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Physical scientist salary
Average physical scientist salary
$86,538
Average Physical Scientist Salary
The typical salary for a Physical Scientist is $86,538 per year in the United States. This figure can fluctuate significantly based on geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which one is employed. For instance, physical scientists working in research and development tend to earn higher salaries compared to those in education or government roles.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. Entry-level positions may offer salaries closer to the lower end of the spectrum, while seasoned professionals often command six-figure salaries. Additionally, industries such as pharmaceuticals and environmental consulting are known for offering competitive pay.
Highest Paying States
Physical scientists looking to maximize their earning potential should consider relocating to states like California, Massachusetts, and Texas, where salaries can be significantly higher. Each state presents unique opportunities in various sectors, contributing to the overall compensation package.
Job Opportunities
Job seekers can explore roles in research institutions, government agencies, and private companies. Websites like Zippia provide valuable insights into available positions, salary estimates, and company reviews, assisting candidates in making informed decisions about their careers.
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Where can a Physical Scientist earn more?
Physical scientist salary estimates from across the web
Average physical scientist salary by state
The average physical scientist salary in California, Nevada, and Oregon are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average physical scientist salary states are Texas, Georgia, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for physical scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $79,831 | $38.38 |
| 2 | Nevada | $88,861 | $42.72 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $80,910 | $38.90 |
| 4 | Oregon | $83,230 | $40.01 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $79,717 | $38.33 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $80,894 | $38.89 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $75,383 | $36.24 |
| 8 | Delaware | $79,265 | $38.11 |
| 9 | New York | $81,029 | $38.96 |
| 10 | Maryland | $78,051 | $37.52 |
| 11 | New Mexico | $71,527 | $34.39 |
| 12 | Idaho | $75,840 | $36.46 |
| 13 | Arizona | $78,284 | $37.64 |
| 14 | California | $89,690 | $43.12 |
| 15 | Michigan | $76,754 | $36.90 |
| 16 | Virginia | $75,417 | $36.26 |
| 17 | Wisconsin | $74,846 | $35.98 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $77,783 | $37.40 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $69,982 | $33.65 |
| 20 | North Dakota | $71,468 | $34.36 |
| 21 | Washington | $80,690 | $38.79 |
| 22 | Ohio | $75,775 | $36.43 |
| 23 | Indiana | $73,178 | $35.18 |
| 24 | Vermont | $70,112 | $33.71 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $68,872 | $33.11 |
| 26 | Utah | $74,674 | $35.90 |
| 27 | Montana | $71,389 | $34.32 |
| 28 | Alaska | $70,370 | $33.83 |
| 29 | Illinois | $73,547 | $35.36 |
| 30 | New Hampshire | $74,898 | $36.01 |
| 31 | Iowa | $70,882 | $34.08 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $69,972 | $33.64 |
| 33 | Maine | $66,991 | $32.21 |
| 34 | Missouri | $66,518 | $31.98 |
| 35 | North Carolina | $64,480 | $31.00 |
| 36 | Minnesota | $73,485 | $35.33 |
| 37 | Nebraska | $68,507 | $32.94 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $77,599 | $37.31 |
| 39 | Kansas | $64,826 | $31.17 |
| 40 | Colorado | $67,628 | $32.51 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $52,674 | $25.32 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $51,277 | $24.65 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $60,083 | $28.89 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $59,263 | $28.49 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $57,327 | $27.56 |
| 46 | Texas | $50,614 | $24.33 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $43,550 | $20.94 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $48,129 | $23.14 |
| 49 | Georgia | $49,811 | $23.95 |
| 50 | Alabama | $48,518 | $23.33 |
| 51 | Florida | $32,511 | $15.63 |
Highest paying cities for physical scientists
The highest-paying cities for physical scientists are Novato, CA, Carson City, NV, and Flagstaff, AZ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novato, CA | $99,328 | $47.75 |
| 2 | Carson City, NV | $94,490 | $45.43 |
| 3 | Flagstaff, AZ | $82,013 | $39.43 |
| 4 | Kirkland, WA | $81,400 | $39.13 |
| 5 | Fall River, MA | $79,840 | $38.38 |
| 6 | Germantown, MD | $77,792 | $37.40 |
| 7 | Washington, DC | $77,611 | $37.31 |
| 8 | Arlington, VA | $77,582 | $37.30 |
| 9 | Ann Arbor, MI | $76,500 | $36.78 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $73,913 | $35.54 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $73,326 | $35.25 |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH | $73,273 | $35.23 |
| 13 | Anchorage, AK | $71,899 | $34.57 |
| 14 | Sioux Falls, SD | $70,242 | $33.77 |
| 15 | Durham, NC | $68,332 | $32.85 |
| 16 | Saint Louis, MO | $67,701 | $32.55 |
| 17 | Lakewood, CO | $67,575 | $32.49 |
| 18 | Oak Ridge, TN | $62,623 | $30.11 |
| 19 | Little Rock, AR | $55,062 | $26.47 |
| 20 | Huntsville, AL | $54,881 | $26.39 |
Physical scientist salary details
A physical scientist's salary ranges from $53,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $138,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a physical scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $138,000 | $11,500 | $66 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| Average | $86,538 | $7,212 | $42 |
| 25th Percentile | $67,000 | $5,583 | $32 |
| 10th Percentile | $53,000 | $4,417 | $25 |
Highest paying physical scientist jobs
The highest paying types of physical scientists are scientist, staff scientist, and research scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
| Environmental Scientist | $60,208 | $5,017 | $28.95 | 56,425 |
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
| Staff Scientist | $93,941 | $7,828 | $45.16 | 121,054 |
Top companies hiring physical scientists now:
Which companies pay physical scientists the most?
