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Research physicist salary
Average research physicist salary
$74,663
Research Physicist Salary Overview
Research Physicists play a critical role in exploring the physical universe, and their salaries reflect the complexity and importance of their work. As of October 2025, the average salary for a Research Physicist is $74,663 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as location, experience, and industry. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries due to their substantial research funding and opportunities.
In addition to geographical differences, the specific industry also influences salary levels. Research Physicists employed in technology and aerospace sectors tend to earn more than those in academia. Experience is another crucial factor; those with advanced degrees or years of expertise typically command higher salaries.
Top Paying States
Research Physicists in states such as Massachusetts, Maryland, and California consistently report some of the highest salaries. Understanding these salary dynamics helps job seekers navigate the field effectively and find opportunities that align with their career goals.
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Where can a Research Physicist earn more?
Research physicist salary estimates from across the web
Average research physicist salary by state
The highest-paying states for research physicists are New York, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. The lowest average research physicist salary states are Florida, Virginia, and Iowa.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research physicists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Hampshire | $100,238 | $48.19 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $87,135 | $41.89 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $101,903 | $48.99 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $88,705 | $42.65 |
| 5 | Wyoming | $83,917 | $40.34 |
| 6 | Colorado | $86,754 | $41.71 |
| 7 | New Mexico | $83,537 | $40.16 |
| 8 | Ohio | $85,696 | $41.20 |
| 9 | New York | $108,834 | $52.32 |
| 10 | Nebraska | $81,320 | $39.10 |
| 11 | Pennsylvania | $79,504 | $38.22 |
| 12 | Vermont | $81,041 | $38.96 |
| 13 | Wisconsin | $84,182 | $40.47 |
| 14 | New Jersey | $82,506 | $39.67 |
| 15 | Delaware | $84,061 | $40.41 |
| 16 | Maryland | $97,303 | $46.78 |
| 17 | Tennessee | $76,561 | $36.81 |
| 18 | Oklahoma | $82,036 | $39.44 |
| 19 | Massachusetts | $89,669 | $43.11 |
| 20 | Michigan | $76,992 | $37.02 |
| 21 | Utah | $76,761 | $36.90 |
| 22 | Nevada | $80,251 | $38.58 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $74,510 | $35.82 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $77,453 | $37.24 |
| 25 | Maine | $74,320 | $35.73 |
| 26 | Montana | $76,128 | $36.60 |
| 27 | Alabama | $76,963 | $37.00 |
| 28 | California | $72,607 | $34.91 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $85,398 | $41.06 |
| 30 | Missouri | $73,162 | $35.17 |
| 31 | Oregon | $68,991 | $33.17 |
| 32 | Illinois | $73,276 | $35.23 |
| 33 | Alaska | $81,039 | $38.96 |
| 34 | South Carolina | $74,453 | $35.79 |
| 35 | Arizona | $70,873 | $34.07 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $70,872 | $34.07 |
| 37 | Louisiana | $72,911 | $35.05 |
| 38 | Texas | $69,460 | $33.39 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $71,301 | $34.28 |
| 40 | Washington | $75,057 | $36.09 |
| 41 | Kansas | $68,371 | $32.87 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $63,297 | $30.43 |
| 43 | Virginia | $58,520 | $28.13 |
| 44 | Indiana | $62,330 | $29.97 |
| 45 | Georgia | $63,641 | $30.60 |
| 46 | Florida | $58,878 | $28.31 |
| 47 | Idaho | $62,564 | $30.08 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $50,197 | $24.13 |
| 49 | Iowa | $58,138 | $27.95 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $52,554 | $25.27 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $48,107 | $23.13 |
Highest paying cities for research physicists
The highest-paying cities for research physicists are Coram, NY, Gaithersburg, MD, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coram, NY | $109,353 | $52.57 |
| 2 | Gaithersburg, MD | $96,941 | $46.61 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $89,672 | $43.11 |
| 4 | Minneapolis, MN | $88,785 | $42.69 |
| 5 | Broomfield, CO | $87,099 | $41.87 |
| 6 | Dayton, OH | $84,138 | $40.45 |
| 7 | Madison, WI | $83,673 | $40.23 |
| 8 | Davis, CA | $79,132 | $38.04 |
| 9 | Oak Ridge, TN | $77,622 | $37.32 |
| 10 | Royal Oak, MI | $77,215 | $37.12 |
| 11 | Champaign, IL | $71,330 | $34.29 |
| 12 | Austin, TX | $68,724 | $33.04 |
| 13 | Tallahassee, FL | $62,018 | $29.82 |
Research physicist salary details
A research physicist's salary ranges from $51,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $107,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research physicist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $107,000 | $8,917 | $51 |
| 75th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| Average | $74,663 | $6,222 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
Highest paying research physicist jobs
The highest paying types of research physicists are medical physicist, nuclear scientist, and physicist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computational Physicist | $61,519 | $5,127 | $29.58 | 865 |
| Research Engineer | $96,945 | $8,079 | $46.61 | 136,763 |
| Physicist | $110,869 | $9,239 | $53.30 | 803 |
| Medical Physicist | $122,845 | $10,237 | $59.06 | 46,513 |
| Health Physicist | $74,942 | $6,245 | $36.03 | 47,640 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for research physicists, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Romulo Ochoa
Professor of Physics, The College of New Jersey
Which companies pay research physicists the most?
