Physicists Salary in Rhode Island
According to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the median annual wage for Physicists in Rhode Island is $155,150. Rhode Island is 9.9% below the national median ($172,250).
Salary Distribution
Not everyone earns the median. Percentile wages show the range of pay within this occupation.
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $86,340 | $41.51 |
| 25th percentile | $111,240 | $53.48 |
| Median (50th) | $155,150 | $74.59 |
| 75th percentile | $187,080 | $89.94 |
| 90th percentile | $298,000 | $143.27 |
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 5.4% — 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.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Rhode Island’s regional price level is above the national average (index 102.28, where 100 = U.S. average). Adjusted for that, the median salary has the purchasing power of $151,691 at the national price level.
This is a Career Atlas USA calculation based on BLS wage data and BEA Regional Price Parities. It is not a separate BLS wage estimate. Wage data: May 2025. Cost-of-living data: 2024.
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.