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The role of an Assistant Professor of Physics is foundational in academic institutions, contributing to both teaching and research. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at $64,925 annually, translating to approximately $31 per hour. Factors influencing salary include years of experience, specific institutional demands, and geographical location.
Geographical location plays a significant role in salary disparities. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries compared to others. Here’s a brief overview of average salaries by state:
Understanding these differences can help candidates negotiate better offers and plan their career paths effectively. The data indicates that experience also influences earning potential, with seasoned professionals earning significantly more than entry-level colleagues. In addition, universities that focus on research often provide higher compensation packages.
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The average assistant professor of physics salary in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Rhode Island are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average assistant professor of physics salary states are Montana, Kentucky, and South Carolina.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vermont | $97,547 | $46.90 |
| 2 | New York | $91,724 | $44.10 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $98,673 | $47.44 |
| 4 | Oregon | $87,262 | $41.95 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $93,888 | $45.14 |
| 6 | Illinois | $90,289 | $43.41 |
| 7 | Maine | $86,254 | $41.47 |
| 8 | Iowa | $77,568 | $37.29 |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $83,452 | $40.12 |
| 10 | Delaware | $86,598 | $41.63 |
| 11 | Louisiana | $75,231 | $36.17 |
| 12 | Maryland | $85,628 | $41.17 |
| 13 | Idaho | $82,895 | $39.85 |
| 14 | Nevada | $84,166 | $40.46 |
| 15 | South Dakota | $71,469 | $34.36 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $73,134 | $35.16 |
| 17 | Arizona | $80,436 | $38.67 |
| 18 | North Dakota | $78,468 | $37.73 |
| 19 | Virginia | $75,585 | $36.34 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $72,771 | $34.99 |
| 21 | Michigan | $72,742 | $34.97 |
| 22 | Indiana | $73,191 | $35.19 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $80,344 | $38.63 |
| 24 | California | $81,079 | $38.98 |
| 25 | Utah | $68,689 | $33.02 |
| 26 | Washington | $77,433 | $37.23 |
| 27 | New Jersey | $74,083 | $35.62 |
| 28 | Connecticut | $79,682 | $38.31 |
| 29 | Nebraska | $67,313 | $32.36 |
| 30 | Wyoming | $71,601 | $34.42 |
| 31 | Alaska | $63,825 | $30.69 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $65,488 | $31.48 |
| 33 | Alabama | $65,074 | $31.29 |
| 34 | Colorado | $65,403 | $31.44 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $68,444 | $32.91 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $71,113 | $34.19 |
| 37 | Kansas | $66,888 | $32.16 |
| 38 | Ohio | $67,809 | $32.60 |
| 39 | North Carolina | $63,840 | $30.69 |
| 40 | Florida | $66,202 | $31.83 |
| 41 | Texas | $60,086 | $28.89 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $54,956 | $26.42 |
| 43 | West Virginia | $50,574 | $24.31 |
| 44 | Montana | $57,037 | $27.42 |
| 45 | Missouri | $62,664 | $30.13 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $59,105 | $28.42 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $52,195 | $25.09 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $61,535 | $29.58 |
| 49 | Oklahoma | $61,126 | $29.39 |
| 50 | Georgia | $51,529 | $24.77 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $50,222 | $24.15 |
The highest-paying cities for assistant professors of physics are Boston, MA, Providence, RI, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $99,159 | $47.67 |
| 2 | Providence, RI | $94,206 | $45.29 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $91,779 | $44.12 |
| 4 | Chicago, IL | $90,605 | $43.56 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $83,469 | $40.13 |
| 6 | Las Vegas, NV | $83,460 | $40.13 |
| 7 | Pasadena, CA | $79,920 | $38.42 |
| 8 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $77,827 | $37.42 |
| 9 | Harrisonburg, VA | $75,791 | $36.44 |
| 10 | New Orleans, LA | $75,255 | $36.18 |
| 11 | Scranton, PA | $74,637 | $35.88 |