Research physicist salaries at Sandia National Labs and Massachusetts General Hospital are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research physicist salary at companies like Tri Alpha Energy and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandia National Labs | $104,751 | $50.36 |
| 2 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $104,260 | $50.13 |
| 3 | Tri Alpha Energy | $102,624 | $49.34 |
| 4 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $101,303 | $48.70 |
| 5 | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $94,975 | $45.66 |
| 6 | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $94,449 | $45.41 |
| 7 | Augsburg University | $91,741 | $44.11 |
| 8 | Beaumont Health | $88,419 | $42.51 |
| 9 | University of California-Berkeley | $86,362 | $41.52 |
| 10 | SRI International | $80,160 | $38.54 |
| 11 | Princeton University | $77,092 | $37.06 |
| 12 | University of Dayton | $75,441 | $36.27 |
| 13 | Honeywell | $70,799 | $34.04 |
| 14 | Ferrotec | $69,353 | $33.34 |
| 15 | Entegra | $68,645 | $33.00 |
| 16 | Indian Health Service | $66,219 | $31.84 |
| 17 | Florida A&M University | $62,090 | $29.85 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research Physicist salary by industry
The average research physicist salary varies across industries:
- The average research physicist salary in the technology industry is $97,662, the highest of any industry.
- The average research physicist salary in the finance industry is $84,439.
- Research physicists in the professional industry earn an average salary of $72,011, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for research physicists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $97,662 | $46.95 |
| 2 | Energy | $84,439 | $40.60 |
| 3 | Education | $79,115 | $38.04 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $78,206 | $37.60 |
| 5 | Professional | $72,011 | $34.62 |
High paying research physicist jobs
Research physicist salary trends
The average research physicist salary has risen by $13,506 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research physicist earned $61,157 annually, but today, they earn $74,663 a year. That works out to a 12% change in pay for research physicists over the last decade.
Compare research physicist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research physicist salary over time
Compare research physicist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research physicist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $74,700 | $35.90 | +5.4% |
| 2024 | $70,600 | $33.96 | +1.5% |
| 2023 | $69,500 | $33.44 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $68,300 | $32.85 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $66,600 | $32.03 | +3.7% |
Recently added research physicist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantinuum | Experimental R&D AMO Physicist | Golden Valley, MN | 05/09/2025 | $123,000 |
| Outlier | Research Physicist | Bode, IA | 04/14/2025 | $62,610 |
| Outlier | Research Physicist | Tome, NM | 04/14/2025 | $62,610 |
| Outlier | Research Physicist | Western Grove, AR | 04/14/2025 | $62,610 |
| Outlier | Research Physicist | Noank, CT | 04/14/2025 | $62,610 |
| Outlier | Research Physicist | Rhode Island | 04/14/2025 | $62,610 |
| Outlier | Research Physicist-Work From Home | Pope, MS | 04/14/2025 | $62,610 |
| Outlier | Research Physicist | Vermont | 04/14/2025 | $62,610 |
| Outlier | Research Physicist-Work From Home | Ann Arbor, MI | 04/14/2025 | $62,610 |
| Outlier | Research Physicist-Work From Home | Downe, NJ | 04/14/2025 | $62,610 |
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