Asst. Professor - Physics Salary in the United States
How much does an Asst. Professor - Physics make in the United States?
As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Asst. Professor - Physics in the United States is $77,245 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $37.
However, an Asst. Professor - Physics's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $96,934
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,786 to $87,551
Key Factors That Influence Asst. Professor - Physics Salaries
An Asst. Professor - Physics's salary isn't a fixed number.
It's shaped by several important factors.
Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education, and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
How Experience Level Affects Asst. Professor - Physics Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of an Asst. Professor - Physics's salary.
As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases.
Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:
Instructor - Physics (0-0 years): $59,707
Asst. Professor - Physics (0-0 years): $77,245
Assoc. Professor - Physics (0-0 years): $93,078
Professor - Physics (0-0 years): $120,929
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Instructor - Physics
0-0 years
$59,707
Asst. Professor - Physics
0-0 years
$77,245
Assoc. Professor - Physics
0-0 years
$93,078
Professor - Physics
0-0 years
$120,929
$59,707Instructo...
$77,245Asst. Pro...
$93,078Assoc. Pr...
$120,929Professor...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Asst. Professor - Physics Salaries Vary from State to State?
Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work.
States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors
often pay more to attract Asst. Professor - Physics.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $85,526.
California: $85,201.
Massachusetts: $84,066.
District of Columbia$85,526
California$85,201
Massachusetts$84,066
Washington$83,757
New Jersey$83,726
Alaska$83,618
Connecticut$82,552
New York$82,119
Hawaii$80,736
Rhode Island$80,088
Maryland$79,647
Minnesota$79,045
Colorado$78,813
Illinois$78,736
Oregon$78,442
Delaware$78,226
New Hampshire$78,090
Virginia$77,786
Pennsylvania$76,897
Nevada$76,449
North Dakota$76,303
Michigan$76,071
Wisconsin$75,986
Vermont$75,816
Texas$75,345
Maine$75,314
Arizona$75,268
Ohio$75,213
Georgia$74,503
Indiana$74,147
Wyoming$74,078
Utah$73,970
Iowa$73,923
Kansas$73,553
Louisiana$73,445
North Carolina$73,406
Missouri$73,390
Florida$73,089
Montana$72,927
Nebraska$72,773
Kentucky$72,688
South Carolina$72,379
Tennessee$72,185
Idaho$72,108
New Mexico$71,544
Oklahoma$71,421
Alabama$70,965
South Dakota$70,200
Arkansas$69,783
West Virginia$69,559
Mississippi$68,887
Top Paying Cities for Asst. Professor - Physics
Salaries can also vary between different cities.
Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay.
Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:
San Jose: $97,429
San Francisco: $96,362
Oakland: $94,332
San Jose, CA$97,429
San Francisco, CA$96,362
Oakland, CA$94,332
New York, NY$88,939
Paramus, NJ$87,858
Queens Village, NY$87,854
Passaic, NJ$87,780
Bergenfield, NJ$87,773
Stamford, CT$87,604
Huntington, NY$87,572
Newark, NJ$87,001
Bridgeport, CT$86,838
Vallejo, CA$86,684
New Brunswick, NJ$86,653
Petaluma, CA$86,607
Middlesex, NJ$86,460
Somerset, NJ$86,406
Santa Cruz, CA$86,306
Boston, MA$85,835
Monterey, CA$85,564
Seattle, WA$85,387
Santa Rosa, CA$85,371
Los Angeles, CA$85,348
Juneau, AK$85,147
Washington, DC$85,062
Orange, CA$84,787
Santa Ana, CA$84,583
Long Beach, CA$84,506
Anaheim, CA$84,491
Anchorage, AK$84,452
Santa Maria, CA$84,220
Everett, WA$84,205
Danbury, CT$83,933
Bremerton, WA$83,826
