Physicist salary in New York
Physicists in New York earn a median of $181,970 a year ($87.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 1,140 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $292,950 for the top 10%. That is 6% higher than the national median of $172,250. New York ranks 8th of 43 states for physicists pay. There are 0.12 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — close to the national average. The average (mean) salary is $182,580, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in New York
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,000 | $38.46 |
| 25th percentile | $131,600 | $63.27 |
| Median | $181,970 | $87.48 |
| 75th percentile | $221,590 | $106.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $292,950 | $140.84 |
| Average (mean) | $182,580 | $87.78 |
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 | $15,164.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,582.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $6,998.85 |
| Weekly | $3,499.42 |
| Hourly | $87.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary in cities in New York
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $181,970 | 1,070 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | $175,060 | 40 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $159,240 | 50 |
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 New York
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $90,600 | $43.56 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,160 | $39.50 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $117,820 | $56.64 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $86,410 | $41.54 |
| Materials Scientist | $131,740 | $63.34 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $117,540 | $56.51 |
| Hydrologist | $88,100 | $42.36 |
| School Psychologist | $106,550 | $51.22 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $114,400 | $55.00 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $87,760 | $42.19 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $63,810 | $30.68 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $95,720 | $46.02 |
| Biological Technician | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $104,770 | $50.37 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in New York
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 New York?
The median salary for physicists in New York is $181,970 a year, or $87.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,000 for the lowest-paid 10% to $292,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in New York?
The top 10% of physicists in New York earn at least $292,950 a year. The top 25% earn $221,590 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in New York?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,000 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $131,600 or less.
How many physicists work in New York?
About 1,140 physicists are employed in New York, not counting the self-employed.