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Physics professor: pay, job outlook and how to become one
- $60,200lowest 10% earn less
- $74,05025th percentile
- $100,310median
- $132,65075th percentile
- $177,850top 10% earn more
The median postsecondary physics teacher earned $100,310 a year in May 2025, about double the median for all occupations[1][2]. Employment is projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, a little slower than the all-occupation rate[3][4].
- Job growth, 2025–35
- +2.4%[3]
- Openings per year
- 1,100[6]
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree[7]
How much do physics professors make?
The median wage for postsecondary physics teachers, the BLS title for physics professors, was $100,310 a year in May 2025[1]. Half of workers earned more and half earned less[1]. The average was $111,460 a year[8]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980 a year[2]. BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages, because many of these teachers work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly[9].
The pay range is wide:
| Point in the range | Annual wage |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile[5] | $60,200 |
| 25th percentile[5] | $74,050 |
| Median[1] | $100,310 |
| 75th percentile[5] | $132,650 |
| 90th percentile[5] | $177,850 |
The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $60,200 a year, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $177,850[5]. A percentile is a boundary line in the pay data. BLS publishes percentiles and the median, not a starting salary[10].
These figures cover people paid a wage or salary. They leave out the self-employed, nonproduction bonuses and the cost of benefits such as health insurance[11]. About 13,090 people worked as postsecondary physics teachers in wage and salary jobs in May 2025[12].
Pay by state and city
BLS published median pay for 46 states and the District of Columbia[13]. California had the highest median at $139,420, followed by Connecticut at $112,410 and Massachusetts at $111,280[13]. Arkansas had the lowest published median, $64,900, based on 30 jobs[13].
California also had the most jobs, 1,130[14]. Texas had 1,110, New York 1,080, Massachusetts 680 and Virginia 610[14].
Among metro areas with at least 100 jobs, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim had the highest median at $172,510[15]. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad followed at $152,190[15], then Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington at $130,310[15]. The New York-Newark-Jersey City area had the most jobs, 870, with a median of $104,690[16]. Boston-Cambridge-Newton had 510 jobs and a median of $128,640[16].
Show median pay in 46 states and DC
| State | Median per year | Jobs |
|---|---|---|
| California[13] | $139,420 | 1,130 |
| Connecticut | $112,410 | 260 |
| Massachusetts | $111,280 | 680 |
| Maryland | $110,980 | 300 |
| Michigan | $109,090 | 460 |
| New Mexico | $108,850 | 70 |
| Delaware | $108,810 | 70 |
| Minnesota | $107,240 | 250 |
| Idaho | $106,040 | 50 |
| Virginia | $104,490 | 610 |
| Oregon | $104,320 | 230 |
| Iowa | $104,270 | 120 |
| Maine | $104,270 | 60 |
| New York | $103,100 | 1,080 |
| Indiana | $102,970 | 270 |
| North Dakota | $101,700 | 40 |
| Georgia | $101,580 | 210 |
| Missouri | $99,970 | 230 |
| Utah | $99,860 | 120 |
| Colorado | $99,280 | 280 |
| New Hampshire | $99,050 | 40 |
| New Jersey | $98,920 | 530 |
| Nebraska | $98,460 | 70 |
| Vermont | $98,390 | 50 |
| Pennsylvania | $98,370 | 580 |
| West Virginia | $98,320 | 50 |
| Montana | $98,050 | 70 |
| Texas | $97,760 | 1,110 |
| Kansas | $97,140 | 110 |
| Washington | $96,930 | 310 |
| Nevada | $96,330 | 90 |
| Ohio | $96,310 | 420 |
| Illinois | $94,900 | 540 |
| Oklahoma | $91,580 | 90 |
| Louisiana | $90,040 | 90 |
| Wisconsin | $89,630 | 210 |
| North Carolina | $87,370 | 440 |
| South Dakota | $86,010 | 30 |
| District of Columbia | $85,190 | 130 |
| Alabama | $82,750 | 170 |
| South Carolina | $81,210 | 150 |
| Tennessee | $80,630 | 340 |
| Kentucky | $80,270 | 160 |
| Florida | $74,050 | 180 |
| Mississippi | $71,160 | 100 |
| Arizona | $65,730 | 350 |
| Arkansas | $64,900 | 30 |
How to become a physics professor
The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile that covers this job also covers other postsecondary teachers, so some details below describe the wider group[17].
- First: Earn a doctorate. BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed for entry[7]. Teachers at 4-year colleges and universities usually need a doctorate in their field[18]. In an O*NET survey of 44 physics teachers, 54% said a doctoral degree was required, 25% a master's degree and 21% post-doctoral training[19].
- Next: Know the exceptions. A master's degree may be enough at some community colleges, though some schools prefer a Ph.D.[20]. For some specialties or part-time jobs, schools may hire people with a master's degree or doctoral candidates[18].
