Science35% remote-eligible+4% YoY growth

Physicist Salary
by City (2026)

Study the fundamental principles governing matter, energy, space, and time. National median: $112K/year. See how your city compares.

National median

$112K

Top 10% earn

$200K

Entry level

$78K

Salary growth

+4%/yr

Physicist salary by city

Sorted by median salary

City	Entry	Median	Senior	COL	Tax
San Francisco, CA	$113K	$162K	$220K	224	9.3%
San Jose, CA	$111K	$159K	$216K	210	9.3%
New York City, NY	$106K	$152K	$206K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$105K	$151K	$205K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$105K	$151K	$205K	162	5%
Cambridge, MA	$105K	$151K	$205K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$105K	$151K	$205K	185	11%
Washington, DC	$103K	$148K	$201K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$102K	$146K	$199K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$101K	$145K	$197K	172	9.3%
San Diego, CA	$100K	$143K	$195K	148	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$99K	$142K	$192K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$99K	$142K	$192K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$98K	$140K	$190K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$98K	$140K	$190K	150	None ✓
Kirkland, WA	$98K	$140K	$191K	162	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$98K	$140K	$190K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$98K	$140K	$190K	162	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$96K	$139K	$188K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$95K	$137K	$185K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$96K	$137K	$186K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$94K	$135K	$183K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$93K	$134K	$182K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$93K	$134K	$182K	148	5.75%
Alexandria, VA	$92K	$133K	$180K	145	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$92K	$133K	$180K	145	10.75%
Sacramento, CA	$92K	$132K	$179K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$92K	$132K	$179K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$92K	$132K	$179K	120	5%
Philadelphia, PA	$92K	$132K	$179K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$92K	$132K	$179K	115	5.75%
Paterson, NJ	$91K	$130K	$177K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$90K	$129K	$176K	138	9.3%
Durham, NC	$90K	$129K	$175K	100	4.75%
Edison, NJ	$90K	$129K	$176K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$90K	$129K	$176K	138	None ✓
Denver, CO	$87K	$125K	$170K	118	4.55%
Portland, OR	$87K	$125K	$170K	130	9.9%
Honolulu, HI	$87K	$125K	$170K	192	11%
Anchorage, AK	$87K	$125K	$170K	128	None ✓
Austin, TX	$86K	$123K	$167K	110	None ✓
Chicago, IL	$86K	$123K	$167K	107	4.95%
Raleigh, NC	$86K	$123K	$167K	102	4.75%
Hartford, CT	$86K	$123K	$167K	118	6.99%
New Haven, CT	$85K	$122K	$166K	122	6.99%
Tacoma, WA	$84K	$121K	$164K	128	None ✓
Pittsburgh, PA	$84K	$121K	$164K	90	3.07%
Minneapolis, MN	$84K	$121K	$164K	106	6.8%
Huntsville, AL	$84K	$121K	$164K	88	5%
Nashua, NH	$84K	$121K	$164K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$84K	$120K	$163K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$84K	$120K	$163K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$84K	$120K	$163K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$84K	$120K	$163K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$84K	$120K	$163K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$84K	$120K	$163K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$84K	$120K	$163K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$84K	$120K	$163K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$84K	$120K	$163K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$84K	$120K	$163K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$83K	$119K	$161K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$83K	$119K	$161K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$83K	$119K	$161K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$83K	$119K	$161K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$83K	$119K	$161K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$83K	$119K	$161K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$83K	$119K	$161K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$83K	$119K	$161K	115	5.99%
Houston, TX	$82K	$118K	$160K	91	None ✓
Dallas, TX	$82K	$118K	$160K	96	None ✓
Plano, TX	$82K	$118K	$160K	105	None ✓
Miami, FL	$82K	$118K	$160K	123	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$82K	$118K	$160K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$82K	$118K	$160K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$82K	$118K	$160K	99	5.75%
Madison, WI	$82K	$118K	$160K	102	5.3%
St. Paul, MN	$82K	$118K	$160K	104	6.8%
Salt Lake City, UT	$82K	$118K	$160K	105	4.85%
Pembroke Pines, FL	$82K	$117K	$159K	112	None ✓
Fort Collins, CO	$82K	$117K	$159K	112	4.55%
Cary, NC	$82K	$117K	$159K	112	4.75%
Eugene, OR	$81K	$116K	$158K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$80K	$115K	$157K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$80K	$115K	$157K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$80K	$115K	$157K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$80K	$115K	$157K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$80K	$115K	$157K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$80K	$115K	$157K	108	6.6%
McKinney, TX	$80K	$114K	$155K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$79K	$114K	$155K	105	9.3%
Chandler, AZ	$80K	$114K	$155K	105	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$79K	$114K	$155K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$79K	$114K	$155K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$79K	$114K	$155K	105	None ✓
Provo, UT	$80K	$114K	$155K	100	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$79K	$114K	$155K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$79K	$113K	$153K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$79K	$113K	$153K	102	6.75%
Fort Worth, TX	$78K	$112K	$152K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$78K	$112K	$152K	97	None ✓
Denton, TX	$78K	$112K	$152K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$78K	$112K	$152K	100	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$78K	$112K	$152K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$78K	$112K	$152K	100	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$78K	$112K	$152K	118	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$78K	$112K	$152K	100	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$78K	$112K	$152K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$78K	$112K	$152K	100	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$78K	$112K	$152K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$78K	$112K	$152K	102	None ✓
