SOC 19-2012 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Physicists wages by metro
National median annual wage
$172,250
- 10th percentile
- $82,110
- 25th percentile
- $111,720
- Median
- $172,250
- 75th percentile
- $222,760
- 90th percentile
- $274,110
- Mean
- $171,180
Annual wage from the May 2025 OEWS estimates.
National employment in May 2025: 20,430.
That median is 237.9% higher than the all-occupations national median of $50,980.
The metro and state figures below are the same May 2025 release. A blank wage means BLS did not publish it. See when a wage is not published.
Highest published medians
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 100 | $190,690 | $272,480 | $312,400 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 70 | $126,170 | $266,260 | $308,580 |
| Cleveland, OH | 240 | $107,120 | $239,360 | $239,360 |
| Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | Not available | $64,900 | $236,920 | $268,270 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 80 | $138,010 | $224,160 | $266,300 |
| Richmond, VA | 40 | $116,850 | $218,290 | $266,770 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 140 | $79,270 | $199,770 | $289,950 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 140 | $71,670 | $199,170 | $296,760 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 100 | $97,510 | $194,290 | $263,400 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,070 | $87,300 | $181,970 | $308,990 |
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 50 | $91,070 | $178,110 | $292,990 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 40 | $81,510 | $175,060 | $287,500 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 440 | $122,840 | $173,450 | $302,040 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 50 | $96,110 | $173,160 | $279,870 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 50 | $112,830 | $172,080 | $324,260 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,520 | $98,950 | $171,580 | $225,680 |
| Tucson, AZ | 30 | $96,630 | $171,190 | $242,730 |
| Columbus, OH | 70 | $62,090 | $170,400 | $271,830 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 80 | $136,650 | $168,450 | $286,510 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 120 | $107,610 | $166,140 | $230,950 |
Where employment is largest
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 1,520 | $98,950 | $171,580 | $225,680 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 1,510 | $81,830 | $137,140 | $221,380 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 1,070 | $87,300 | $181,970 | $308,990 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 1,060 | $82,050 | $106,000 | $213,150 |
| Boulder, CO | 860 | $82,340 | $104,580 | $195,190 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 550 | $88,000 | $160,270 | $275,560 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 440 | $122,840 | $173,450 | $302,040 |
| Albuquerque, NM | 330 | $120,720 | $165,340 | $225,300 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 290 | $84,450 | $156,480 | $219,080 |
| Cleveland, OH | 240 | $107,120 | $239,360 | $239,360 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 240 | $92,930 | $110,930 | $191,360 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 230 | $71,580 | $71,580 | $142,880 |
| Huntsville, AL | 180 | $82,230 | $149,990 | $227,820 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 150 | $64,570 | $164,850 | $269,270 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 150 | $75,520 | $140,370 | $218,400 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 140 | $71,670 | $199,170 | $296,760 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 140 | $79,270 | $199,770 | $289,950 |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | 130 | $100,300 | $151,050 | $235,090 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 120 | $75,230 | $107,340 | $284,620 |
| Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 120 | $107,610 | $166,140 | $230,950 |
States and territories
| Occupation | Employment | 10th | Median | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 340 | $113,240 | $225,390 | $308,580 |
| New Hampshire | 30 | $96,760 | $214,030 | $301,570 |
| Pennsylvania | 230 | $88,300 | $210,990 | $261,820 |
| California | 5,930 | $125,390 | $207,490 | $296,740 |
| Oregon | 90 | $104,370 | $200,320 | $315,910 |
| Oklahoma | 40 | $61,380 | $200,050 | $249,780 |
| Texas | 580 | $69,960 | $184,040 | $289,950 |
| New York | 1,140 | $80,000 | $181,970 | $292,950 |
| Kentucky | 50 | $65,860 | $180,910 | $282,000 |
| Connecticut | 60 | $104,750 | $180,300 | $303,910 |
| Iowa | 110 | $83,830 | $178,110 | $292,990 |
| Maryland | 1,200 | $105,560 | $174,390 | $219,450 |
| North Carolina | 150 | $64,050 | $174,180 | $256,860 |
| Wisconsin | 180 | $89,310 | $173,120 | $291,910 |
| Minnesota | 110 | $131,870 | $171,220 | $336,740 |
| Louisiana | 40 | $85,360 | $166,240 | $214,090 |
| New Mexico | 580 | $120,720 | $165,340 | $235,180 |
| Tennessee | 240 | $88,610 | $165,010 | $239,850 |
| New Jersey | 470 | $100,490 | $163,270 | $289,830 |
| Ohio | 630 | $64,860 | $162,900 | $239,360 |
| District of Columbia | 480 | $86,820 | $157,040 | $202,360 |
| Utah | 30 | $64,090 | $156,760 | $258,690 |
| Rhode Island | Not available | $86,340 | $155,150 | $298,000 |
| Nevada | 50 | $102,580 | $154,030 | $220,070 |
| Virginia | 940 | $97,720 | $145,040 | $238,570 |
| Georgia | 160 | $79,860 | $144,870 | $288,170 |
| Missouri | 90 | $70,550 | $140,460 | $276,590 |
| Alabama | 280 | $74,290 | $139,330 | $227,790 |
| South Carolina | 420 | $106,510 | $138,400 | $228,440 |
| Illinois | 1,590 | $81,830 | $137,140 | $221,380 |
| Arkansas | 60 | $110,390 | $135,820 | $214,000 |
| Idaho | Not available | $85,110 | $135,150 | $199,990 |
| Washington | 450 | $77,860 | $134,790 | $238,430 |
| Arizona | 120 | $102,160 | $130,500 | $242,730 |
| Mississippi | 80 | $64,980 | $129,970 | $219,440 |
| Hawaii | 40 | $77,190 | $117,190 | $383,510 |
| Massachusetts | 1,150 | $82,050 | $106,410 | $213,150 |
| Indiana | 230 | $64,000 | $105,940 | $220,040 |
| Colorado | 1,050 | $82,340 | $104,580 | $210,950 |
| Montana | 30 | $53,500 | $103,800 | $237,520 |
| Michigan | 510 | $64,380 | $94,520 | $248,500 |
| South Dakota | 30 | $53,910 | $83,050 | $180,690 |
| Delaware | 50 | $64,570 | $82,590 | $293,950 |
| Maine | 60 | Not available | Not available | Not available |
Other life, physical, and social science occupations
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
- Chemists
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
- Biological Technicians
- School Psychologists
Questions this page answers
What is the national median wage for Physicists?
In the May 2025 OEWS estimates, the national median annual wage for Physicists is $172,250. Employment is 20,430.
How does Physicists pay compare with all occupations?
The national median for Physicists is 237.9% higher than the all-occupations median of $50,980.
Which metro has the highest published median for Physicists?
Among metros with a published annual median in the May 2025 tables, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL is highest on this page's list at $272,480.