- Then: Add experience. Schools may prefer teaching or other work experience[21]. In physics, some teachers have postdoctoral research experience, a job that usually lasts 2 to 3 years as a research associate or similar[22]. Some gain teaching experience as graduate teaching assistants[23].
- Then: Work toward tenure. People with a doctorate often seek tenure, which protects a professor from being fired without just cause. It may take up to 7 years, moving from assistant professor to associate professor to professor[24].
Doctoral programs usually take several years, and most require a dissertation presenting original research[25]. BLS projections list no typical on-the-job training and no related work experience[7].
What physics professors do
O*NET describes the job as teaching courses on the laws of matter and energy. It covers teachers who mainly teach and those who split time between teaching and research[26]. Common job titles include assistant professor, associate professor, physics instructor and physics lecturer[27]. Tasks include:
- Grading students' class work, lab work, assignments and papers[28]
- Preparing course materials such as syllabi and homework[28]
- Writing, giving and grading exams, or handing that work to others[28]
- Lecturing to undergraduate or graduate students on topics such as quantum mechanics, particle physics and optics[28]
- Keeping regular office hours to advise students[28]
- Supervising teaching, internship and research work, and students' lab work[28]
- Leading classroom discussions and keeping student records[28]
- Planning and revising courses and teaching methods[28]
Where they work
In the wider group of postsecondary teachers, colleges, universities and professional schools run by the state were the largest employer, at 41% in 2025[29]. Full-time work is typical, and part-time work is common[30]. Part-time teachers may teach at several schools, and some hold a full-time job in their field[30].
Courses are generally held during the day, with some in the evenings or on weekends[31]. Academic calendars include breaks between terms. Some teachers teach summer courses, and others use the time for research or professional development[32]. Full-time teachers generally need to be on campus to teach and hold office hours but otherwise set their own schedules[33]. The handbook notes that balancing teaching with research and publishing can be stressful, especially for beginning teachers seeking advancement[34].
Job outlook
BLS projects employment of postsecondary physics teachers to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 16,400 to 16,800 jobs[3]. That is a gain of about 400 jobs, and the count includes self-employed workers[3]. Employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% over the same years[4].
BLS also projects about 1,100 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs that come open when workers retire or move to other fields, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, 3.5% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[35]. The May 2025 count above covers wage and salary jobs only[12]. The projections count includes self-employed workers[3].
Is it a good fit?
The facts suggest a job that pays about double the all-occupation median but asks for a doctorate, and some physics teachers add 2 to 3 years of postdoctoral research[1][2][7][22]. Tenure may take up to 7 more years[24]. Growth of 2.4% is a little below the 3.5% for all occupations, with about 1,100 openings a year[3][4][6]. Schedules are flexible once teaching and office hours are covered[33]. Pay depends on place, with the highest state median in California[13].
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a physics professor make a year?
- The median for postsecondary physics teachers was $100,310 a year in May 2025[1]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $60,200 and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $177,850[5].
- How much does a physics professor make an hour?
- BLS publishes only annual wages for this job, not hourly wages, because many of these teachers work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly[9].
- What degree do you need to be a physics professor?
- BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[7]. A master's degree may be enough at some community colleges[20].
Facts and sources
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in the US was $100,310 per year. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: employment of Physics Teachers, Postsecondary is projected to grow 2.4% from 2025 to 2035, from about 16,400 to 16,800 jobs (a change of +400). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary: 10th percentile $60,200, 25th percentile $74,050, 75th percentile $132,650, 90th percentile $177,850. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS Employment Projections: about 1,100 openings for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary 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
- BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Physics Teachers, Postsecondary: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary was $111,460 per year. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS publishes only annual wages for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary, not hourly wages, because many work fewer than 2,080 hours a year but are paid yearly. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- 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
- 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
- BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 13,090 people were employed as Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Physics Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: California 1,130; Texas 1,110; New York 1,080; Massachusetts 680; Virginia 610. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary (areas with at least 100 jobs): Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA $172,510; San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA $152,190; Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $130,310; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $128,640; Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA $111,460; Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA $107,410; Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT $107,080; Raleigh-Cary, NC $105,560. BLS OEWS, May 2025
- BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Physics Teachers, Postsecondary jobs: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 870 (median $104,690); Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 510 (median $128,640); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 440 (median $172,510); Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 340 (median $95,430); Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN 330 (median $83,830); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 290 (median $103,750). BLS OEWS, May 2025
- The BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile "Postsecondary Teachers" covers Physics Teachers, Postsecondary together with other related occupations, so its text describes the wider group. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET 25-1054.00 survey of workers (44 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 54%, Master's Degree 25%, Post-Doctoral Training 21% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Work Experience in a Related Occupation. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Advancement. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*NET description of Physics Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET 25-1054.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Adjunct Professor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Instructor, Physical Science Professor, Physics Instructor, Physics Lecturer, Physics Professor. O*NET OnLine
- O*NET task list for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary. O*NET OnLine
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of postsecondary teachers in 2025: Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state 41%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
- BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Physics Teachers, Postsecondary: 3.5% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
- Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine
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.