Tacoma, WA$83,548
New Suffolk, NY$83,547
Sacramento, CA$83,525
Santa Barbara, CA$83,440
Trenton, NJ$83,355
San Diego, CA$83,355
Brockton, MA$83,270
Fairbanks, AK$83,081
Lompoc, CA$82,884
Lowell, MA$82,821
Ventura, CA$82,807
Nashua, NH$82,791
Stockton, CA$82,783
Modesto, CA$82,220
Poughkeepsie, NY$82,050
Olympia, WA$81,903
Kennewick, WA$81,903
New Haven, CT$81,872
Lawrence, MA$81,594
Hartford, CT$81,517
Riverside, CA$81,501
New Bedford, MA$81,424
Richland, WA$81,424
Bakersfield, CA$81,316
San Bernardino, CA$81,285
New Britain, CT$81,277
Atlantic City, NJ$81,277
New London, CT$81,246
Norwich, CT$81,223
Portsmouth, NH$81,208
Boulder, CO$81,044
Portland, OR$80,937
Worcester, MA$80,930
Minneapolis, MN$80,690
Philadelphia, PA$80,582
Honolulu, HI$80,327
Saint Paul, MN$80,290
Vineland, NJ$80,273
Providence, RI$80,049
Chicago, IL$79,825
Bellingham, WA$79,732
Springfield, MA$79,670
Baltimore, MD$79,647
Chico, CA$79,454
Pittsfield, MA$79,246
Manchester, NH$79,099
Spokane, WA$78,759
Denver, CO$78,751
Albany, NY$78,388
Troy, NY$78,357
Nassau, NY$78,275
Schenectady, NY$78,195
Wilmington, DE$78,133
Burlington, VT$78,025
Salem, OR$77,994
Portland, ME$77,755
Yakima, WA$77,678
Rochester, MN$77,438
Reno, NV$77,399
Fresno, CA$77,399
Milwaukee, WI$77,330
Detroit, MI$77,253
Ann Arbor, MI$77,240
Allentown, PA$77,230
Colorado Springs, CO$77,098
Syracuse, NY$77,060
Carson City, NV$77,060
Houston, TX$76,951
Eugene, OR$76,913
Gary, IN$76,820
Springfield, OR$76,758
Bismarck, ND$76,743
Galveston, TX$76,689
Medford, OR$76,573
Fort Collins, CO$76,542
Concord, NH$76,503
Austin, TX$76,480
Mesa, AZ$76,318
Reading, PA$76,310
Phoenix, AZ$76,303
Dallas, TX$76,279
Saint Cloud, MN$76,205
Madison, WI$76,102
Utica, NY$75,893
Rochester, NY$75,770
Des Moines, IA$75,762
Raleigh, NC$75,754
Atlanta, GA$75,638
Battle Creek, MI$75,615
Salt Lake City, UT$75,592
Lancaster, PA$75,476
Harrisburg, PA$75,368
Kansas City, MO$75,291
Champaign, IL$75,275
Kansas City, KS$75,275
Fort Worth, TX$75,268
Columbus, OH$75,254
Boca Raton, FL$75,237
Pittsburgh, PA$75,206
Richmond, VA$75,175
Indianapolis, IN$75,159
Cleveland, OH$75,152
Las Vegas, NV$75,059
Cincinnati, OH$75,059
Petersburg, VA$74,943
Huntsville, AL$74,827
Lansing, MI$74,775
Lebanon, PA$74,765
Pueblo, CO$74,758
Appleton, WI$74,735
Buffalo, NY$74,704
Dayton, OH$74,680
Racine, WI$74,665
Charlotte, NC$74,657
Saint Louis, MO$74,634
York, PA$74,588
Elkhart, IN$74,588
Gastonia, NC$74,573
Billings, MT$74,555
Beaumont, TX$74,534
Lorain, OH$74,518
Benton Harbor, MI$74,503
Toledo, OH$74,487
Binghamton, NY$74,449
Rock Hill, SC$74,441
Rockford, IL$74,402
Springfield, IL$74,371
Elyria, OH$74,364
Fargo, ND$74,364
Flagstaff, AZ$74,310
Fort Lauderdale, FL$74,263
Duluth, MN$74,217
Miami, FL$74,217
Cheyenne, WY$74,163
Grand Forks, ND$74,163
Bangor, ME$73,993
Cedar Rapids, IA$73,908
Durham, NC$73,876
Louisville, KY$73,869
Grand Rapids, MI$73,854
Hialeah, FL$73,846
Casper, WY$73,738
Scranton, PA$73,645
New Orleans, LA$73,622
Virginia Beach, VA$73,614
Akron, OH$73,576
Peoria, IL$73,475
Sarasota, FL$73,460
Nashville, TN$73,406
Omaha, NE$73,406
Green Bay, WI$73,406
Baton Rouge, LA$73,367
Charleston, SC$73,352
Jamestown, NY$73,313
Davenport, IA$73,313
Tucson, AZ$73,275
Saint Petersburg, FL$73,228
Tampa, FL$73,213
Evansville, IN$73,166
Port Arthur, TX$73,166
Bradenton, FL$73,136
Santa Fe, NM$72,997
Orlando, FL$72,857
Clearwater, FL$72,834
Canton, OH$72,672
La Crosse, WI$72,672
Albuquerque, NM$72,626
Newport News, VA$72,618
High Point, NC$72,595
Ogden, UT$72,564
Corpus Christi, TX$72,502
Norfolk, VA$72,456
Laramie, WY$72,456
Rock Island, IL$72,409
Saginaw, MI$72,394
Jacksonville, FL$72,386
Salisbury, NC$72,371
Boise, ID$72,355
Moline, IL$72,317
Fort Myers, FL$72,294
