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Physicist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$172,250median pay per year, or $82.81 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $82,110lowest 10% earn less
  2. $111,72025th percentile
  3. $172,250median
  4. $222,76075th percentile
  5. $274,110top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

The median pay for physicists was $172,250 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 7.2% from 2025 to 2035, and the typical entry path is a doctoral or professional degree[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+7.2%[2]
Openings per year
1,300[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[3]

How much do physicists make?

The median pay for physicists was $172,250 a year, or $82.81 an hour[1]. Half of workers earned more than that and half earned less[1]. The average was $171,180 a year, or $82.30 an hour[7]. For all occupations in the US, the median annual wage was $50,980[5].

Pay varies a lot within the job. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $82,110 a year, and the 25th percentile was $111,720[4]. At the upper end, the 75th percentile was $222,760 and the 90th percentile was $274,110[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $39.48 and the 90th percentile was $131.79[8].

Percentile Annual wage Source
10th[4] $82,110
25th[4] $111,720
Median[1] $172,250
75th[4] $222,760
90th[4] $274,110

A percentile is a boundary, and BLS publishes percentile wages rather than a starting salary[9]. These figures cover wage and salary workers only. They leave out the self-employed, and they do not include bonuses or the cost of benefits[10]. About 20,430 people held these wage and salary jobs[11]. O*NET sample job titles for this group include astrophysicist, medical physicist and research physicist[12].

Pay by state and city

Florida had the highest median annual wage among states with published data, at $225,390, but it rests on 340 jobs[13]. New Hampshire came next at $214,030 (30 jobs), then Pennsylvania at $210,990[13]. California was fourth at $207,490, and it has far more jobs than any other state[13].

The states with the most physicist jobs were California (5,930), Illinois (1,590), Maryland (1,200), Massachusetts (1,150) and New York (1,140)[14]. Pay in those states differs. Massachusetts had a median of $106,410, while Maryland had $174,390[13].

Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach had the highest median at $272,480, followed by Cleveland at $239,360 and Houston at $199,770[15]. The Washington, DC area had the most jobs at 1,520, and Chicago followed with 1,510[16]. Boulder, Colorado had 860 jobs and a median of $104,580[16].

Show median pay in 42 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
Florida[13]$225,390340
New Hampshire$214,03030
Pennsylvania$210,990230
California$207,4905,930
Oregon$200,32090
Oklahoma$200,05040
Texas$184,040580
New York$181,9701,140
Kentucky$180,91050
Connecticut$180,30060
Iowa$178,110110
Maryland$174,3901,200
North Carolina$174,180150
Wisconsin$173,120180
Minnesota$171,220110
Louisiana$166,24040
New Mexico$165,340580
Tennessee$165,010240
New Jersey$163,270470
Ohio$162,900630
District of Columbia$157,040480
Utah$156,76030
Rhode Island$155,150n/a
Nevada$154,03050
Virginia$145,040940
Georgia$144,870160
Missouri$140,46090
Alabama$139,330280
South Carolina$138,400420
Illinois$137,1401,590
Arkansas$135,82060
Idaho$135,150n/a
Washington$134,790450
Arizona$130,500120
Mississippi$129,97080
Hawaii$117,19040
Massachusetts$106,4101,150
Indiana$105,940230
Colorado$104,5801,050
Montana$103,80030
Michigan$94,520510
South Dakota$83,05030
Delaware$82,59050

How to become a physicist

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[3]. The training details below come from a BLS profile that covers physicists together with astronomers, so they describe the wider group[17].

There are other routes to related work. Physicist jobs in the federal government typically call for a bachelor's degree in physics[22]. People with a bachelor's degree in physics usually qualify as technicians and research assistants in fields such as engineering and computer science[23]. Holders of a master's or bachelor's degree may be eligible for federal jobs, and others may become middle or high school science teachers[24].

In an O*NET survey of 18 workers, 49% said a doctoral degree was required and 39% said post-doctoral training was[25]. Because the survey is small, treat these shares as a rough guide.

Useful skills include analysis, communication, critical thinking, teamwork and math[26][27][28][29][30].

