Physicists Salary in the United States
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Physicists in the United States is $172,250. BLS estimates approximately 20,430 people work in this occupation nationwide.
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $82,110 | $39.48 |
| 25th percentile | $111,720 | $53.71 |
| Median (50th) | $172,250 | $82.81 |
| 75th percentile | $222,760 | $107.10 |
| 90th percentile | $274,110 | $131.79 |
Data Reliability
BLS OEWS is a survey, not a full census — every estimate carries a margin of error. The relative standard error (RSE) below is BLS’s own measure of how much an estimate could vary; lower is more precise.
- Wage estimate
- RSE 1% — Very reliable
- Employment estimate
- RSE 3.1% — Very reliable
Where Does Your Salary Fall?
Enter an annual salary to see roughly where it falls among reported wages for this occupation, based on the percentile points above.
Sources
Wage data: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) — May 2025 (release 25).
Figures shown as “Not available” reflect wages the source does not publish (e.g. suppressed for reliability), not zero.