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Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Crunching costs, sorting signals, rendering insights.
Real salary distribution from 288 tracked cities across 46 states. Compare entry-level, median, and senior compensation — then adjust for cost of living.
What does a Physicist actually earn in 2026? The national weighted average lands at $171,092 — but that single number is deceptively simple. Across the 288 cities in our database, median pay ranges from $122,010 to $311,640. The $119,764 gap between entry-level (P10) and senior (P90) pay tells you this career has real earning trajectory — if you're in the right place.
Positioned in Science within the broader Science & Research industry, Physicists typically hold PhD in physics. The employment landscape is shaped by steady, and the day-to-day is lab/academic. Those factors — education investment, demand trajectory, and work structure — all feed into the salary numbers below.
$189,630 separates the highest and lowest-paying cities. A Physicist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $311,640 — $189,630 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($122,010). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent. In the right market, this is a six-figure career path.
The three-tier salary picture for Physicists in 2026: $123,186 at entry (P10), $171,092 at midpoint, and $242,950 at the senior end (P90). State averages smooth out the extremes — here's what they reveal: The $119,764 range from bottom to top isn't just experience — it's geography, specialization, and industry mixed together. The median itself lands $90,725 above the national median household income of $80,367.
Compare the extremes: the highest-paying trio of cities (Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Irvine) averages $291,060, while the lowest-paying trio (Toledo, Detroit, Akron) averages $122,990. The $168,070 difference is the kind of number that reshapes career strategy — assuming the cost of living cooperates.
A Physicist in Sunnyvale, California earns a median of $311,640 — $189,630 more than their counterpart in Toledo, Ohio ($122,010). That gap alone is more than many cities' annual rent.
The national average entry-level (P10) salary for Physicist is $123,186, while senior-level (P90) earners average $242,950. That $119,764 trajectory represents the earning growth a career in this field can deliver.
California pays the highest average median salary for Physicists at $206,499 across 61 tracked cities. The gap between #1 and #5 (New Jersey at $181,545) is $24,954.
At the 90th percentile, Physicists pull in an average of $242,950. In the top-paying markets, that figure climbs even higher — making this one of the more lucrative career trajectories in its field.
| Country | Coverage | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 288 | $123,186 | $171,092 | $242,950 |
| United Kingdom | 27 | £66,477 | £92,329 | £131,108 |
| Canada | 21 | CA$94,619 | CA$131,416 | CA$186,610 |
| Australia | 13 | A$108,567 | A$150,787 | A$214,118 |
| Sweden | 24 | 676,511 kr | 939,598 kr | 1,334,230 kr |
| State | Cities | Entry (P10) | Median | Senior (P90) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 61 | $148,679 | $206,499 | $293,228 |
| Massachusetts | 4 | $143,678 | $199,553 | $283,365 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $142,884 | $198,450 | $281,799 |
| District of Columbia | 1 | $132,300 | $183,750 | $260,925 |
| New Jersey | 4 | $130,712 | $181,545 | $257,794 |
| Washington | 8 | $128,199 | $178,054 | $252,836 |
| New York | 5 | $120,657 | $167,580 | $237,963 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $120,658 | $167,580 | $237,964 |
| Florida | 22 | $119,744 | $166,310 | $236,161 |
| Colorado | 11 | $117,675 | $163,437 | $232,081 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | $117,482 | $163,170 | $231,701 |
| Nevada | 5 | $117,271 | $162,876 | $231,284 |
| Arizona | 12 | $116,689 | $162,068 | $230,136 |
| Oregon | 5 | $116,424 | $161,700 | $229,614 |
| Idaho | 3 | $116,071 | $161,210 | $228,918 |
| Connecticut | 5 | $115,154 | $159,936 | $227,109 |
| Utah | 4 | $114,836 | $159,495 | $226,483 |
| Virginia | 7 | $112,946 | $156,870 | $222,755 |
| South Carolina | 3 | $111,485 | $154,840 | $219,873 |
| Alaska | 1 | $111,132 | $154,350 | $219,177 |
| Illinois | 5 | $109,862 | $152,586 | $216,672 |
| North Carolina | 9 | $107,134 | $148,797 | $211,291 |
| New Mexico | 3 | $105,840 | $147,000 | $208,740 |
| Montana | 1 | $105,840 | $147,000 | $208,740 |
| Tennessee | 6 | $105,487 | $146,510 | $208,044 |
| Texas | 40 | $104,967 | $145,787 | $207,018 |
| Minnesota | 2 | $104,782 | $145,530 | $206,653 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $104,253 | $144,795 | $205,609 |
| Georgia | 6 | $103,900 | $144,305 | $204,913 |
| Pennsylvania | 3 | $103,723 | $144,060 | $204,565 |
| Kansas | 4 | $103,194 | $143,325 | $203,522 |
| Michigan | 6 | $102,841 | $142,835 | $202,826 |
| Kentucky | 2 | $101,607 | $141,120 | $200,391 |
| Maryland | 1 | $101,606 | $141,120 | $200,390 |
| Nebraska | 2 | $100,548 | $139,650 | $198,303 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $100,548 | $139,650 | $198,303 |
| Oklahoma | 4 | $97,902 | $135,975 | $193,085 |
| North Dakota | 1 | $97,373 | $135,240 | $192,041 |
| Louisiana | 4 | $96,050 | $133,403 | $189,432 |
| Missouri | 4 | $96,050 | $133,403 | $189,432 |
| Alabama | 5 | $95,680 | $132,888 | $188,701 |
| Indiana | 3 | $94,198 | $130,830 | $185,779 |
| Arkansas | 1 | $94,198 | $130,830 | $185,779 |
| Iowa | 2 | $93,139 | $129,360 | $183,691 |
| Ohio | 6 | $92,963 | $129,115 | $183,344 |
| Mississippi | 1 | $88,906 | $123,480 | $175,342 |
Geography shapes Physicist pay in predictable and not-so-predictable ways. California tops the state leaderboard at $206,499 median, with 61 cities providing data. Massachusetts and Hawaii follow. On the flip side, Mississippi and Ohio anchor the bottom — reflecting lower local cost structures and smaller metro premiums.