Memphis, TN$72,278
Tulsa, OK$72,240
Waterloo, IA$72,193
Spartanburg, SC$72,116
Lincoln, NE$72,077
Fort Wayne, IN$72,062
Provo, UT$72,054
Cedar Falls, IA$71,961
San Antonio, TX$71,931
Greensboro, NC$71,900
South Bend, IN$71,892
Savannah, GA$71,807
Muskegon, MI$71,776
Birmingham, AL$71,768
Winston Salem, NC$71,730
Lake Charles, LA$71,544
Anderson, IN$71,529
Lexington, KY$71,506
Augusta, GA$71,483
Greenville, SC$71,483
Lima, OH$71,421
Wichita, KS$71,413
Tuscaloosa, AL$71,413
Columbia, SC$71,343
Springfield, OH$71,328
Asheville, NC$71,204
Bloomington, IN$71,150
Knoxville, TN$70,872
Shreveport, LA$70,865
Wilmington, NC$70,764
Roanoke, VA$70,764
Topeka, KS$70,625
Frankfort, KY$70,617
Oklahoma City, OK$70,563
Chillicothe, OH$70,532
Longview, TX$70,525
Melbourne, FL$70,517
Sioux Falls, SD$70,393
Mobile, AL$70,386
Terre Haute, IN$70,355
Altoona, PA$70,308
Amarillo, TX$70,254
Killeen, TX$70,231
Fayetteville, AR$70,169
Chattanooga, TN$70,146
Sioux City, IA$70,077
Idaho Falls, ID$70,061
Lynchburg, VA$69,999
Gainesville, FL$69,899
Portsmouth, OH$69,860
Little Rock, AR$69,845
Lafayette, LA$69,814
Youngstown, OH$69,814
Daytona Beach, FL$69,768
Clarksville, TN$69,760
Pensacola, FL$69,752
Temple, TX$69,747
Hopkinsville, KY$69,521
Erie, PA$69,505
Florence, SC$69,474
Charleston, WV$69,351
Great Falls, MT$69,312
Macon, GA$69,204
Tallahassee, FL$69,196
Fayetteville, NC$69,181
Waco, TX$69,165
Helena, MT$69,111
Pine Bluff, AR$69,082
Vincennes, IN$68,988
Lubbock, TX$68,957
Alamogordo, NM$68,910
Twin Falls, ID$68,841
Rapid City, SD$68,818
Jackson, MS$68,679
Huntington, WV$68,673
Greenville, MS$68,671
Parkersburg, WV$68,592
Montgomery, AL$68,578
Wichita Falls, TX$68,501
Springfield, MO$68,501
Biloxi, MS$68,462
Monroe, LA$68,385
Johnstown, PA$68,331
Sumter, SC$68,300
Columbus, GA$68,292
Pascagoula, MS$68,146
Abilene, TX$68,146
Kingsport, TN$67,945
Albany, GA$67,945
Gulfport, MS$67,922
Alexandria, LA$67,667
Fort Smith, AR$67,474
El Paso, TX$67,265
Las Cruces, NM$66,917
Harlingen, TX$66,721
Pocatello, ID$66,709
Florence, AL$66,608
Brownsville, TX$66,593
Mcallen, TX$66,431
Dothan, AL$66,323
Columbus, MS$65,864
Altus, OK$65,504
Lawton, OK$65,357
Pierre, SD$65,079
What Skills Can Increase an Asst. Professor - Physics's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Leadership (Mentioned in 12.5% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
Academic Advising (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Academic advising is, according to the National Academic Advising Association, "a series of intentional interactions with a curriculum, a pedagogy, and a set of student learning outcomes. Academic advising synthesizes and contextualizes students' educational experiences within the frameworks of their aspirations, abilities and lives to extend learning beyond campus boundaries and timeframes."
Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.08% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Leadership
12.5%
Academic Advising
2.08%
Computer Science
2.08%
What skills can make your compensation higher?
Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay.
Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Asst. Professor - Physics's salary.
Teamwork: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Initiative: Can increase your salary by up to 2%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Teamwork
$83,425
8%
Alignment
$82,652
7%
Initiative
$78,790
2%
Computer Science
$77,245
0%
Commitment
$77,245
0%
Get Latest Data
Asst. Professor - Physics Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Asst. Professor - Physics salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $79,776.
While startup companies pay approximate $68,137.
