A Physicist I'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 Physicist Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Physicist I'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:
Physicist I (0-2 years): $73,382
Physicist II (2-4 years): $92,225
Physicist III (4-7 years): $108,201
Physicist IV (7+ years): $140,800
Physicist V (7-10 years): $157,202
Job Role
Years of Experience
Average Salary
Physicist I
0-2 years
$73,382
Physicist II
2-4 years
$92,225
Physicist III
4-7 years
$108,201
Physicist IV
7+ years
$140,800
Physicist V
7-10 years
$157,202
$73,382Physicist...
$92,225Physicist...
$108,201Physicist...
$140,800Physicist...
$157,202Physicist...
View as Table
View as Graph
What Am I Worth?
How Do Physicist I 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 Physicist Is.
For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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: $92,557
San Francisco: $91,543
Oakland: $89,614
San Jose, CA$92,557
San Francisco, CA$91,543
Oakland, CA$89,614
New York, NY$84,491
Paramus, NJ$83,464
Queens Village, NY$83,460
Passaic, NJ$83,391
Bergenfield, NJ$83,384
Stamford, CT$83,223
Huntington, NY$83,192
Newark, NJ$82,650
Bridgeport, CT$82,495
Vallejo, CA$82,349
New Brunswick, NJ$82,320
Petaluma, CA$82,276
Middlesex, NJ$82,136
Somerset, NJ$82,085
Santa Cruz, CA$81,990
Boston, MA$81,542
Monterey, CA$81,285
Seattle, WA$81,116
Santa Rosa, CA$81,102
Los Angeles, CA$81,080
Juneau, AK$80,889
Washington, DC$80,808
Orange, CA$80,547
Santa Ana, CA$80,353
Long Beach, CA$80,280
Anaheim, CA$80,265
Anchorage, AK$80,229
Santa Maria, CA$80,008
Everett, WA$79,994
Danbury, CT$79,735
Bremerton, WA$79,634
Tacoma, WA$79,370
New Suffolk, NY$79,369
Sacramento, CA$79,348
Santa Barbara, CA$79,267
Trenton, NJ$79,187
San Diego, CA$79,187
Brockton, MA$79,106
Fairbanks, AK$78,926
Lompoc, CA$78,739
Lowell, MA$78,679
Ventura, CA$78,666
Nashua, NH$78,651
Stockton, CA$78,643
Modesto, CA$78,108
Poughkeepsie, NY$77,946
Olympia, WA$77,807
Kennewick, WA$77,807
New Haven, CT$77,778
Lawrence, MA$77,513
Hartford, CT$77,440
Riverside, CA$77,425
New Bedford, MA$77,352
Richland, WA$77,352
Bakersfield, CA$77,249
San Bernardino, CA$77,220
New Britain, CT$77,213
Atlantic City, NJ$77,213
New London, CT$77,183
Norwich, CT$77,161
Portsmouth, NH$77,146
Boulder, CO$76,991
Portland, OR$76,890
Worcester, MA$76,882
Minneapolis, MN$76,655
Philadelphia, PA$76,552
Honolulu, HI$76,310
Saint Paul, MN$76,275
Vineland, NJ$76,259
Providence, RI$76,046
Chicago, IL$75,833
Bellingham, WA$75,745
Springfield, MA$75,686
Baltimore, MD$75,664
Chico, CA$75,481
Pittsfield, MA$75,283
Manchester, NH$75,143
Spokane, WA$74,820
Denver, CO$74,813
Albany, NY$74,468
Troy, NY$74,439
Nassau, NY$74,360
Schenectady, NY$74,285
Wilmington, DE$74,226
Burlington, VT$74,123
Salem, OR$74,094
Portland, ME$73,866
Yakima, WA$73,793
Rochester, MN$73,565
Reno, NV$73,529
Fresno, CA$73,529
Milwaukee, WI$73,463
Detroit, MI$73,389
Ann Arbor, MI$73,377
Allentown, PA$73,367
Colorado Springs, CO$73,243
Syracuse, NY$73,206
Carson City, NV$73,206
Houston, TX$73,103
Eugene, OR$73,066
