Physical Scientists, All Other pay range in Boulder
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $97,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $195,190 or more. The middle half of other physical scientists in Boulder earn between $121,700 and $176,180.
- $97K10th
- $122K25th
- $141KMedian
- $176K75th
- $195K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $147,980 | $12,332 | $71.14 |
| Median | $141,320 | $11,777 | $67.94 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $121,700 | $10,142 | $58.51 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $176,180 | $14,682 | $84.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Physical Scientists, All Other salary after taxes in Boulder
On the average salary of $147,980, a single filer in Boulder takes home about $106,608 a year, or $8,884 a month and $4,100 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Is Boulder a good place for other physical scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Boulder area are 5% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 105.2), so the average $147,980 buys what about $140,663 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Boulder ($69,580). A typical home costs $727,954, or 4.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Physical Scientists, All Other salary in other Colorado cities
Boulder ranks 3rd of 4 Colorado metro areas for this job; Denver pays the most ($151,380).
- Denver$151,380
- Colorado Springs$150,900
- Boulder$147,980
- Fort Collins$123,550
Highest-paying cities for other physical scientists
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($177,370).
- San Jose, CA$177,370
- Minneapolis, MN$172,740
- Washington, DC$166,920
- Palm Bay, FL$158,750
- Huntsville, AL$154,990
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Physical Scientists, All Other salary in Boulder: questions
How much do other physical scientists make an hour in Boulder?
$71.14 an hour on average, and $67.94 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level other physical scientists salary in Boulder?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $97,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $121,700, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the other physical scientists take-home pay in Boulder?
About $106,608 a year ($8,884 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $147,980. Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
Do other physical scientists earn more in Boulder than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($133,915).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2099; area Boulder, CO (14500). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.1%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Colorado's FAMLI premium and the flat monthly occupational privilege taxes of Denver, Aurora and a few other cities are not included.
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