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Computational physicist salary
Average computational physicist salary
$61,519
Understanding the Role of a Computational Physicist
A computational physicist applies mathematical models and computational techniques to solve complex physical problems. This role is critical in various sectors, including research institutions, engineering firms, and technology companies. As of October 2025, the average salary for a computational physicist is approximately $61,519 per year, which translates to about $30 per hour.
Salary by Location
Geographic location significantly impacts salary potential. For instance, computational physicists in states like California and New York often earn higher wages compared to those in other areas. Understanding these regional differences can help candidates make informed decisions about job opportunities.
Job Outlook and Advancement
The demand for computational physicists is growing as industries increasingly rely on data-driven decision making and simulations. With experience and advanced education, many professionals can pursue higher-level roles, leading to increased salaries and job satisfaction.
Conclusion
For those considering this career path, it’s essential to stay updated on industry trends and salary benchmarks. Explore opportunities on Zippia to find a position that aligns with your skills and salary expectations.
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Where can a Computational Physicist earn more?
Computational physicist salary estimates from across the web
Average computational physicist salary by state
The average computational physicist salary in Alaska, Connecticut, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average computational physicist salary states are Kansas, Idaho, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for computational physicists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $97,441 | $46.85 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $76,995 | $37.02 |
| 3 | Maryland | $87,345 | $41.99 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $83,695 | $40.24 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $70,705 | $33.99 |
| 6 | District of Columbia | $76,918 | $36.98 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $89,440 | $43.00 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $76,362 | $36.71 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $62,287 | $29.95 |
| 10 | New York | $78,714 | $37.84 |
| 11 | Michigan | $64,809 | $31.16 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $71,956 | $34.59 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $65,168 | $31.33 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $74,568 | $35.85 |
| 15 | Ohio | $71,119 | $34.19 |
| 16 | Delaware | $76,626 | $36.84 |
| 17 | Nevada | $71,722 | $34.48 |
| 18 | California | $70,554 | $33.92 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $66,005 | $31.73 |
| 20 | Texas | $59,658 | $28.68 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $55,497 | $26.68 |
| 22 | Tennessee | $57,195 | $27.50 |
| 23 | Colorado | $57,168 | $27.48 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $59,820 | $28.76 |
| 25 | Vermont | $66,286 | $31.87 |
| 26 | Arizona | $58,124 | $27.94 |
| 27 | Louisiana | $60,770 | $29.22 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $53,401 | $25.67 |
| 29 | Alabama | $58,083 | $27.92 |
| 30 | Maine | $60,473 | $29.07 |
| 31 | South Carolina | $56,479 | $27.15 |
| 32 | Illinois | $55,782 | $26.82 |
| 33 | Washington | $54,938 | $26.41 |
| 34 | Utah | $52,398 | $25.19 |
| 35 | Virginia | $51,052 | $24.54 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $56,017 | $26.93 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $54,463 | $26.18 |
| 38 | Florida | $49,593 | $23.84 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $54,088 | $26.00 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $53,365 | $25.66 |
| 41 | Oregon | $51,270 | $24.65 |
| 42 | Mississippi | $37,013 | $17.79 |
| 43 | Georgia | $47,575 | $22.87 |
| 44 | Idaho | $42,368 | $20.37 |
| 45 | Montana | $50,079 | $24.08 |
| 46 | Missouri | $51,104 | $24.57 |
| 47 | Indiana | $47,751 | $22.96 |
| 48 | Kansas | $47,164 | $22.68 |
| 49 | Iowa | $40,933 | $19.68 |
| 50 | South Dakota | $33,597 | $16.15 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $38,438 | $18.48 |
Highest paying cities for computational physicists
