Physicist salary in California
Physicists in California earn a median of $207,490 a year ($99.75 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,930 workers.
Pay ranges from $125,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $296,740 for the top 10%. That is 20% higher than the national median of $172,250. California ranks 4th of 43 states for physicists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.33 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.5× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $201,930, close to the median.
Pay range for physicists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $125,390 | $60.28 |
| 25th percentile | $173,450 | $83.39 |
| Median | $207,490 | $99.75 |
| 75th percentile | $222,760 | $107.10 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $296,740 | $142.66 |
| Average (mean) | $201,930 | $97.08 |
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 | $17,290.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $8,645.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,980.38 |
| Weekly | $3,990.19 |
| Hourly | $99.75 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary in cities in California
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $173,450 | 440 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $163,990 | n/a |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA | $163,210 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $160,270 | 550 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $156,480 | 290 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $135,260 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $120,490 | 100 |
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 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Chemist | $97,860 | $47.05 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $106,500 | $51.20 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $130,610 | $62.79 |
| Materials Scientist | $177,030 | $85.11 |
| Hydrologist | $122,110 | $58.71 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $124,920 | $60.06 |
| Astronomer | $123,540 | $59.39 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $78,350 | $37.67 |
| Biological Technician | $71,440 | $34.34 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for physicists in California is $207,490 a year, or $99.75 an hour. Pay ranges from $125,390 for the lowest-paid 10% to $296,740 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in California?
The top 10% of physicists in California earn at least $296,740 a year. The top 25% earn $222,760 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $125,390 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $173,450 or less.
How many physicists work in California?
About 5,930 physicists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.