| 12 | Piscataway, NJ | $74,056 | $35.60 |
| 13 | West Lafayette, IN | $73,172 | $35.18 |
| 14 | Rapid City, SD | $72,006 | $34.62 |
| 15 | Saint Paul, MN | $71,075 | $34.17 |
| 16 | Wichita, KS | $67,024 | $32.22 |
| 17 | Melbourne, FL | $66,378 | $31.91 |
| 18 | Winston-Salem, NC | $64,076 | $30.81 |
| 19 | Joplin, MO | $62,661 | $30.13 |
| 20 | Bristol, TN | $59,741 | $28.72 |
An assistant professor of physics's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $99,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $99,000 | $8,250 | $48 |
| 75th Percentile | $81,000 | $6,750 | $39 |
| Average | $64,925 | $5,410 | $31 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
The highest paying types of assistant professors of physics are professor, astronomy professor, and medical physics professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physical Education Teacher | $49,652 | $4,138 | $23.87 | 109,956 |
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
| Physics Professor | $69,894 | $5,825 | $33.60 | 12,289 |
Top companies hiring assistant professors of physics now:
Assistant professor of physics salaries at New York University and Stanford University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average assistant professor of physics salary at companies like California Institute of Technology and The George Washington University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York University | $157,583 | $75.76 |
| 2 | Stanford University | $132,430 | $63.67 |
| 3 | California Institute of Technology | $126,778 | $60.95 |
| 4 | The George Washington University | $120,175 | $57.78 |
| 5 | Harvey Mudd College | $117,704 | $56.59 |
| 6 | Tulane University | $115,510 | $55.53 |
| 7 | Princeton University | $108,599 | $52.21 |
| 8 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $107,463 | $51.66 |
| 9 | Boston College | $102,343 | $49.20 |
| 10 | Pace University | $98,551 | $47.38 |
| 11 | UMiami Health System | $94,050 | $45.22 |
| 12 | University of Rochester | $93,355 | $44.88 |
| 13 | Brandeis University | $91,189 | $43.84 |
| 14 | King's College | $90,418 | $43.47 |
| 15 | Creighton University | $89,496 | $43.03 |
| 16 | Fordham University | $88,154 | $42.38 |
| 17 | Skidmore College | $88,081 | $42.35 |
| 18 | Brown University | $86,936 | $41.80 |
| 19 | Simmons University | $86,641 | $41.65 |
| 20 | Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | $86,039 | $41.36 |
The average assistant professor of physics salary has risen by $9,236 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average assistant professor of physics earned $55,689 annually, but today, they earn $64,925 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for assistant professors of physics over the last decade.
Compare assistant professor of physics salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare assistant professor of physics salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $64,900 | $31.21 | +0.9% |
| 2024 | $64,300 | $30.93 | -1.4% |
| 2023 | $65,200 | $31.35 | +3.8% |
| 2022 | $62,700 | $30.16 | +3.2% |
| 2021 | $60,700 | $29.20 | +2.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Tech University | Instructor of The Practice or Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy | Saint George, UT | 06/20/2025 | $75,000 |
| Touro College | Assistant Professor of Physics | New York, NY | 06/10/2025 | $48,000 |
| South Dakota Board of Regents | Assistant Professor, Physics | Spearfish, SD | 05/28/2025 | $70,000 |
| Bellevue Community College | Assistant Professor (Tenure-Track) of Physics | Bellevue, WA | 04/30/2025 | $81,757 |
| Touro College | Assistant Professor of Physics | New York, NY | 04/28/2025 | $48,000 |
| New York Institute of Technology | Assistant Professor Experimental Physics, Tenure Track | Old Westbury, NY | 04/28/2025 | $75,500 |
| Staff and Faculty | Assistant Professor-Physical Therapy | Ithaca, NY | 04/28/2025 | $71,500 |
| Cuny | Assistant Professor-Physics | New York, NY | 04/21/2025 | $75,465 |
| Outlier Ai | Advanced Physics Expertise Sought for AI Training Work From Home) | Seattle, WA | 04/16/2025 | $62,610 |
| Outlier Ai | Advanced Physics Expertise Sought for AI Training Work From Home) | Indianapolis, IN | 04/16/2025 | $62,610 |
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