Physicist salary in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
Physicists in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median of $120,490 a year ($57.93 an hour), based on BLS data for 100 workers.
Pay ranges from $66,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,780 for the top 10%. That is 30% lower than the national median of $172,250. Pay here is 42% lower than the California statewide median of $207,490. There are 0.10 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.73). The average (mean) salary is $130,050, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for physicists in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $66,510 | $31.97 |
| 25th percentile | $91,990 | $44.23 |
| Median | $120,490 | $57.93 |
| 75th percentile | $140,460 | $67.53 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $225,780 | $108.55 |
| Average (mean) | $130,050 | $62.53 |
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 | $10,040.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,020.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,634.23 |
| Weekly | $2,317.12 |
| Hourly | $57.93 |
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $108,430 | $52.13 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $119,950 | $57.67 |
| Chemist | $82,400 | $39.62 |
| Hydrologist | $106,860 | $51.37 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $101,070 | $48.59 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $137,640 | $66.18 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $96,580 | $46.43 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $104,770 | $50.37 |
| Biological Technician | $64,410 | $30.96 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,220 | $47.22 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $153,050 | $73.58 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $57,170 | $27.49 |
| Agricultural Technician | $62,680 | $30.13 |
| School Psychologist | $131,920 | $63.42 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
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 Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA?
The median salary for physicists in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $120,490 a year, or $57.93 an hour. Pay ranges from $66,510 for the lowest-paid 10% to $225,780 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA?
The top 10% of physicists in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn at least $225,780 a year. The top 25% earn $140,460 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $66,510 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $91,990 or less.
How many physicists work in Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA?
About 100 physicists are employed in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.