Physicist salary in Louisiana
Physicists in Louisiana earn a median of $166,240 a year ($79.92 an hour), based on BLS data for 40 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $214,090 for the top 10%. That is 3% lower than the national median of $172,250. Louisiana ranks 16th of 43 states for physicists pay. There are 0.02 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.15). The average (mean) salary is $152,750, close to the median.
Pay range for physicists in Louisiana
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,360 | $41.04 |
| 25th percentile | $101,870 | $48.98 |
| Median | $166,240 | $79.92 |
| 75th percentile | $189,710 | $91.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $214,090 | $102.93 |
| Average (mean) | $152,750 | $73.44 |
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 | $13,853.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $6,926.67 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,393.85 |
| Weekly | $3,196.92 |
| Hourly | $79.92 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
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 Louisiana
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $69,820 | $33.57 |
| Chemist | $103,890 | $49.95 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $91,560 | $44.02 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $94,320 | $45.35 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $97,470 | $46.86 |
| Hydrologist | $104,520 | $50.25 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $89,560 | $43.06 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $53,360 | $25.65 |
| Chemical Technician | $85,850 | $41.28 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $57,930 | $27.85 |
| School Psychologist | $69,020 | $33.18 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $91,170 | $43.83 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $76,480 | $36.77 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Louisiana
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 Louisiana?
The median salary for physicists in Louisiana is $166,240 a year, or $79.92 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,360 for the lowest-paid 10% to $214,090 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Louisiana?
The top 10% of physicists in Louisiana earn at least $214,090 a year. The top 25% earn $189,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Louisiana?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,360 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $101,870 or less.
How many physicists work in Louisiana?
About 40 physicists are employed in Louisiana, not counting the self-employed.