Physicists Salary in IA

In the 2025 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS dataset, Physicists in IA have a median annual salary of $178,110, with 110 recorded jobs in this area. Recorded earnings range from $83,830 at the 10th percentile to $292,990 at the 90th percentile.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · Data year: 2025 · Last updated: 2026-09-22

Salary overview

Median annual salary

$178,110

Data year: 2025

Hourly median

$85.63

Employment

110

Source

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS

Salary distribution

$83,830
10th
$104,970
25th
$178,110
Median
$218,520
75th
$292,990
90th

Local compared with national

IA

$178,110

Median annual · 2025

United States

$172,250

Median annual · 2025

The IA median is 3.4% above the national median in the available dataset (a difference of $5,860).

Top skills

  1. 1.ScienceImportance 4.9
  2. 2.Critical ThinkingImportance 4.6
  3. 3.Reading ComprehensionImportance 4.5
  4. 4.SpeakingImportance 4.5
  5. 5.MathematicsImportance 4.5
  6. 6.Active LearningImportance 4.5
  7. 7.WritingImportance 4.4
  8. 8.Complex Problem SolvingImportance 4.4
  9. 9.Active ListeningImportance 4.1
  10. 10.Learning StrategiesImportance 4.0
  11. 11.InstructingImportance 3.9
  12. 12.MonitoringImportance 3.8

Career information

Education and experience

Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Experience
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
Job zone
5

Technology used

  • Adobe Audition
  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Amazon Web Services AWS software
  • Ansible software
  • Aptech Systems GAUSS
  • Autodesk AutoCAD
  • C
  • C++
  • Canu
  • CERN Physics Analysis Workstation PAW
  • CERN ROOT
  • COMSOL Multiphysics
  • Criss Software XRF11
  • Database application software
  • Dose modeling software

Common tasks

  • Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
  • Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
  • Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
  • Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
  • Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.
  • Observe the structure and properties of matter, and the transformation and propagation of energy, using equipment such as masers, lasers, and telescopes, to explore and identify the basic principles governing these phenomena.
  • Write research proposals to receive funding.
  • Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
  • Teach physics to students.
  • Develop theories and laws on the basis of observation and experiments, and apply these theories and laws to problems in areas such as nuclear energy, optics, and aerospace technology.

Related careers

Occupations recorded as related in the dataset. A relationship does not imply a guaranteed transition.

Physicists salary in other locations

Other occupations in IA