Physicists salary
The BLS estimates 20,430 Physicists jobs in the U.S. with a median base pay of $172,250 (May 2025, SOC 19-2012). Across 14 metros with published figures, medians range from $71,580 in Lansing-East Lansing, MI to $239,360 in Cleveland, OH.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE20,430 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall U.S. employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Were you outpaid?
Your salary is ranked in your browser and never uploaded.
HIGHEST-PAYING METROS
- Cleveland, OH$239,360 · 240 jobs
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$181,970 · 1,070 jobs
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$173,450 · 440 jobs
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$171,580 · 1,520 jobs
- Albuquerque, NM$165,340 · 330 jobs
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$160,270 · 550 jobs
- Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area$160,090 · 200 jobs
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$156,480 · 290 jobs
- Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area$138,740 · 240 jobs
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$137,140 · 1,510 jobs
LARGEST METROS
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$171,580 · 1,520 jobs
- Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN$137,140 · 1,510 jobs
- New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ$181,970 · 1,070 jobs
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$106,000 · 1,060 jobs
- Boulder, CO$104,580 · 860 jobs
- Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$160,270 · 550 jobs
- San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$173,450 · 440 jobs
- Albuquerque, NM$165,340 · 330 jobs
- San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$156,480 · 290 jobs
- Cleveland, OH$239,360 · 240 jobs
EMPLOYERS WITH THE MOST VISA-SPONSORED FILINGS FOR THIS JOB
- Brookhaven National Laboratory93 filings
- The Leland Stanford, Jr University22 filings
- Ut-battelle, LLC (oak Ridge National Lab17 filings
- University of Maryland College Park15 filings
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory13 filings
- precess medical derivatives12 filings
- University of California, Berkeley11 filings
- The Trustees of Princeton University11 filings
- Columbia University10 filings
- Harvard University10 filings
- California Institute of Technology10 filings
- Fermi Forward Discovery Group10 filings
ALL METROS (A–Z)
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH · Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN · New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
Questions
What is the median Physicists salary in the U.S.?
$172,250 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). The middle half earn $111,720–$222,760.
Where do Physicists earn the most?
Highest metro medians: Cleveland, OH ($239,360), New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ($181,970), San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($173,450). Cost of living differs, so compare offers locally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, May 2025 (metro, state and national estimates). Employer filing counts: U.S. DOL OFLC LCA disclosure data FY2026 Q3, visa-sponsored positions only.