SOC 19-2012 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Physicists
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries
Nationally, physicists earned a median of $172,250 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 20,430 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.
National pay distribution
Pay by state
Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.
| State | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $225,390 | $108.36 | 340 | 0.0 |
| New Hampshire | $214,030 | $102.90 | 30 | 0.1 |
| Pennsylvania | $210,990 | $101.44 | 230 | 0.0 |
| California | $207,490 | $99.75 | 5,930 | 0.3 |
| Oregon | $200,320 | $96.31 | 90 | 0.0 |
| Oklahoma | $200,050 | $96.18 | 40 | 0.0 |
| Texas | $184,040 | $88.48 | 580 | 0.0 |
| New York | $181,970 | $87.48 | 1,140 | 0.1 |
| Kentucky | $180,910 | $86.98 | 50 | 0.0 |
| Connecticut | $180,300 | $86.68 | 60 | 0.0 |
| Iowa | $178,110 | $85.63 | 110 | 0.1 |
| Maryland | $174,390 | $83.84 | 1,200 | 0.4 |
| North Carolina | $174,180 | $83.74 | 150 | 0.0 |
| Wisconsin | $173,120 | $83.23 | 180 | 0.1 |
| Minnesota | $171,220 | $82.32 | 110 | 0.0 |
| Louisiana | $166,240 | $79.92 | 40 | 0.0 |
| New Mexico | $165,340 | $79.49 | 580 | 0.7 |
| Tennessee | $165,010 | $79.33 | 240 | 0.1 |
| New Jersey | $163,270 | $78.49 | 470 | 0.1 |
| Ohio | $162,900 | $78.32 | 630 | 0.1 |
| District of Columbia | $157,040 | $75.50 | 480 | 0.7 |
| Utah | $156,760 | $75.37 | 30 | 0.0 |
| Rhode Island | $155,150 | $74.59 | Not published | Not published |
| Nevada | $154,030 | $74.05 | 50 | 0.0 |
| Virginia | $145,040 | $69.73 | 940 | 0.2 |
| Georgia | $144,870 | $69.65 | 160 | 0.0 |
| Missouri | $140,460 | $67.53 | 90 | 0.0 |
| Alabama | $139,330 | $66.98 | 280 | 0.1 |
| South Carolina | $138,400 | $66.54 | 420 | 0.2 |
| Illinois | $137,140 | $65.93 | 1,590 | 0.3 |
| Arkansas | $135,820 | $65.30 | 60 | 0.0 |
| Idaho | $135,150 | $64.97 | Not published | Not published |
| Washington | $134,790 | $64.81 | 450 | 0.1 |
| Arizona | $130,500 | $62.74 | 120 | 0.0 |
| Mississippi | $129,970 | $62.49 | 80 | 0.1 |
| Hawaii | $117,190 | $56.34 | 40 | 0.1 |
| Massachusetts | $106,410 | $51.16 | 1,150 | 0.3 |
| Indiana | $105,940 | $50.93 | 230 | 0.1 |
| Colorado | $104,580 | $50.28 | 1,050 | 0.4 |
| Montana | $103,800 | $49.90 | 30 | 0.1 |
| Michigan | $94,520 | $45.44 | 510 | 0.1 |
| South Dakota | $83,050 | $39.93 | 30 | 0.1 |
| Delaware | $82,590 | $39.71 | 50 | 0.1 |
| Maine | Not published | Not published | 60 | 0.1 |
Pay by metro area
All 60 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.
Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.