Asst. Professor - Physics Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$68,137
Growth Stage
51~500
$71,896
Established
501~5000
$77,233
Enterprise
5000+
$79,776
Asst. Professor - Physics Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Asst. Professor - Physics roles, the industry you choose can impact your earning potential
by as much as 10% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the highest-paying industry, Government,
offers compensation 5% above the average. Conversely,
Asst. Professor - Physics positions in Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as this sector often view Asst. Professor - Physics as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industry for an Asst. Professor - Physics
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Government
$81,107
$39.0
5%
How Education impacts an Asst. Professor - Physics's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Asst. Professor - Physics enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree,
higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.
According to our 100% employer-reported salary data,
the median salary for an Asst. Professor - Physics with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$66,719
and $78,659).
Asst. Professor - Physics Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Asst. Professor - Physics
No Diploma3.4%
High School96.6%
Associates0.0%
Bachelors0.0%
Masters3.4%
Doctorate96.6%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
3.4%
High School
96.6%
Associates
0.0%
Bachelors
0.0%
Masters
3.4%
Doctorate
96.6%
view as graph
Asst. Professor - Physics Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how an Asst. Professor - Physics's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting.
Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role.
Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on July 01, 2026
$65,786
Average$77,245/year
$87,551
$5,482
Average$6,437/month
$7,296
$1,265
Average$1,485/week
$1,684
$32
Average$37/hour
$42
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$87,551
$7,296
$1,684
$42
Average
$77,245
$6,437
$1,485
$37
25th Percentile
$65,786
$5,482
$1,265
$32
Asst. Professor - Physics Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As an Asst. Professor - Physics, you have the following paths for advancement.
The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles.
By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.
Asst. Professor - Physics Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role
Estimate Salary
Projected Raise
Assoc. Professor - Architecture
$88,379
14%
Assoc. Professor - Biology
$78,968
2%
Assoc. Professor - Chemical Engineering
$109,317
42%
Assoc. Professor - Civil Engineering
$106,225
38%
Salaries of jobs related to Asst. Professor - Physics
Salaries for an Asst. Professor - Physics can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $55,867 in 2023
to around $53,962 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Asst. Professor - Physics salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Asst. Professor - Physics Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$55,867
2024
$55,153
2025
$53,962
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$55,867
2024
$55,153
2025
$53,962
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Asst. Professor - Physics
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
For Employers
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Common company salaries for Asst. Professor - Physics
Here are companies hiring for Asst. Professor - Physics and their salaries, click below for more details.
N
$97,099/per year
New York Police Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$95,962/per year
State of New York - Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$94,615/per year
US Department of Transportation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$93,141/per year
US General Services Administration
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$92,342/per year
Los Angeles County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
D
$92,011/per year
Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Prisons
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,967/per year
US Department of Commerce
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$91,755/per year
US Department of Energy
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
F
$91,673/per year
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$90,276/per year
Naval Sea Systems Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,975/per year
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$88,721/per year
San Diego County
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
T
$88,664/per year
The TTB
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
L
$87,569/per year
Lutheran Services
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
M
$85,066/per year
Maryland Inc
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$83,780/per year
State University of New York
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$82,969/per year
New York State
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
P
$82,703/per year
Puerto Rico Department of Education
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
U
$80,526/per year
US Central Command
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
H
$80,286/per year
Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$79,270/per year
Air Force Reserve
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
A
$78,505/per year
American Automobile Association (AAA)
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$76,678/per year
State of Florida - Department of Health
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
N
$75,183/per year
New York State Department
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
S
$75,106/per year
State University System of Florida
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
the United States
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FAQ about Asst. Professor - Physics
1. Where can an Asst. Professor - Physics earn the most?
An Asst. Professor - Physics's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer.
According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, an Asst. Professor - Physics earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of an Asst. Professor - Physics is $97,429.
2. What is the highest pay for Asst. Professor - Physics?
The highest pay for Asst. Professor - Physics is $96,934.
3. What is the lowest pay for Asst. Professor - Physics?
The lowest pay for Asst. Professor - Physics is $55,353.
4. What are the responsibilities of Asst. Professor - Physics?
Teaches courses in the discipline area of physics. Develops and designs curriculum plans to foster student learning, stimulate class discussions, and ensures student engagement. Provides tutoring and academic counseling to students, maintains classes related records, and assesses student coursework. Collaborates and supports colleagues regarding research interests and co-curricular activities. Typically reports to a department head. Requires a PhD or terminal degree appropriate to the field. Has experience and is qualified to teach at undergraduate and graduate levels and contributes to research in a specialized field.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Asst. Professor - Physics?
The Government industry offers the highest average compensation for Asst. Professor - Physics roles,
with salaries approximately 5% above the market median.
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
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