Physicists pay range in Riverside
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,240 a year or less, while the top 10% make $239,810 or more. The middle half of physicists in Riverside earn between $123,070 and $235,090.
- $95K10th
- $123K25th
- $164KMedian
- $235K75th
- $240K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $172,470 | $14,372 | $82.92 |
| Median | $163,990 | $13,666 | $78.84 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $123,070 | $10,256 | $59.17 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $235,090 | $19,591 | $113.02 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Physicists salary after taxes in Riverside
On the average salary of $172,470, a single filer in Riverside takes home about $117,202 a year, or $9,767 a month and $4,508 every two weeks. Taxes take 32% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is Riverside a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Riverside area are 6% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 106.4), so the average $172,470 buys what about $162,032 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Riverside ($48,400). A typical home costs $585,378, or 3.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other California cities
Riverside ranks 2nd of 7 California metro areas for this job; San Jose pays the most ($189,390).
- San Jose$189,390
- Riverside$172,470
- Oxnard$169,620
- Los Angeles$165,380
- San Diego$159,690
- Bakersfield$137,290
- Sacramento$130,050
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
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Physicists salary in Riverside: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Riverside?
$82.92 an hour on average, and $78.84 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Riverside?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $95,240 a year and the 25th percentile is $123,070, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Riverside?
About $117,202 a year ($9,767 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $172,470. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do physicists earn more in Riverside than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% more than the U.S. metro average for this job ($158,709).
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; area Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA (40140). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 13.6%.
- 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 (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
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