Physicist salary in Mississippi
Physicists in Mississippi earn a median of $129,970 a year ($62.49 an hour), based on BLS data for 80 workers.
Pay ranges from $64,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,440 for the top 10%. That is 25% lower than the national median of $172,250. Mississippi ranks 35th of 43 states for physicists pay. There are 0.07 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.55). The average (mean) salary is $137,740, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in Mississippi
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,980 | $31.24 |
| 25th percentile | $68,220 | $32.80 |
| Median | $129,970 | $62.49 |
| 75th percentile | $160,320 | $77.08 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $219,440 | $105.50 |
| Average (mean) | $137,740 | $66.22 |
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 | $10,830.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,415.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,998.85 |
| Weekly | $2,499.42 |
| Hourly | $62.49 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary in cities in Mississippi
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis, TN-MS-AR | $139,810 | n/a |
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 Mississippi
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $57,780 | $27.78 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $108,890 | $52.35 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $112,400 | $54.04 |
| Chemist | $80,060 | $38.49 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $84,490 | $40.62 |
| Chemical Technician | $54,580 | $26.24 |
| Conservation Scientist | $59,510 | $28.61 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $54,040 | $25.98 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $61,230 | $29.44 |
| Biological Technician | $56,930 | $27.37 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $91,170 | $43.83 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $35,010 | $16.83 |
| Forest and Conservation Technicians | $52,420 | $25.20 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Mississippi
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 Mississippi?
The median salary for physicists in Mississippi is $129,970 a year, or $62.49 an hour. Pay ranges from $64,980 for the lowest-paid 10% to $219,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Mississippi?
The top 10% of physicists in Mississippi earn at least $219,440 a year. The top 25% earn $160,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Mississippi?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $64,980 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $68,220 or less.
How many physicists work in Mississippi?
About 80 physicists are employed in Mississippi, not counting the self-employed.