As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Physicist III in the United States is $111,531. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $95,011 to $139,196, with most professionals earning between $79,972 and $164,384.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $139,196 | $11,600 | $2,677 | $67 |
| Average | $111,531 | $9,294 | $2,145 | $54 |
| 25th Percentile | $95,011 | $7,918 | $1,827 | $46 |
An entry-level Physicist III with less than 1 year of experience earns about $103,062. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $104,282. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $106,722. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $118,556, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $125,913.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Physicist III | $103,062 |
| Intermediate Level Physicist III | $104,282 |
| Senior Level Physicist III | $106,722 |
| Specialist Level Physicist III | $118,556 |
| Expert Level Physicist III | $125,913 |
| Entry Level | 8% |
| Mid Level | 6% |
| Senior Level | 4% |
| Top Level | 6% |
| Experienced | 13% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Physicist III compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $83,250 in 2023 to approximately $82,484 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Physicist III salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Physicist III information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Physicist III job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Physicist III and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $111,531 | 71.4% | ||
| Bonus | $782 | 0.5% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $8,592 | 5.5% | ||
| 401K/403B | $4,717 | 3.0% | ||
| Disability | $2,246 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 5.4% | ||
| Pension | $6,065 | 3.9% | ||
| Time Off | $13,823 | 8.9% | ||
| Total Compensation | $156,108 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| Bachelors | 3.3% |
| Masters | 15.2% |
| Doctorate | 81.5% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Physicist III is $111,531. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Physicist III is $54; the average weekly pay of Physicist III is $2,145; the average monthly pay of Physicist III is $9,294.
A Physicist III'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 III earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Physicist III is $139,971.
The highest pay for Physicist III is $164,384.
The lowest pay for Physicist III is $79,972.
Physicist III researches subjects such as mechanics, heat, light, sound, electricity, pneumatics, magnetism, and radiation. Develops laws and theories of physics for their application to specific industries and fields. Being a Physicist III describes and illustrates observations and conclusions in mathematical terms. Devises procedures for physical testing of materials. Additionally, Physicist III conducts instrumental analyses to determine physical properties of materials. Requires a master's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. The Physicist III contributes to moderately complex aspects of a project. Work is generally independent and collaborative in nature. To be a Physicist III typically requires 4 to 7 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Planning: 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.
Radiology: Recording, analyzing, and measuring brain activities through electroencephalogram tests to detect, diagnose, and treat brain disorders.
Support Services: Support Services means those activities provided to or on behalf of a person in the areas of personal care and assistance and property maintenance in order to allow a person to live in the least restrictive environment.
Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.
We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)
With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.
