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Top 15 cities for physicists by average salary
| Miami, FL | $245,010 |
|---|---|
| Tampa, FL | $244,380 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $211,220 |
| Portland, OR | $210,060 |
| Cleveland, OH | $209,480 |
| Nashville, TN | $208,700 |
| Richmond, VA | $202,250 |
| Houston, TX | $196,520 |
| New York, NY | $191,320 |
| San Antonio, TX | $191,070 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $190,130 |
| San Jose, CA | $189,390 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $187,370 |
| Detroit, MI | $186,150 |
| Dallas, TX | $182,220 |
Map: Physicists salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Physicists salary by state
| State | Metros | Highest average | Lowest average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 3 | $245,010 | $160,510 |
| Pennsylvania | 2 | $211,220 | $162,610 |
| Oregon | 1 | $210,060 | $210,060 |
| Ohio | 4 | $209,480 | $145,800 |
| Tennessee | 3 | $208,700 | $145,230 |
| Virginia | 3 | $202,250 | $124,960 |
| Texas | 4 | $196,520 | $152,630 |
| New York | 3 | $191,320 | $176,840 |
| Wisconsin | 2 | $190,130 | $137,180 |
| California | 7 | $189,390 | $130,050 |
| Minnesota | 1 | $187,370 | $187,370 |
| Michigan | 3 | $186,150 | $92,920 |
| Hawaii | 1 | $180,330 | $180,330 |
| Georgia | 1 | $178,430 | $178,430 |
| New Mexico | 2 | $177,280 | $120,260 |
| Rhode Island | 1 | $171,850 | $171,850 |
| Iowa | 1 | $171,100 | $171,100 |
| Washington, D.C. | 1 | $169,660 | $169,660 |
| South Carolina | 1 | $169,620 | $169,620 |
| Massachusetts | 2 | $166,280 | $129,840 |
| Colorado | 3 | $165,840 | $123,130 |
| Missouri | 1 | $164,540 | $164,540 |
| Arizona | 2 | $162,950 | $149,540 |
| Alabama | 1 | $155,940 | $155,940 |
| New Jersey | 1 | $153,100 | $153,100 |
| Idaho | 1 | $145,800 | $145,800 |
| Washington | 1 | $145,550 | $145,550 |
| Indiana | 1 | $141,380 | $141,380 |
| Illinois | 1 | $138,950 | $138,950 |
| Maryland | 1 | $134,720 | $134,720 |
| Maine | 1 | $84,480 | $84,480 |
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Physicists salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | $245,010 | $272,480 | $117.79 | 100 |
| Tampa, FL | $244,380 | $266,260 | $117.49 | 70 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $211,220 | $224,160 | $101.55 | 80 |
| Portland, OR | $210,060 | $172,080 | $100.99 | 50 |
| Cleveland, OH | $209,480 | $239,360 | $100.71 | 240 |
| Nashville, TN | $208,700 | $236,920 | $100.34 | n/a |
| Richmond, VA | $202,250 | $218,290 | $97.24 | 40 |
| Houston, TX | $196,520 | $199,770 | $94.48 | 140 |
| New York, NY | $191,320 | $181,970 | $91.98 | 1,070 |
| San Antonio, TX | $191,070 | $194,290 | $91.86 | 100 |
| Milwaukee, WI | $190,130 | $173,160 | $91.41 | 50 |
| San Jose, CA | $189,390 | $173,450 | $91.05 | 440 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $187,370 | $168,450 | $90.08 | 80 |
| Detroit, MI | $186,150 | $199,170 | $89.50 | 140 |
| Dallas, TX | $182,220 | $156,750 | $87.61 | 80 |
| Buffalo, NY | $181,310 | $175,060 | $87.17 | 40 |
| Honolulu, HI | $180,330 | $117,190 | $86.70 | 30 |
| Atlanta, GA | $178,430 | $144,870 | $85.78 | 100 |
| Albuquerque, NM | $177,280 | $165,340 | $85.23 | 330 |
| Albany, NY | $176,840 | $159,240 | $85.02 | 50 |
| Riverside, CA | $172,470 | $163,990 | $82.92 | n/a |
| Providence, RI | $171,850 | $155,150 | $82.62 | n/a |
| Des Moines, IA | $171,100 | $178,110 | $82.26 | 50 |
| Washington, DC | $169,660 | $171,580 | $81.57 | 1,520 |