When you adjust the top-paying cities for cost of living, the ranking reshuffles. Sunnyvale ($311,640 nominal, 212 cost index) delivers $147,000 in purchasing power — maintaining its lead even after cost adjustment. This is the metric that matters for anyone considering a geo-based career move.
Raw salary divided by the local cost index — this shows where your paycheck buys the most.
| # | City | Nominal Salary | Cost Index | Adjusted Salary | Est. Take-Home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sunnyvale California | $311,640 | 212 | $147,000 | $166,903 |
| 2 | Santa Clara California | $291,060 | 198 | $147,000 | $157,837 |
| 3 | Irvine California | $270,480 | 184 | $147,000 | $148,772 |
| 4 | San Francisco California | $266,070 | 181 | $147,000 | $146,829 |
| 5 | Carlsbad California | $261,660 | 178 | $147,000 | $144,886 |
| 6 | San Jose California | $260,190 | 177 | $147,000 | $144,239 |
| 7 | Fremont California | $260,190 | 177 | $147,000 | $144,239 |
| 8 | Berkeley California | $254,310 | 173 | $147,000 | $141,649 |
| 9 | Costa Mesa California | $254,310 | 173 | $147,000 | $141,649 |
| 10 | Huntington Beach California | $248,430 | 169 | $147,000 | $139,059 |
The $119,764 gap between P10 and P90 represents the earning trajectory of a Physicist career. Senior-level earners make 2.0× what entry-level professionals do — a solid progression that justifies the upfront investment. In the Science & Research sector, steady, which shapes both starting salaries and long-term ceiling.
The weighted national median salary for Physicists is $171,092 in 2026, based on BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics across 288 U.S. metro areas. Entry-level (10th percentile) averages $123,186, while experienced professionals at the 90th percentile average $242,950.
The highest-paying city for Physicists is Sunnyvale, California with a median salary of $311,640. The top 3 cities are Sunnyvale ($311,640), Santa Clara ($291,060), Irvine ($270,480). Note: high-paying cities often have higher costs of living — check the cost-adjusted rankings above for purchasing power.
The lowest median Physicist salary in our data is in Toledo, Ohio at $122,010. However, lower-paying cities often have significantly lower costs of living, which can offset the pay gap. Always compare salary data alongside local cost of living.
Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) average $123,186 nationally. This varies by city — in the highest-paying markets, entry-level pay can be close to $224,381. Experience, certifications, and employer type all influence starting salary.
At the 90th percentile (senior level), Physicists average $242,950 nationally — $119,764 more than entry-level. In top-paying cities, senior Physicists can earn up to $442,529.
The top-paying states for Physicists are California ($206,499 median), Massachusetts ($199,553 median), Hawaii ($198,450 median). State averages are computed across all tracked cities in each state, weighted equally.
The typical education path for a Physicist involves PhD in physics. The field is in the Science & Research sector (Science), and the career outlook is steady. Work style is typically lab/academic.
With a national median of $171,092 and representation across 288 metro areas, Physicist offers above-average earning potential compared to national household income. The $119,764 gap between entry and senior pay shows room for salary growth. Industry outlook: steady.
All salary data on this page is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan areas. We present 10th percentile (entry), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks. Cost-of-living adjustments use our core database of 288 cities.
Salary data is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program, which surveys employers across U.S. metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. We present the 10th percentile (entry-level), 50th percentile (median), and 90th percentile (senior) pay benchmarks.
Cost-of-living adjustments use Livably's core index derived from Zillow rent data, Census income surveys, and regional BLS price data. Take-home pay estimates apply simplified federal brackets, 7.65% FICA, and state income tax rates from the Tax Foundation.
State and national averages are computed as simple means across all tracked cities with data for this occupation. Rankings are updated monthly as new BLS releases become available.