitan | $199,170 | +15.6% | 140 | 2025 |
| San Antonio, TX | metropolitan | $194,290 | +12.8% | 100 | 2025 |
| TX | state | $184,040 | +6.8% | 580 | 2025 |
| NY | state | $181,970 | +5.6% | 1,140 | 2025 |
| New York, NY | metropolitan | $181,970 | +5.6% | 1,070 | 2025 |
| KY | state | $180,910 | +5.0% | 50 | 2025 |
| CT | state | $180,300 | +4.7% | 60 | 2025 |
| IA | state | $178,110 | +3.4% | 110 | 2025 |
| Des Moines, IA | metropolitan | $178,110 | +3.4% | 50 | 2025 |
| Buffalo, NY | metropolitan | $175,060 | +1.6% | 40 | 2025 |
| MD | state | $174,390 | +1.2% | 1,200 | 2025 |
| NC | state | $174,180 | +1.1% | 150 | 2025 |
| San Jose, CA | metropolitan | $173,450 | +0.7% | 440 | 2025 |
| Milwaukee, WI | metropolitan | $173,160 | +0.5% | 50 | 2025 |
| WI | state | $173,120 | +0.5% | 180 | 2025 |
| Portland, OR | metropolitan | $172,080 | −0.1% | 50 | 2025 |
| Washington, DC | metropolitan | $171,580 | −0.4% | 1,520 | 2025 |
| MN | state | $171,220 | −0.6% | 110 | 2025 |
| Tucson, AZ | metropolitan | $171,190 | −0.6% | 30 | 2025 |
| Columbus, OH | metropolitan | $170,400 | −1.1% | 70 | 2025 |
| Minneapolis, MN | metropolitan | $168,450 | −2.2% | 80 | 2025 |
| LA | state | $166,240 | −3.5% | 40 | 2025 |
| Denver, CO | metropolitan | $166,140 | −3.5% | 120 | 2025 |
| NM | state | $165,340 | −4.0% | 580 | 2025 |
| Albuquerque, NM | metropolitan | $165,340 | −4.0% | 330 | 2025 |
| Knoxville, TN | metropolitan | $165,010 | −4.2% | 120 | 2025 |
| TN | state | $165,010 | −4.2% | 240 | 2025 |
| Philadelphia, PA | metropolitan | $164,850 | −4.3% | 150 | 2025 |
| Riverside, CA | metropolitan | $163,990 | −4.8% | — | 2025 |
| NJ | state | $163,270 | −5.2% | 470 | 2025 |
| Oxnard, CA | metropolitan | $163,210 | −5.2% | 50 | 2025 |
| OH | state | $162,900 | −5.4% | 630 | 2025 |
| Los Angeles, CA | metropolitan | $160,270 | −7.0% | 550 | 2025 |
| Albany, NY | metropolitan | $159,240 | −7.6% | 50 | 2025 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | metropolitan | $158,070 | −8.2% | 40 | 2025 |
| DC | state | $157,040 | −8.8% | 480 | 2025 |
| UT | state | $156,760 | −9.0% | 30 | 2025 |
| Dallas, TX | metropolitan | $156,750 | −9.0% | 80 | 2025 |
| San Diego, CA | metropolitan | $156,480 | −9.2% | 290 | 2025 |
| RI | state | $155,150 | −9.9% | — | 2025 |
| Providence, RI | metropolitan | $155,150 | −9.9% | — | 2025 |
| NV | state | $154,030 | −10.6% | 50 | 2025 |
| Worcester, MA | metropolitan | $153,990 | −10.6% | 40 | 2025 |
| Dayton, OH | metropolitan | $151,050 | −12.3% | 130 | 2025 |
| Huntsville, AL | metropolitan | $149,990 | −12.9% | 180 | 2025 |
| Charlottesville, VA | metropolitan | $148,950 | −13.5% | 50 | 2025 |
| Palm Bay, FL | metropolitan | $146,350 | −15.0% | 30 | 2025 |
| VA | state | $145,040 | −15.8% | 940 | 2025 |
| GA | state | $144,870 | −15.9% | 160 | 2025 |
| Atlanta, GA | metropolitan | $144,870 | −15.9% | 100 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati, OH | metropolitan | $142,180 | −17.5% | 60 | 2025 |
| Kansas City, MO | metropolitan | $141,200 | −18.0% | 40 | 2025 |
| MO | state | $140,460 | −18.5% | 90 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | metropolitan | $140,370 | −18.5% | 150 | 2025 |
| Memphis, TN | metropolitan | $139,810 | −18.8% | — | 2025 |
| AL | state | $139,330 | −19.1% | 280 | 2025 |
| SC | state | $138,400 | −19.7% | 420 | 2025 |
| IL | state | $137,140 | −20.4% | 1,590 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | metropolitan | $137,140 | −20.4% | 1,510 | 2025 |
| Madison, WI | metropolitan | $136,450 | −20.8% | 80 | 2025 |
| AR | state | $135,820 | −21.1% | 60 | 2025 |
| Bakersfield, CA | metropolitan | $135,260 | −21.5% | 80 | 2025 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | metropolitan | $135,150 | −21.5% | — | 2025 |
| ID | state | $135,150 | −21.5% | — | 2025 |
| Trenton, NJ | metropolitan | $135,030 | −21.6% | — | 2025 |
| WA | state | $134,790 | −21.7% | 450 | 2025 |
| Lexington Park, MD | metropolitan | $132,770 | −22.9% | 40 | 2025 |
| AZ | state | $130,500 | −24.2% | 120 | 2025 |
| Phoenix, AZ | metropolitan | $130,500 | −24.2% | 80 | 2025 |
| MS | state | $129,970 | −24.5% | 80 | 2025 |
| Greenville, SC | metropolitan | $128,040 | −25.7% | 70 | 2025 |
| Sacramento, CA | metropolitan | $120,490 | −30.0% | 100 | 2025 |
| HI | state | $117,190 | −32.0% | 40 | 2025 |
| Urban Honolulu, HI | metropolitan | $117,190 | −32.0% | 30 | 2025 |
| Las Cruces, NM | metropolitan | $112,400 | −34.7% | 30 | 2025 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | metropolitan | $110,930 | −35.6% | 240 | 2025 |
| Austin, TX | metropolitan | $107,340 | −37.7% | 120 | 2025 |
| MA | state | $106,410 | −38.2% | 1,150 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | metropolitan | $106,000 | −38.5% | 1,060 | 2025 |
| Indianapolis, IN | metropolitan | $105,940 | −38.5% | 80 | 2025 |
| IN | state | $105,940 | −38.5% | 230 | 2025 |
| CO | state | $104,580 | −39.3% | 1,050 | 2025 |
| Boulder, CO | metropolitan | $104,580 | −39.3% | 860 | 2025 |
| MT | state | $103,800 | −39.7% | 30 | 2025 |
| MI | state | $94,520 | −45.1% | 510 | 2025 |
| SD | state | $83,050 | −51.8% | 30 | 2025 |
| DE | state | $82,590 | −52.1% | 50 | 2025 |