Get a Salary Report for



- Compare Your Salary
- Evaluate a Job Offer


- Price a New Hire
- Give a Raise



- Benchmark Jobs
- Create a Comp Plan

Physicist Salary

Change Country United States » Job » Physicist Overview » Physicist Salary
Updated: 18 May 2013
Find Out Exactly What You Should Be Paid
Job Title:
Years in Field/Career:
Location:
United States (change)
- OR -
Job Satisfaction
Extremely satisfied Image
Extremely satisfied
Rated 5 out of 5 based on 24 Physicist votes.
Follow Us On:
follow us on twitter    linkedin  
Subscribe to Our Newsletter
Salary and career advice to put you a step ahead.
newsletter icon

ADVERTISEMENT
Physicist 2013 Total Pay (?
XAll compensation data shown are gross, national 10th to 90th percentile ranges. Pay can vary greatly by location. To view local data, take the PayScale survey.
)
$51,004 - $139,245
(Median)
0
51K
70K
92K
120K
140K
MEDIAN: $91,857
10%
25%
50%
75%
90%

Physicist Job Listings

jobs by Indeed job search
Search for more jobs:
national salary data
National Salary Data

National Salary Data

 (?
XAll compensation data shown are gross, national 10th to 90th percentile ranges. Pay can vary greatly by location. To view local data, take the PayScale survey.
)
$0$50K$100K$150K
Salary$51,323 - $136,826  
   
Bonus$0.00 - $17,500  
Profit Sharing$1,017 - $6,387  
Total Pay (?
XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).
)
$51,004 - $139,245  
PayScale
Country: United States | Currency: USD | Updated: 18 May 2013 | Individuals Reporting: 151

Job Description for Physicist

A physicist is someone who practices physics, the science of matter and energy. Physicists study the natural world from small particles to large galaxies. They conduct experiments to uncover the laws of nature, as well as study the behavior and composition of matter. They also design, conduct, and evaluate the results of experiments, methodologies, and quality-control tests. They are then responsible for communicating their results in writing and through presentations to researchers, students, funders, the public, and others. Physicists also maintain and use equipment and lab spaces, as well as provide technical support and calculations to non-physicists, students, and others. Some physicists create materials, new electronic devices, and even medical equipment.

Many physicists work in research and development. They usually work in labs and offices, but in some cases, physicists also get the opportunity to travel to exotic places to use special equipment. Most states require physicists have a doctoral degree. Physicists must also have great problem-solving speaking, writing, and communication skills.
Physicist Tasks
  • Maintain and use equipment and lab space.
  • Communicate results in writing and in presentations to researchers, students, funders, the public, and other audiences.
  • Design, conduct and evaluate the results of experiments, methodologies, and quality control tests.
  • Provide technical support and calculations to non-scientists, students, and other groups.
Read more about: Physicists
Your Physicist Connections Invite your friends

Please log in with Facebook to see who you know.


Facebook_Login

company salaries
Companies and Industries for Physicist Salaries

Popular Industries

Salary Range

Popular Employers

Salary Range

There is not enough data available to display this chart.

key statistics
Key Statistics for Physicist Salaries and Jobs

Female
9%
female alumni
 
Male
91%
male alumni
Salary:$51,395 - $110,055 $69,642 - $116,972
Years of Experience
Less than 1 year
7%
1-4 years
26%
5-9 years
23%
10-19 years
26%
20 years or more
18%
Top Degrees

Salary Range

Most Common Health Benefits
medical benefits Medical: 85% dental benefits Dental: 65%
vision benefits Vision: 49% employee benefits None: 11%

alumni reports
Special Features

ceo incomes
Fortune 100 CEO Income Compared to Average Worker at Company
Many CEOs earn millions a year, but how does their pay compare to the average worker at their company? We list the highest earners.
More Special Features
»
Which jobs, cities and industries are seeing wages rise or fall? Track the latest compensation trends with The PayScale Index Q1 2013 results.
» You think you have a bad boss? We reveal the Top 5 Jobs That Hate Their Boss.

career path
Career Path for Physicist Jobs

Common Past Jobs
Common Future Jobs

Physicist

Salary Range

$51,004 - $139,245
payscale
Postdoctoral Research Associate
$31,288 - $58,584
Research Scientist
$40,169 - $111,492
Graduate Assistant
$12,381 - $31,443
 
Common Future Jobs

Physicist

Salary Range

$51,004 - $139,245
payscale
Medical Physicist
$54,226 - $171,726
 

career path
Salary Map for Physicist Jobs

Highest Salaries By City for Physicist Jobs

Top Cities by Popularity for Physicist Jobs

Highest Salaries By City Top Cities by Popularity

average job salaries
More Charts for Physicist Jobs

Next Steps
Start the survey
- OR -
Sign in with LinkedIn
PayScale Research
Center