| Oxnard, CA | $169,620 | $163,210 | $81.55 | 50 |
| Greenville, SC | $169,620 | $128,040 | $81.55 | 70 |
| Columbus, OH | $168,330 | $170,400 | $80.93 | 70 |
| Worcester, MA | $166,280 | $153,990 | $79.94 | 40 |
| Denver, CO | $165,840 | $166,140 | $79.73 | 120 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $165,380 | $160,270 | $79.51 | 550 |
| Kansas City, MO | $164,540 | $141,200 | $79.11 | 40 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $162,950 | $130,500 | $78.34 | 80 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $162,610 | $164,850 | $78.18 | 150 |
| Palm Bay, FL | $160,510 | $146,350 | $77.17 | 30 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $160,270 | $148,950 | $77.05 | 50 |
| San Diego, CA | $159,690 | $156,480 | $76.78 | 290 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $159,680 | $158,070 | $76.77 | 40 |
| Knoxville, TN | $156,290 | $165,010 | $75.14 | 120 |
| Huntsville, AL | $155,940 | $149,990 | $74.97 | 180 |
| Trenton, NJ | $153,100 | $135,030 | $73.61 | n/a |
| Austin, TX | $152,630 | $107,340 | $73.38 | 120 |
| Dayton, OH | $150,240 | $151,050 | $72.23 | 130 |
| Tucson, AZ | $149,540 | $171,190 | $71.90 | 30 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $145,800 | $142,180 | $70.09 | 60 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | $145,800 | $135,150 | $70.10 | n/a |
| Seattle, WA | $145,550 | $140,370 | $69.98 | 150 |
| Memphis, TN | $145,230 | $139,810 | $69.82 | n/a |
| Indianapolis, IN | $141,380 | $105,940 | $67.97 | 80 |
| Chicago, IL | $138,950 | $137,140 | $66.80 | 1,510 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $137,290 | $135,260 | $66.00 | 80 |
| Madison, WI | $137,180 | $136,450 | $65.95 | 80 |
| Lexington Park, MD | $134,720 | $132,770 | $64.77 | 40 |
| Sacramento, CA | $130,050 | $120,490 | $62.53 | 100 |
| Boston, MA | $129,840 | $106,000 | $62.42 | 1,060 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $124,960 | $110,930 | $60.08 | 240 |
| Boulder, CO | $123,130 | $104,580 | $59.20 | 860 |
| Las Cruces, NM | $120,260 | $112,400 | $57.82 | 30 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $100,460 | $64,380 | $48.30 | 80 |
| Lansing, MI | $92,920 | $71,580 | $44.67 | 230 |
| Portland, ME | $84,480 | $57,780 | $40.62 | 50 |
Related jobs
- Atmospheric and Space ScientistsU.S. metro average $113,793
- ChemistsU.S. metro average $101,816
- Materials ScientistsU.S. metro average $133,519
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including HealthU.S. metro average $93,110
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersU.S. metro average $121,351
- Physical Scientists, All OtherU.S. metro average $133,915
- HydrologistsU.S. metro average $104,261
- AstronomersU.S. metro average $153,770
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Physicists salary: questions
Where do physicists make the most money?
In Miami, FL, with an average of $245,010 a year, among the 60 metro areas we cover.
What is the average physicists salary in the U.S.?
$158,709 a year across all U.S. metro areas, weighted by employment (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where is physicists pay the lowest?
Portland, ME, at $84,480 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
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 19-2012.
- U.S. metro average: employment-weighted mean of every metro area in the OEWS file (not only the ones listed here).
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.