What physicists do

Physicists study physical phenomena, build theories from observation and experiments, and look for ways to apply physical laws[31]. Tasks reported to O*NET include:

Where they work

Scientific research and development services is the largest employer industry for physicists and astronomers, at 38%[33]. It includes private labs and federally funded national laboratories, and agencies such as NASA and the Department of Defense also employ them[34]. About 7% of physicists were self-employed in 2025[35].

Lab work is a big part of the job, but physicists also spend time outside the lab planning, analyzing, raising funds and reporting on research[36]. Some work for a time at national or international facilities with special equipment, such as particle accelerators, and they travel to meetings to present results[37]. BLS says full-time work is the norm for physicists and astronomers, and some work more than 40 hours a week[38].

Job outlook

BLS projects that physicist employment will rise 7.2% between 2025 and 2035[2]. That means about 23,200 jobs growing to about 24,800[2]. For all occupations together, the projected rise is 3.5%[39]. The projection counts include self-employed workers[2], while the OEWS job count does not[11].

About 1,300 openings are projected each year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come up when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 1.6% of workers are projected to leave the labor force and 3.3% to move to a different occupation[40].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a well-paid field with a long educational path. The median was $172,250 a year, compared with $50,980 for all occupations[1][5]. The typical entry requirement is a doctoral or professional degree, and researchers may start with a postdoctoral position of 2 to 3 years[3][21]. Growth of 7.2% is above the 3.5% rate for all occupations, but the job count is small[2][39][11]. The work centers on analysis, writing and teamwork, so it may suit people who like research and are willing to study for many years[32]. Pay also varies widely, from $82,110 at the 10th percentile to $274,110 at the 90th[4].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[41].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a physicist make an hour?
The median was $82.81 an hour in May 2025[1]. The 10th percentile was $39.48 and the 90th percentile was $131.79[8].
What degree do you need to be a physicist?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[3]. Federal government physicist jobs typically call for a bachelor's degree in physics[22].
How long is a postdoctoral position for a physicist?
Ph.D. holders who want research jobs may begin with a postdoctoral research job that typically lasts 2 to 3 years[21].
Is physicist a growing job?
BLS projects 7.2% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][39]. About 1,300 openings a year are projected[6].
What is the highest paying state for physicists?
Florida had the highest state median at $225,390, based on 340 jobs[13].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physicists in the US was $172,250 per year and $82.81 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Physicists is projected to grow 7.2% from 2025 to 2035, from about 23,200 to 24,800 jobs (a change of +1,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Physicists: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physicists: 10th percentile $82,110, 25th percentile $111,720, 75th percentile $222,760, 90th percentile $274,110. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 1,300 openings for Physicists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Physicists was $171,180 per year and $82.30 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Physicists: 10th percentile $39.48, 25th percentile $53.71, 75th percentile $107.10, 90th percentile $131.79. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 20,430 people were employed as Physicists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. O*NET 19-2012.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Astrophysicist, Biophysics Scientist, Health Physicist, Medical Physicist, Research Physicist, Scientist. O*NET OnLine
  13. Median annual wage for Physicists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Physicists jobs: California 5,930; Illinois 1,590; Maryland 1,200; Massachusetts 1,150; New York 1,140. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Physicists (areas with at least 100 jobs): Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $272,480; Cleveland, OH $239,360; Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $199,770; Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $199,170; San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX $194,290; New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ $181,970; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $173,450; Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $171,580. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Physicists jobs: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 1,520 (median $171,580); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 1,510 (median $137,140); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 1,070 (median $181,970); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 1,060 (median $106,000); Boulder, CO 860 (median $104,580); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 550 (median $160,270). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  17. The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Physicists and Astronomers" covers Physicists together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET 19-2012.00 survey of workers (18 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 49%, Post-Doctoral Training 39%, Post-Master's Certificate 8% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. O*NET description of Physicists. O*NET OnLine
  32. O*NET task list for Physicists. O*NET OnLine
  33. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of physicists and astronomers in 2025: Scientific research and development services 38%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  34. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  35. BLS Employment Projections: 7% of Physicists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  36. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  37. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  38. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  39. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  40. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Physicists: 1.6% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3.3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  41. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers. The Occupational Outlook Handbook text covers a wider group of occupations than this page.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.