Gary, IN$72,978
Springfield, OR$72,920
Bismarck, ND$72,905
Galveston, TX$72,854
Medford, OR$72,744
Fort Collins, CO$72,714
Concord, NH$72,678
Austin, TX$72,656
Mesa, AZ$72,501
Reading, PA$72,494
Phoenix, AZ$72,487
Dallas, TX$72,465
Saint Cloud, MN$72,394
Madison, WI$72,296
Utica, NY$72,098
Rochester, NY$71,980
Des Moines, IA$71,973
Raleigh, NC$71,966
Atlanta, GA$71,856
Battle Creek, MI$71,834
Salt Lake City, UT$71,812
Lancaster, PA$71,702
Harrisburg, PA$71,599
Kansas City, MO$71,525
Champaign, IL$71,511
Kansas City, KS$71,511
Fort Worth, TX$71,503
Columbus, OH$71,491
Boca Raton, FL$71,474
Pittsburgh, PA$71,445
Richmond, VA$71,415
Indianapolis, IN$71,401
Cleveland, OH$71,393
Las Vegas, NV$71,305
Cincinnati, OH$71,305
Petersburg, VA$71,195
Huntsville, AL$71,085
Lansing, MI$71,036
Lebanon, PA$71,026
Pueblo, CO$71,019
Appleton, WI$70,997
Buffalo, NY$70,968
Dayton, OH$70,946
Racine, WI$70,931
Charlotte, NC$70,924
Saint Louis, MO$70,902
York, PA$70,858
Elkhart, IN$70,858
Gastonia, NC$70,844
Billings, MT$70,826
Beaumont, TX$70,806
Lorain, OH$70,792
Benton Harbor, MI$70,777
Toledo, OH$70,762
Binghamton, NY$70,726
Rock Hill, SC$70,718
Rockford, IL$70,682
Springfield, IL$70,652
Elyria, OH$70,645
Fargo, ND$70,645
Flagstaff, AZ$70,593
Fort Lauderdale, FL$70,549
Duluth, MN$70,505
Miami, FL$70,505
Cheyenne, WY$70,454
Grand Forks, ND$70,454
Bangor, ME$70,293
Cedar Rapids, IA$70,212
Durham, NC$70,181
Louisville, KY$70,175
Grand Rapids, MI$70,161
Hialeah, FL$70,153
Casper, WY$70,050
Scranton, PA$69,962
New Orleans, LA$69,940
Virginia Beach, VA$69,933
Akron, OH$69,896
Peoria, IL$69,801
Sarasota, FL$69,786
Nashville, TN$69,735
Omaha, NE$69,735
Green Bay, WI$69,735
Baton Rouge, LA$69,698
Charleston, SC$69,684
Jamestown, NY$69,647
Davenport, IA$69,647
Tucson, AZ$69,610
Saint Petersburg, FL$69,566
Tampa, FL$69,551
Evansville, IN$69,507
Port Arthur, TX$69,507
Bradenton, FL$69,478
Santa Fe, NM$69,346
Orlando, FL$69,214
Clearwater, FL$69,192
Canton, OH$69,038
La Crosse, WI$69,038
Albuquerque, NM$68,994
Newport News, VA$68,986
High Point, NC$68,964
Ogden, UT$68,935
Corpus Christi, TX$68,876
Norfolk, VA$68,832
Laramie, WY$68,832
Rock Island, IL$68,788
Saginaw, MI$68,774
Jacksonville, FL$68,766
Salisbury, NC$68,752
Boise, ID$68,737
Moline, IL$68,700
Fort Myers, FL$68,678
Memphis, TN$68,664
Tulsa, OK$68,627
Waterloo, IA$68,583
Spartanburg, SC$68,509
Lincoln, NE$68,473
Fort Wayne, IN$68,458
Provo, UT$68,451
Cedar Falls, IA$68,363
San Antonio, TX$68,333
Greensboro, NC$68,304
South Bend, IN$68,297
Savannah, GA$68,216
Muskegon, MI$68,187
Birmingham, AL$68,179
Winston Salem, NC$68,143
Lake Charles, LA$67,966
Anderson, IN$67,952
Lexington, KY$67,930
Augusta, GA$67,908
Greenville, SC$67,908
Lima, OH$67,849
Wichita, KS$67,842
Tuscaloosa, AL$67,842
Columbia, SC$67,776
Springfield, OH$67,761
Asheville, NC$67,644
Bloomington, IN$67,592
Knoxville, TN$67,328
Shreveport, LA$67,321
Wilmington, NC$67,225
Roanoke, VA$67,225
Topeka, KS$67,093
Frankfort, KY$67,085
Oklahoma City, OK$67,034
Chillicothe, OH$67,005
Longview, TX$66,998
Melbourne, FL$66,990
Sioux Falls, SD$66,873
Mobile, AL$66,866
