Physicist salary in Texas
Physicists in Texas earn a median of $184,040 a year ($88.48 an hour), based on BLS data for 580 workers.
Pay ranges from $69,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $289,950 for the top 10%. That is 7% higher than the national median of $172,250. Texas ranks 7th of 43 states for physicists pay. There are 0.04 physicists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.31). The average (mean) salary is $176,530, close to the median.
Pay range for physicists in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $69,960 | $33.64 |
| 25th percentile | $95,530 | $45.93 |
| Median | $184,040 | $88.48 |
| 75th percentile | $253,070 | $121.67 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $289,950 | $139.40 |
| Average (mean) | $176,530 | $84.87 |
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 | $15,336.67 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $7,668.33 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $7,078.46 |
| Weekly | $3,539.23 |
| Hourly | $88.48 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Physicist salary in cities in Texas
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $199,770 | 140 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $194,290 | 100 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $156,750 | 80 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | $107,340 | 120 |
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 Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $92,000 | $44.23 |
| Chemist | $99,640 | $47.90 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $145,220 | $69.82 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $100,920 | $48.52 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $84,990 | $40.86 |
| Materials Scientist | $72,700 | $34.95 |
| Hydrologist | $81,080 | $38.98 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $79,660 | $38.30 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $80,470 | $38.69 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $48,960 | $23.54 |
| Chemical Technician | $62,580 | $30.09 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Technicians | $57,980 | $27.87 |
| School Psychologist | $83,690 | $40.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,660 | $40.22 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for physicists in Texas is $184,040 a year, or $88.48 an hour. Pay ranges from $69,960 for the lowest-paid 10% to $289,950 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid physicists make in Texas?
The top 10% of physicists in Texas earn at least $289,950 a year. The top 25% earn $253,070 or more.
What is the starting pay for physicists in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $69,960 a year, and a quarter of physicists earn $95,530 or less.
How many physicists work in Texas?
About 580 physicists are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.