The highest-paying cities for computational physicists are Bethesda, MD, Cambridge, MA, and Palo Alto, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bethesda, MD | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| 2 | Cambridge, MA | $76,851 | $36.95 |
| 3 | Palo Alto, CA | $74,936 | $36.03 |
| 4 | Albuquerque, NM | $70,878 | $34.08 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $63,438 | $30.50 |
| 6 | Oak Ridge, TN | $58,628 | $28.19 |
| 7 | Bothell, WA | $55,822 | $26.84 |
| 8 | Wilmington, NC | $54,506 | $26.20 |
| 9 | McLean, VA | $54,239 | $26.08 |
| 10 | Idaho Falls, ID | $39,477 | $18.98 |
Computational physicist salary details
A computational physicist's salary ranges from $28,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $133,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a computational physicist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $133,000 | $11,083 | $64 |
| 75th Percentile | $92,000 | $7,667 | $44 |
| Average | $61,519 | $5,127 | $30 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $28,000 | $2,333 | $13 |
Highest paying computational physicist jobs
The highest paying types of computational physicists are medical physicist, nuclear scientist, and physicist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Physicist | $74,663 | $6,222 | $35.90 | 46,060 |
| Physicist | $110,869 | $9,239 | $53.30 | 803 |
| Health Physicist | $74,942 | $6,245 | $36.03 | 47,640 |
| Medical Physicist | $122,845 | $10,237 | $59.06 | 46,513 |
Top companies hiring computational physicists now:
Which companies pay computational physicists the most?
Computational physicist salaries at Applied Materials and Keysight Technologies are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average computational physicist salary at companies like Booz Allen Hamilton and Philips Medical Systems are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Applied Materials | $129,422 | $62.22 |
| 2 | Keysight Technologies | $116,204 | $55.87 |
| 3 | Booz Allen Hamilton | $114,184 | $54.90 |
| 4 | Philips Medical Systems | $106,483 | $51.19 |
| 5 | Sandia National Labs | $104,586 | $50.28 |
| 6 | Battelle | $99,874 | $48.02 |
| 7 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $97,363 | $46.81 |
| 8 | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $96,215 | $46.26 |
| 9 | Boeing | $79,956 | $38.44 |
| 10 | PsiQuantum | $59,934 | $28.81 |
| 11 | Raytheon Technologies | $58,853 | $28.29 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Computational physicist salary trends
The average computational physicist salary has risen by $11,128 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average computational physicist earned $50,391 annually, but today, they earn $61,519 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for computational physicists over the last decade.
Compare computational physicist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average computational physicist salary over time
Compare computational physicist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Computational physicist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $61,500 | $29.58 | +5.4% |
| 2024 | $58,200 | $27.98 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $57,300 | $27.55 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $56,300 | $27.07 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $54,900 | $26.39 | +3.7% |
Recently added computational physicist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | Deterministic Transport Computational Physicist | Livermore, CA | 06/20/2025 | $168,780 |
| Northrop Grumman | Principal/Sr. Principal Computational Physicist | Linthicum, MD | 06/09/2025 | $158,600 |
| Northrop Grumman | Principal Computational Physicist | Annapolis, MD | 05/09/2025 | $127,400 |
| Applied Materials | 2025 University Graduate-Computational Physicist-Plasma/Cfd Modeling, Ai/Ml (Master's Degree) | Santa Clara, CA | 04/23/2025 | $100,000 |
| LLNL | High-Altitude Nuclear Environments (Hane) Computational Physicist | Livermore, CA | 04/04/2025 | $168,780 |
| LLNL | High-Altitude Nuclear Environments (Hane) Computational Physicist | Livermore, CA | 03/10/2025 | $168,780 |
| Quantabricks LLC | Computational Chemisty | Newark, NJ | 03/05/2025 | $73,045 |
| LLNL | Computational Physicist | Livermore, CA | 02/23/2025 | $168,780 |
| Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | Computational Physicist | Livermore, CA | 01/29/2025 | $168,780 |
| Northrop Grumman | Principal/Sr. Principal Computational Physicist | Annapolis, MD | 01/27/2025 | $158,600 |
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