Terre Haute, IN$66,836
Altoona, PA$66,792
Amarillo, TX$66,741
Killeen, TX$66,719
Fayetteville, AR$66,660
Chattanooga, TN$66,638
Sioux City, IA$66,572
Idaho Falls, ID$66,557
Lynchburg, VA$66,499
Gainesville, FL$66,403
Portsmouth, OH$66,367
Little Rock, AR$66,352
Lafayette, LA$66,323
Youngstown, OH$66,323
Daytona Beach, FL$66,279
Clarksville, TN$66,271
Pensacola, FL$66,264
Temple, TX$66,259
Hopkinsville, KY$66,044
Erie, PA$66,029
Florence, SC$66,000
Charleston, WV$65,882
Great Falls, MT$65,846
Macon, GA$65,743
Tallahassee, FL$65,736
Fayetteville, NC$65,721
Waco, TX$65,706
Helena, MT$65,655
Pine Bluff, AR$65,627
Vincennes, IN$65,537
Lubbock, TX$65,508
Alamogordo, NM$65,464
Twin Falls, ID$65,398
Rapid City, SD$65,376
Jackson, MS$65,244
Huntington, WV$65,239
Greenville, MS$65,237
Parkersburg, WV$65,162
Montgomery, AL$65,149
Wichita Falls, TX$65,075
Springfield, MO$65,075
Biloxi, MS$65,038
Monroe, LA$64,965
Johnstown, PA$64,914
Sumter, SC$64,884
Columbus, GA$64,877
Pascagoula, MS$64,738
Abilene, TX$64,738
Kingsport, TN$64,547
Albany, GA$64,547
Gulfport, MS$64,525
Alexandria, LA$64,283
Fort Smith, AR$64,099
El Paso, TX$63,901
Las Cruces, NM$63,571
Harlingen, TX$63,384
Pocatello, ID$63,373
Florence, AL$63,277
Brownsville, TX$63,263
Mcallen, TX$63,109
Dothan, AL$63,006
Columbus, MS$62,570
Altus, OK$62,228
Lawton, OK$62,089
Pierre, SD$61,824
What Skills Can Increase a Physicist I's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Planning (Mentioned in 10.25% Job Postings): An act or process of making or carrying out plans. Establishment of goals, policies, and procedures for a social or economic unit city planning business planning.
Calibration (Mentioned in 6.54% Job Postings): In measurement technology and metrology, calibration is the comparison of measurement values delivered by a device under test with those of a calibration standard of known accuracy. Such a standard could be another measurement device of known accuracy, a device generating the quantity to be measured such as a voltage, a sound tone, or a physical artefact, such as a metre ruler. The outcome of the comparison can result in one of the following: no significant error being noted on the device under test a significant error being noted but no adjustment made an adjustment made to correct the error to an acceptable levelStrictly speaking, the term "calibration" means just the act of comparison, and does not include any subsequent adjustment. The calibration standard is normally traceable to a national standard held by a national metrological body.
Technical Skills (Mentioned in 1.6% Job Postings): Technical skills are the specialized knowledge and expertise required to perform specific tasks and use specific tools and programs in real world situations.
See More Skills
Skills
Demand Percentage
Planning
10.25%
Calibration
6.54%
Technical Skills
1.6%
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 a Physicist I's salary.
Nuclear Medicine: Can increase your salary by up to 56%.
Consulting: Can increase your salary by up to 51%.
MRI: Can increase your salary by up to 50%.
