Physicist Salary Overview
The Physicist is a sought-after profession in the United States with a median annual salary of $152,430. Compensation typically ranges from $78,400 for entry-level positions to $238,600 for experienced professionals in high-demand markets.Salary Range: The typical Physicist in the US earns between $78,400 and $238,600 per year, with a median of $152,430.
Physicist Salary by Experience
Entry-level physicists earn around $99,080, while those with 10+ years of experience can earn $205,780 or more.
| Level | Salary | Hourly | Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | $102,128 | $49/hr | $74,598 |
| Mid | $152,430 | $73/hr | $104,625 |
| Senior | $196,635 | $95/hr | $132,002 |
| Lead | $224,072 | $108/hr | $148,746 |
Physicist Salary by State (After Tax)
Gross salary, federal tax, state tax, and estimated take-home pay for a Physicist in each US state.
Pay for physicists varies significantly by state, with coastal and high-cost-of-living areas generally offering higher salaries to offset expenses.
| State | Gross | Federal | State Tax | FICA | Take-Home | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,456 | $11,661 | $107,482 | 29.5% |
| Alaska | $152,430 | $25,830 | $0 | $11,661 | $114,939 | 24.6% |
| Arizona | $152,430 | $25,830 | $3,446 | $11,661 | $111,493 | 26.9% |
| Arkansas | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,481 | $11,661 | $108,458 | 28.8% |
| California | $152,430 | $25,830 | $10,314 | $11,661 | $104,625 | 31.4% |
| Colorado | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,047 | $11,661 | $108,892 | 28.6% |
| Connecticut | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,896 | $11,661 | $107,043 | 29.8% |
| Delaware | $152,430 | $25,830 | $8,829 | $11,661 | $106,110 | 30.4% |
| District of Columbia | $152,430 | $25,830 | $10,116 | $11,661 | $104,823 | 31.2% |
| Florida | $152,430 | $25,830 | $0 | $11,661 | $114,939 | 24.6% |
| Georgia | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,710 | $11,661 | $107,229 | 29.7% |
| Hawaii | $152,430 | $25,830 | $11,649 | $11,661 | $103,290 | 32.2% |
| Idaho | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,994 | $11,661 | $106,945 | 29.8% |
| Illinois | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,408 | $11,661 | $107,531 | 29.5% |
| Indiana | $152,430 | $25,830 | $4,649 | $11,661 | $110,290 | 27.6% |
| Iowa | $152,430 | $25,830 | $5,792 | $11,661 | $109,147 | 28.4% |
| Kansas | $152,430 | $25,830 | $8,032 | $11,661 | $106,907 | 29.9% |
| Kentucky | $152,430 | $25,830 | $5,971 | $11,661 | $108,968 | 28.5% |
| Louisiana | $152,430 | $25,830 | $5,897 | $11,661 | $109,042 | 28.5% |
| Maine | $152,430 | $25,830 | $9,361 | $11,661 | $105,578 | 30.7% |
| Maryland | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,254 | $11,661 | $107,685 | 29.4% |
| Massachusetts | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,402 | $11,661 | $107,537 | 29.5% |
| Michigan | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,240 | $11,661 | $108,699 | 28.7% |
| Minnesota | $152,430 | $25,830 | $9,269 | $11,661 | $105,670 | 30.7% |
| Mississippi | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,586 | $11,661 | $108,353 | 28.9% |
| Missouri | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,446 | $11,661 | $108,493 | 28.8% |
| Montana | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,886 | $11,661 | $107,053 | 29.8% |
| Nebraska | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,381 | $11,661 | $107,558 | 29.4% |
| Nevada | $152,430 | $25,830 | $0 | $11,661 | $114,939 | 24.6% |
| New Hampshire | $152,430 | $25,830 | $0 | $11,661 | $114,939 | 24.6% |
| New Jersey | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,584 | $11,661 | $107,355 | 29.6% |
| New Mexico | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,474 | $11,661 | $108,465 | 28.8% |
| New York | $152,430 | $25,830 | $8,491 | $11,661 | $106,448 | 30.2% |
| North Carolina | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,286 | $11,661 | $108,653 | 28.7% |
| North Dakota | $152,430 | $25,830 | $2,688 | $11,661 | $112,251 | 26.4% |
| Ohio | $152,430 | $25,830 | $3,865 | $11,661 | $111,074 | 27.1% |
| Oklahoma | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,750 | $11,661 | $108,189 | 29.0% |
| Oregon | $152,430 | $25,830 | $13,096 | $11,661 | $101,843 | 33.2% |
| Pennsylvania | $152,430 | $25,830 | $4,680 | $11,661 | $110,259 | 27.7% |
| Rhode Island | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,005 | $11,661 | $108,934 | 28.5% |
| South Carolina | $152,430 | $25,830 | $8,128 | $11,661 | $106,811 | 29.9% |
| South Dakota | $152,430 | $25,830 | $0 | $11,661 | $114,939 | 24.6% |
| Tennessee | $152,430 | $25,830 | $0 | $11,661 | $114,939 | 24.6% |
| Texas | $152,430 | $25,830 | $0 | $11,661 | $114,939 | 24.6% |
| Utah | $152,430 | $25,830 | $7,088 | $11,661 | $107,851 | 29.2% |
| Vermont | $152,430 | $25,830 | $8,473 | $11,661 | $106,466 | 30.2% |
| Virginia | $152,430 | $25,830 | $8,248 | $11,661 | $106,690 | 30.0% |
| Washington | $152,430 | $25,830 | $0 | $11,661 | $114,939 | 24.6% |
| West Virginia | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,916 | $11,661 | $108,023 | 29.1% |
| Wisconsin | $152,430 | $25,830 | $6,991 | $11,661 | $107,948 | 29.2% |
| Wyoming | $152,430 | $25,830 | $0 | $11,661 | $114,939 | 24.6% |
Top Cities for Physicist Pay
The highest-paying metro areas for physicists tend to be major metropolitan centers with strong industry demand and higher costs of living.
| City | Avg Salary |
|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $167,673 |
| Bethesda, MD | $167,673 |
| San Francisco, CA | $167,673 |
| Los Alamos, NM | $167,673 |
| Northern Virginia | $167,673 |
Calculate Physicist Take-Home Pay
Adjust the state and filing status to see your estimated after-tax income.
Estimated Take-Home Pay
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Tax Breakdown
Federal Income Tax
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Pay Frequency Breakdown
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How to Become a Physicist
Becoming a physicist typically requires relevant education, training, or certification in the field. Many employers also value practical experience, professional development, and industry-specific credentials.Physicist Career Outlook
Employment of physicists is projected to grow steadily over the next decade, driven by continued demand across industries. Professionals who stay current with evolving requirements and build specialized expertise will find the strongest job prospects.Physicist Salary FAQ
The median annual salary for physicists in the US is $152,430, with a typical range from $78,400 to $238,600 depending on experience and location.
The highest-paying states for physicists include DC, MD, CA. These states typically have strong demand and higher costs of living.
Entry-level physicists can expect to earn around $99,080 per year, with salary increasing as they gain experience and expertise.
Being a physicist can be a rewarding career with solid compensation and growth potential. Job outlook is generally positive across most regions.
The median hourly rate for physicists is approximately $73.28, though this varies based on experience, location, and employer.