Physicists Salary
BLS May 2025 median wages — with computed take-home after taxes for all 43 reporting states. Tax year 2026.
Quick answer
According to payandtaxes.com's analysis of BLS May 2025 data, the median physicists in the US earns $172,250 per year (20,430 employed). Gross pay is highest in Florida ($225,390) and lowest in Delaware ($82,590) — but what you keep depends on the state's taxes; see the table.
Physicists pay by stategross median vs take-home
| State | Median wage | After taxes | Monthly net | Kept | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicists in Florida | $225,390 | $167,026 | $13,919 | 74.1% | 340 |
| Physicists in New Hampshire | $214,030 | $159,260 | $13,272 | 74.4% | 30 |
| Physicists in Pennsylvania | $210,990 | $150,544 | $12,545 | 71.4% | 230 |
| Physicists in California | $207,490 | $139,377 | $11,615 | 67.2% | 5,930 |
| Physicists in Oregon | $200,320 | $131,632 | $10,969 | 65.7% | 90 |
| Physicists in Oklahoma | $200,050 | $140,507 | $11,709 | 70.2% | 40 |
| Physicists in Texas | $184,040 | $137,057 | $11,421 | 74.5% | 580 |
| Physicists in New York | $181,970 | $125,947 | $10,496 | 69.2% | 1,140 |
| Physicists in Kentucky | $180,910 | $128,704 | $10,725 | 71.1% | 50 |
| Physicists in Connecticut | $180,300 | $125,833 | $10,486 | 69.8% | 60 |
| Physicists in Iowa | $178,110 | $126,888 | $10,574 | 71.2% | 110 |
| Physicists in Maryland | $174,390 | $122,221 | $10,185 | 70.1% | 1,200 |
| Physicists in North Carolina | $174,180 | $123,877 | $10,323 | 71.1% | 150 |
| Physicists in Wisconsin | $173,120 | $121,799 | $10,150 | 70.4% | 180 |
| Physicists in Minnesota | $171,220 | $117,687 | $9,807 | 68.7% | 110 |
| Physicists in Louisiana | $166,240 | $120,290 | $10,024 | 72.4% | 40 |
| Physicists in New Mexico | $165,340 | $117,505 | $9,792 | 71.1% | 580 |
| Physicists in Tennessee | $165,010 | $124,050 | $10,338 | 75.2% | 240 |
| Physicists in New Jersey | $163,270 | $114,649 | $9,554 | 70.2% | 470 |
| Physicists in Ohio | $162,900 | $118,911 | $9,909 | 73% | 630 |
| Physicists in Washington DC | $157,040 | $108,223 | $9,019 | 68.9% | 480 |
| Physicists in Utah | $156,760 | $111,357 | $9,280 | 71% | 30 |
| Physicists in Rhode Island | $155,150 | $111,543 | $9,295 | 71.9% | — |
| Physicists in Nevada | $154,030 | $116,546 | $9,712 | 75.7% | 50 |
| Physicists in Virginia | $145,040 | $102,875 | $8,573 | 70.9% | 940 |
| Physicists in Georgia | $144,870 | $103,389 | $8,616 | 71.4% | 160 |
| Physicists in Missouri | $140,460 | $101,606 | $8,467 | 72.3% | 90 |
| Physicists in Alabama | $139,330 | $99,797 | $8,316 | 71.6% | 280 |
| Physicists in South Carolina | $138,400 | $98,716 | $8,226 | 71.3% | 420 |
| Physicists in Illinois | $137,140 | $98,358 | $8,196 | 71.7% | 1,590 |
| Physicists in Arkansas | $135,820 | $99,015 | $8,251 | 72.9% | 60 |
| Physicists in Idaho | $135,150 | $97,587 | $8,132 | 72.2% | — |
| Physicists in Washington | $134,790 | $103,395 | $8,616 | 76.7% | 450 |
| Physicists in Arizona | $130,500 | $97,409 | $8,117 | 74.6% | 120 |
| Physicists in Mississippi | $129,970 | $95,634 | $7,969 | 73.6% | 80 |
| Physicists in Hawaii | $117,190 | $83,897 | $6,991 | 71.6% | 40 |
| Physicists in Massachusetts | $106,410 | $78,589 | $6,549 | 73.9% | 1,150 |
| Physicists in Indiana | $105,940 | $80,263 | $6,689 | 75.8% | 230 |
| Physicists in Colorado | $104,580 | $78,509 | $6,542 | 75.1% | 1,050 |
| Physicists in Montana | $103,800 | $77,350 | $6,446 | 74.5% | 30 |
| Physicists in Michigan | $94,520 | $71,559 | $5,963 | 75.7% | 510 |
| Physicists in South Dakota | $83,050 | $67,256 | $5,605 | 81% | 30 |
| Physicists in Delaware | $82,590 | $62,822 | $5,235 | 76.1% | 50 |
Keep exploring
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