Skill
Salary
Salary % Increase
Nuclear Medicine
$114,476
56%
Consulting
$110,807
51%
MRI
$110,073
50%
Coordination
$87,325
19%
Planning
$85,123
16%
Insight
$82,188
12%
Get Latest Data
Physicist I Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise
Physicist I salary potential scales significantly with company size.
Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $82,502.
While startup companies pay approximate $69,862.
Physicist I Salary by Company Size
Company Size
Employees
Average Salary
Startup
1~50
$69,862
Growth Stage
51~500
$73,861
Established
501~5000
$79,696
Enterprise
5000+
$82,502
Physicist I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Physicist I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 150% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Software & Networking and Pharmaceuticals
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average.
In contrast, Physicist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Physicist I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Physicist I
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking
$117,411
$56.0
60%
Pharmaceuticals
$102,735
$49.0
40%
Biotechnology
$95,397
$46.0
30%
Energy & Utilities
$88,058
$42.0
20%
Aerospace & Defense
$80,720
$39.0
10%
How Education impacts a Physicist I's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Physicist Is 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 a Physicist I with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$70,975
and $75,970).
Physicist I Salaries by Degree Level
Typical Education for Physicist I
No Diploma1.0%
High School1.0%
Associates19.0%
Bachelors41.9%
Masters19.0%
Doctorate38.1%
view as table
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
1.0%
High School
1.0%
Associates
19.0%
Bachelors
41.9%
Masters
19.0%
Doctorate
38.1%
view as graph
Physicist I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Physicist I'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
$65,246
Average$73,382/year
$80,000
$5,437
Average$6,115/month
$6,667
$1,255
Average$1,411/week
$1,538
$31
Average$35/hour
$38
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$80,000
$6,667
$1,538
$38
Average
$73,382
$6,115
$1,411
$35
25th Percentile
$65,246
$5,437
$1,255
$31
Physicist I Salary Growth & Career Path
Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings.
As a Physicist I, 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.
Salaries for a Physicist I can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary decreased from $54,738 in 2023
to around $54,504 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Physicist I salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Physicist I Over Time
2022
$???
2023
$54,738
2024
$54,710
2025
$54,504
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$54,738
2024
$54,710
2025
$54,504
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Physicist I
Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Physicist I
Here are companies hiring for Physicist I and their salaries, click below for more details.
C
$128,509/per year
C R Bard Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
H
$124,697/per year
Henry Schein Canada
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$123,899/per year
Nordex Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$120,416/per year
Nipro Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$115,870/per year
Enovis
Biotechnology
the United States
A
$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy
Biotechnology
the United States
M
$112,110/per year
MiniMed Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug Development
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$110,229/per year
Life Technologies Corp
Biotechnology
the United States
Z
$106,224/per year
Zimmer Biomet
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$103,077/per year
Promontory Therapeutics
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$102,181/per year
Steris PLC
Biotechnology
the United States
G
$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicines
Biotechnology
the United States
R
$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLC
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$94,235/per year
Pleno Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$93,666/per year
Simulaids Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
N
$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CAS
Biotechnology
the United States
O
$86,468/per year
Onward Technology
Biotechnology
the United States
L
$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
E
$84,682/per year
Eyeco Ltd
Biotechnology
the United States
P
$84,523/per year
Paerosol
Biotechnology
the United States
I
$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences Inc
Biotechnology
the United States
S
$82,815/per year
Stateside PPE
Biotechnology
the United States
D
$82,041/per year
Digi Bio
Biotechnology
the United States
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FAQ about Physicist I
1. Where can a Physicist I earn the most?
A Physicist I'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, a Physicist I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Physicist I is $92,557.
2. What is the highest pay for Physicist I?
The highest pay for Physicist I is $86,025.
3. What is the lowest pay for Physicist I?
The lowest pay for Physicist I is $57,839.
4. What are the responsibilities of Physicist I?
Conducts research and analysis to study and apply the laws of nature, including the behavior of matter, energy, space, and time. Develops laws and theories of physics for their application to specific industries and fields. Designs experiments and describes and illustrates observations and conclusions in mathematical terms. Utilizes computational tools and statistical methods to develop mathematical models that explain physical processes. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a manager. Work is closely managed. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
5. What industry pays the highest salary for Physicist I?
The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Physicist I roles,
with salaries approximately 60% 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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