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Job outlook for health physicists in the United States
Health physicist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected health physicist job growth rate is 8% from 2018-2028.
About 2,000 new jobs for health physicists are projected over the next decade.
Health physicist salaries have increased 12% for health physicists in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,422 health physicists currently employed in the United States.
There are 47,640 active health physicist job openings in the US.
The average health physicist salary is $74,942.
Are health physicist jobs in demand?
Health physicist job and salary trends over time
Health physicist jobs over time
Health physicist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,422 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 3,570 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 3,696 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 3,892 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 3,691 | 0.00% |
Average health physicist salary over time
Health physicist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $74,942 | $36.03 | +5.7% |
| 2025 | $70,902 | $34.09 | +1.6% |
| 2024 | $69,805 | $33.56 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $68,582 | $32.97 | +2.6% |
| 2022 | $66,874 | $32.15 | +3.8% |
Health physicist jobs by state
Most common states for health physicists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 144 | 21% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,241 | 18% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 104 | 17% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 800 | 14% |
| 5 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 969 | 13% |
| 6 | Indiana | 6,666,818 | 835 | 13% |
| 7 | South Carolina | 5,024,369 | 548 | 11% |
| 8 | Arkansas | 3,004,279 | 316 | 11% |
| 9 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 990 | 10% |
| 10 | Tennessee | 6,715,984 | 673 | 10% |
| 11 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 603 | 10% |
| 12 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 325 | 10% |
| 13 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 180 | 10% |
| 14 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 72 | 10% |
| 15 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 58 | 10% |
| 16 | Ohio | 11,658,609 | 1,076 | 9% |
| 17 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 655 | 9% |
| 18 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 564 | 9% |
| 19 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 92 | 9% |
| 20 | Delaware | 961,939 | 91 | 9% |
Most common cities for health physicists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Russellville | 1 | 3% | $51,505 |
| 2 | Bethesda | 1 | 2% | $105,190 |
| 3 | Gaithersburg | 1 | 1% | $105,255 |
| 4 | Warren | 1 | 1% | $79,913 |
| 5 | Houston | 1 | 0% | $66,826 |
| 6 | North Las Vegas | 1 | 0% | $91,229 |
Health Physicist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of health physicist experts
Skyline College
University of Oregon
Northeastern University
University of Wisconsin - River Falls
California State University - Channel Islands
Pennsylvania State University
What will help Health Physicists increase their earning potential?
Puskar Chapagain: Consider specializing in fields such as quantum computing, machine learning, and semiconductor physics, as they are in high demand with high pay in the job market. It has been observed that DFT scientists are now being hired not only in the semiconductor industries but also in finance and market sectors.
Pursuing higher levels of education, such as a master's or Ph.D., can lead to higher-paying positions in academia, industry, and research institutions. It can also provide you with greater opportunities for career advancement and a higher salary.
Gain experience through internships and summer research programs during your undergraduate or graduate level. It can provide you with valuable skills and connections that can help you land a job with a great starting salary.
Acquire skills that are in high demand in the job market, such as programming, data analysis, and computational modeling, to increase your chances of getting a high-paying job.
Networking with professionals in your field, attending conferences, and participating in professional organizations can lead to new opportunities with higher salaries.
Staying updated with industry trends and continuously updating your skills and knowledge can give you a competitive edge in the job market and increase your earning potential.
What will help Health Physicists increase their earning potential?
Gustav Borstad Ph.D.: I apologize for the delay; I am not sure if this is what you are looking for. As it turns out, physics ends up being a highly individualized field of study, so it was difficult to address a typical case.
What general advice would you give to a Health Physicist?
Kolo Wamba PhD: Try to get out of your comfort zone. Don't let yourself be pigeonholed. By successfully graduating with a physics major, you have shown that you are flexible, adaptable, good at problem-solving, and have wide-ranging interests.
What Health Physicist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Kolo Wamba PhD: My advice to folks for whom salary is important is to try to ensure that whatever workplace you are entering has a strong labor union. Having a solid union is statistically your best chance to maximizing your earning potential.
What will help Health Physicists increase their earning potential?
Kolo Wamba PhD: I have no idea! But really I think this is the wrong question. A more salient question might be 'where do you want to be, as a physics graduate, in the next 3-5 years?' – simply because the possibilities are almost endless.
