Physicist salary in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Physicists in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn a median of $107,340 a year ($51.61 an hour), based on BLS data for 120 workers.
Pay ranges from $75,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $284,620 for the top 10%. That is 38% lower than the national median of $172,250. Pay here is 42% lower than the Texas statewide median of $184,040. There are 0.09 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.69). The average (mean) salary is $152,630, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $75,230 | $36.17 |
| 25th percentile | $77,790 | $37.40 |
| Median | $107,340 | $51.61 |
| 75th percentile | $226,680 | $108.98 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $284,620 | $136.84 |
| Average (mean) | $152,630 | $73.38 |
Half of physicists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,945 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,472.50 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,128.46 |
| Weekly | $2,064.23 |
| Hourly | $51.61 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $199,770 | 140 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $194,290 | 100 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $156,750 | 80 |
Highest-paying states for physicists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Florida | $225,390 |
| New Hampshire | $214,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $210,990 |
| California | $207,490 |
| Oregon | $200,320 |
| Oklahoma | $200,050 |
| Texas | $184,040 |
| New York | $181,970 |
| Kentucky | $180,910 |
| Connecticut | $180,300 |
See Physicist pay in every state or the Texas statewide figures.
Related jobs in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $93,070 | $44.74 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $92,930 | $44.68 |
| Chemist | $79,770 | $38.35 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $93,440 | $44.93 |
| Hydrologist | $73,810 | $35.49 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $77,860 | $37.44 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $80,730 | $38.81 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $97,530 | $46.89 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $67,670 | $32.53 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $82,830 | $39.82 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $64,900 | $31.20 |
| Conservation Scientist | $68,620 | $32.99 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $53,030 | $25.50 |
| Forensic Science Technician | $70,130 | $33.71 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-2012. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
The median salary for physicists in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area is $107,340 a year, or $51.61 an hour. Pay ranges from $75,230 for the lowest-paid 10% to $284,620 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
The top 10% of physicists in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area earn at least $284,620 a year. The top 25% earn $226,680 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $75,230 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $77,790 or less.
How many physicists work in Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX?
About 120 physicists are employed in the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX metro area, not counting the self-employed.