Rochester, MN	$78K	$112K	$152K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$78K	$112K	$152K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$78K	$112K	$152K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$78K	$112K	$152K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$77K	$111K	$150K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$77K	$111K	$150K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$77K	$111K	$150K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$77K	$111K	$150K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$77K	$111K	$150K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$77K	$111K	$150K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$77K	$111K	$150K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$77K	$111K	$150K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$77K	$111K	$150K	98	7.15%
Arlington, TX	$76K	$110K	$149K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$76K	$110K	$149K	91	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$76K	$110K	$149K	95	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$76K	$110K	$149K	100	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$76K	$110K	$149K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$76K	$110K	$149K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$76K	$110K	$149K	102	4.55%
Norfolk, VA	$76K	$110K	$149K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$76K	$110K	$149K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$76K	$110K	$149K	95	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$76K	$110K	$149K	90	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$76K	$110K	$149K	95	3.07%
Reno, NV	$76K	$110K	$149K	108	None ✓
North Charleston, SC	$76K	$110K	$149K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$75K	$108K	$147K	92	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$75K	$108K	$146K	105	None ✓
Mesa, AZ	$75K	$108K	$146K	98	2.5%
Athens, GA	$75K	$108K	$147K	92	5.75%
St. Louis, MO	$75K	$108K	$146K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$75K	$108K	$146K	90	5.3%
Duluth, MN	$75K	$108K	$147K	92	6.8%
Charleston, SC	$75K	$108K	$146K	105	6.5%
Greenville, SC	$75K	$108K	$147K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$75K	$108K	$147K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$75K	$107K	$145K	90	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$75K	$107K	$145K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$75K	$107K	$145K	90	4.95%
Sterling Heights, MI	$75K	$107K	$145K	90	4.25%
Kenosha, WI	$75K	$107K	$145K	90	5.3%
Fargo, ND	$75K	$107K	$145K	90	2.5%
San Antonio, TX	$74K	$106K	$144K	87	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$74K	$106K	$144K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$74K	$106K	$144K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$74K	$106K	$144K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	None ✓
Cincinnati, OH	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	3.99%
Detroit, MI	$74K	$106K	$144K	82	4.25%
Kansas City, MO	$74K	$106K	$144K	90	5.3%
Indianapolis, IN	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	3.23%
Green Bay, WI	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$74K	$106K	$144K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	5%
Albuquerque, NM	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$74K	$106K	$144K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$73K	$105K	$142K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	None ✓
Killeen, TX	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	None ✓
Waco, TX	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$72K	$103K	$140K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$72K	$103K	$140K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$72K	$103K	$140K	90	2.5%
Pueblo, CO	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	5.75%
Macon, GA	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	4.75%
Knoxville, TN	$72K	$103K	$140K	85	None ✓
Clarksville, TN	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	3.23%
South Bend, IN	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$72K	$103K	$140K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	5%
Mobile, AL	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	5%
Norman, OK	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	4.75%
Broken Arrow, OK	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$72K	$103K	$140K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$72K	$103K	$140K	88	6%
Davenport, IA	$72K	$103K	$140K	82	4.82%
Las Cruces, NM	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$71K	$103K	$139K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$71K	$102K	$138K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$71K	$102K	$138K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$71K	$102K	$138K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$71K	$102K	$138K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$71K	$102K	$138K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$71K	$102K	$138K	78	6.5%
Grand Rapids, MI	$70K	$101K	$137K	90	4.25%
Birmingham, AL	$70K	$101K	$137K	82	5%
Columbia, SC	$70K	$101K	$137K	88	6.5%
Oklahoma City, OK	$70K	$101K	$137K	82	4.75%
Des Moines, IA	$70K	$101K	$137K	88	4.82%
Omaha, NE	$70K	$101K	$137K	88	5.84%
Brownsville, TX	$70K	$100K	$136K	75	None ✓
Fort Smith, AR	$70K	$100K	$136K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$70K	$100K	$136K	75	6.5%
Corpus Christi, TX	$69K	$99K	$134K	84	None ✓
Savannah, GA	$69K	$99K	$134K	92	5.75%
Memphis, TN	$69K	$99K	$134K	82	None ✓
Tulsa, OK	$69K	$99K	$134K	80	4.75%
Wichita, KS	$69K	$99K	$134K	82	5.7%
El Paso, TX	$66K	$95K	$129K	82	None ✓
Little Rock, AR	$66K	$95K	$129K	82	4.9%
Lubbock, TX	$64K	$92K	$125K	78	None ✓
Laredo, TX	$61K	$87K	$119K	76	None ✓

COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?

A $112K Physicist salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.

Try COL Calculator →

Physicist Salary Guide (2026)

The national median salary for a Physicist is $112,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $78,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $152,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Physicists nationally earn $200,000+.

Education and requirements

PhD in Physics. This role is 35% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.

Salary growth outlook

Physicist compensation is growing at 4% annually, above the national average wage growth rate.

Physicist salary FAQ

How much does a Physicist make?

The median Physicist salary in the US is $112,000 per year — about $54/hour. Most earn between $78,000 (25th percentile) and $152,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Physicist?

Entry-level Physicist positions typically start around $78,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Physicists earn?

The top 10% of Physicists earn $200,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Physicists the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Physicist salary at $162K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Physicist salaries going up?

Yes — Physicist pay is growing about 4% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Physicist Salaryby City (2026)