What general advice would you give to a Health Physicist?
Scott Fisher: A degree in Physics is quite strong, and is often more widely applicable than some graduates realize! My advice is to positively use the connotation that comes along with a degree in Physics. Physicists are known to be brainy, mathematically inclined, and perhaps most importantly – teachable. These are characteristics that folks early in their career should lean into and emphasize when they are in the application/interview process. Be excited that you made it through a difficult and complicated major. Show potential employers that you are smart, that you can work independently, and that you are an avid learner.
What Health Physicist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Scott Fisher: Many physics majors will complement their undergrad work with Masters or PhD degrees. These graduate degrees are one way to become more attractive to a wider range of positions. Another way is to look for positions in industry or private research organizations. Complementing your physics degree with specialized industry certifications is another way to increase your value as a prospective candidate.
What Health Physicist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ning Bao: A few things: make sure that you get an advisor whose research style (hands on vs. hands off, frequency of meeting) matches yours, go to a university where you have multiple potential options for advisors in case any of them don't work out for some reason, work with multiple different faculty because you'll need multiple substantive recommendation letters to continue your career, and make sure you don't overburden yourself with projects and/or coursework at the cost of quality of your research.
What general advice would you give to a Health Physicist?
Dr. Matthew Vonk: There are many Pros to being a physicist: Autonomy, variety, solving interesting problems, understanding how the universe works on a very fundamental level, working with great people.
What will help Health Physicists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Matthew Vonk: People with physics degrees do a variety of work. Some who work in patent law might have roles more similar to lawyers. Some in medical physics might have roles more similar to doctors. Those in finance might try to forecast different aspects of the stock market. Some physicists are purely involved in research, others are more entrepreneurial. Some physicists rely extensively on computer modeling, others use higher-order math, some have teaching roles, while other are administrators. Physicists might work on mechanical systems, audio systems, optical systems, electronics, space exploration, or nuclear reactors. Some have desk jobs, while others are comfortable using a variety of workbench tools. With such diversity it's tough to think of a single common factor that could describe what a physicist does day-to-day. But I would say that the common thread is that they all solve interesting and fundamental problems.
What general advice would you give to a Health Physicist?
Kevin Hayakawa Ph.D.: A Physicist is a good profession to enter now because there are many good-paying entry-level jobs accessible with just a bachelor's degree, the number of jobs available is expected to increase over the next decade, and there are also options for pursuing master's degrees and Ph.D. programs for those wishing to continue their education. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 2023 median pay for Physicists and Astronomers was $149,530 per year and the 'Job Outlook' or projected percent change in employment for 2022-2032 is 5% for Physicists and Astronomers, above the average growth rate for all professions of 3%.
What general advice would you give to a Health Physicist?
Frederick Ringwald: Few degrees get more respect than physics. In physics, we use mathematics to understand how the physical world works. This is because the Universe follows orderly, mathematical laws. With a physics education, you can do anything. Physics majors are thoroughly trained in problem solving. Physics majors are equipped for 'the next big thing,' precisely because no one knows what the next big thing will be. Physics can train you in clear, logical thinking, since it requires reasoning, and not mere scholarship.
What will help Health Physicists increase their earning potential?
Frederick Ringwald: A bachelors degree in physics can be an excellent entry into a lucrative career in engineering, computing, or finance. Good math and computer skills are a must. Good writing skills are essential. In many states in the U.S., there is a dire shortage of K-12 teachers of physics and math. Biomedical physics can be a lucrative field. The graduates of our program at Fresno State have a 100% employment rate, and entry-level jobs can pay over $80k.
What general advice would you give to a Health Physicist?
Professor Darren Williams: I've always operated under the assumption that people will pay for what they value. My curt advice, then, is to make oneself valuable to the profession and to society, and the rest will follow.
What Health Physicist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Professor Darren Williams: Everyone in physics and STEM must be digitally cognizant and computationally literate to have professional value. Not everyone needs to be a multi-lingual programmer, but everyone in STEM should know how to 'read and write' - that is, to process and present data by making quality graphs and figures, managing spreadsheets, or using web-based software and tools to find information. And while It has always been important to write and speak effectively, today's graduate must have a host of communicative skills and competencies - email, conference calls, cell apps, social media, podcasts, etc. - to interact with colleagues effectively.