Physical scientist salaries at Google and Halliburton are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average physical scientist salary at companies like Eastman and Office of Justice Programs are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $122,896 | $59.08 | |
| 2 | Halliburton | $105,566 | $50.75 |
| 3 | Eastman | $103,577 | $49.80 |
| 4 | Office of Justice Programs | $89,611 | $43.08 |
| 5 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $87,762 | $42.19 |
| 6 | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | $87,516 | $42.08 |
| 7 | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $87,125 | $41.89 |
| 8 | Federal Bureau of Investigation | $83,726 | $40.25 |
| 9 | Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. | $82,537 | $39.68 |
| 10 | Stanford University | $82,052 | $39.45 |
| 11 | Smithsonian Institution | $80,462 | $38.68 |
| 12 | X Technologies | $77,826 | $37.42 |
| 13 | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management | $77,673 | $37.34 |
| 14 | California Institute of Technology | $77,457 | $37.24 |
| 15 | National Institute of Standards and Technology | $76,490 | $36.77 |
| 16 | E C O | $75,597 | $36.34 |
| 17 | U.S. Department of Education | $74,334 | $35.74 |
| 18 | Air National Guard | $73,421 | $35.30 |
| 19 | Alliance for Sustainable Energy | $73,024 | $35.11 |
| 20 | Health Carousel | $73,007 | $35.10 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Physical Scientist salary by industry
The average physical scientist salary varies across industries:
- The average physical scientist salary in the education industry is $81,973, the highest of any industry.
- The average physical scientist salary in the finance industry is $72,793.
- Physical scientists in the government industry earn an average salary of $62,299, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for physical scientists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $81,973 | $39.41 |
| 2 | Non Profits | $72,793 | $35.00 |
| 3 | Technology | $71,835 | $34.54 |
| 4 | Government | $62,299 | $29.95 |
High paying physical scientist jobs
Physical scientist salary trends
The average physical scientist salary has risen by $9,864 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average physical scientist earned $76,674 annually, but today, they earn $86,538 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for physical scientists over the last decade.
Compare physical scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average physical scientist salary over time
Compare physical scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Physical scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $86,500 | $41.60 | -2.5% |
| 2024 | $88,700 | $42.65 | +2.4% |
| 2023 | $86,600 | $41.61 | +3.0% |
| 2022 | $83,900 | $40.36 | +7.6% |
| 2021 | $77,500 | $37.28 | -1.1% |
Recently added physical scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Homeland Security | Supervisory Physical Scientist | Washington, DC | 06/26/2025 | $142,488 |
| Johns Hopkins Medicine | Physical Ther I | Lutherville, MD | 06/20/2025 | $76,113 |
| Us Department of Transportation | Physical Scientist-Direct | Washington, DC | 05/20/2025 | $84,601 |
| Los Alamos National Laboratory | Physics Visualization and Analysis Scientist (Scientist) | Los Alamos, NM | 05/09/2025 | $104,100 |
| Liminal Insights Inc. | Applied Scientist-Physics-Informed ML | Emeryville, CA | 04/28/2025 | $155,000 |
| Scripps Health | Physical Ther Encinitas | Encinitas, CA | 04/27/2025 | $109,108 |
| Department of Homeland Security | Physical Scientist (Forensics) | Washington, DC | 04/24/2025 | $105,383 |
| Liminalinsightsinc | Applied Scientist-Physics-Informed ML | Emeryville, CA | 03/26/2025 | $155,000 |
| Liminal | Applied Scientist-Physics-Informed ML | Emeryville, CA | 03/25/2025 | $155,000 |
| Department of The Air Force | Physical Scientist (Environmental) | Washington, DC | 03/12/2025 | $41,966 |
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