Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Long-term incentive is not shown for this role. Equity awards are only disclosed publicly for the named executive officers of public companies, so no market figure exists for most jobs. See executive pay disclosures.
Typical entry preparation: Doctoral Degree and 5 or more years of related work experience, per O*NET occupational data. Advancement typically requires additional years in role.
Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
Write research proposals to receive funding.
Top skills:ScienceReading ComprehensionMathematicsSpeakingCritical ThinkingWriting
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Physicist pay by experience level
Entry level$85,000
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$115,500
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$178,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$230,500
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$283,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+4%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
1,700
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Physicist salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
9,920 workers
$185,000
Scientific Research and Development Services
8,830 workers
$187,500
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
3,280 workers
$147,000
Educational Services
3,160 workers
$121,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
3,160 workers
$121,000
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation)
2,910 workers
$153,000
Hospitals
1,920 workers
$247,000
Educational Services, State Government Owned
1,860 workers
$111,500
Hospitals, Privately Owned
1,730 workers
$248,000
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
1,610 workers
$247,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Typical duties and FLSA status
Core duties
Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
Write research proposals to receive funding.
FLSA classification (typical)
Typically Exempt · Professional, Administrative, or Executive exemption
Occupations in this SOC group are typically classified as Exempt when paid above the salary threshold, provided they satisfy the duties test for one of the FLSA exemption categories. Actual classification depends on the specific job duties, salary basis, and any applicable state or local rules. The current federal salary threshold for exemption is $684 per week ($35,568 per year), per the 2020 Department of Labor rule; the 2024 rule that would have raised the threshold was struck down by federal court in November 2024.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physicist make?
The average base salary for a Physicist in the United States is $177,000 per year, or about $85.10 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $115,500 and $230,500 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Physicist pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
