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Hourly Wage for Physicist IV Salary in the United States

What is the hourly salary range of Physicist IV?

As of August 01, 2026, the average hourly rate for a Physicist IV in the United States is $68, which translates to an annual salary of about $140,836.

However, the hourly wage can vary significantly based on several factors. Here’s a detailed look at the typical pay range per hour:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $80 per hour
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $60 to $74 per hour
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $54 per hour
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Physicist IV Salaries

A Physicist IV'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 IV Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Physicist IV'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 II (2-4 years): $92,252
  • Physicist III (4-7 years): $108,224
  • Physicist IV (7+ years): $140,836
  • Physicist V (7-10 years): $157,221
  • Physicist VI (10-12 years): $186,405
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Physicist II2-4 years$92,252
Physicist III4-7 years$108,224
Physicist IV7+ years$140,836
Physicist V7-10 years$157,221
Physicist VI10-12 years$186,405
View as Graph

How Do Physicist IVs 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 IVs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $155,934.
  • California: $155,342.
  • Massachusetts: $153,272.

Top Paying Cities for Physicist IV

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: $177,636
  • San Francisco: $175,692
  • Oakland: $171,989

What Skills Can Increase a Physicist IV's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Planning (Mentioned in 9.69% 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.
  • Radiology (Mentioned in 5.79% Job Postings): Recording, analyzing, and measuring brain activities through electroencephalogram tests to detect, diagnose, and treat brain disorders.
  • Patient Care (Mentioned in 1.75% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 9.69%
Radiology 5.79%
Patient Care 1.75%
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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 IV's salary.

  • Clinical Research: Can increase your salary by up to 38%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Clinical Research $194,354
38%
Presentation $166,186
18%
Project Management $161,961
15%
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Physicist IV Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Physicist IV salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $158,137. While startup companies pay approximate $133,977.

Physicist IV Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $133,977
Growth Stage 51~500 $141,633
Established 501~5000 $152,762
Enterprise 5000+ $158,137

Physicist IV Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Physicist IV roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Aerospace & Defense sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% 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 IV as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Physicist IV

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$183,087$88.030%
Aerospace & Defense$169,003$81.020%
Software & Networking$169,003$81.020%
Energy & Utilities$161,961$78.015%
Biotechnology$154,920$74.010%

How Education impacts an Physicist IV's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Physicist IV enter the field with a Bachelor's 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 Physicist IV with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Physicist IV Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Physicist IV
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 6.1%
High School 93.9%
Associates 0.0%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 6.1%
Doctorate 93.9%
View as Graph

Physicist IV Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Physicist IV'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.

Last Updated on August 01, 2026
$125,627
Average $140,836/year
$153,913
$10,469
Average $11,736/month
$12,826
$2,416
Average $2,708/week
$2,960
$60
Average $68/hour
$74
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $153,913 $12,826 $2,960 $74
Average $140,836 $11,736 $2,708 $68
25th Percentile $125,627 $10,469 $2,416 $60

Most common benefits for Physicist IV

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Physicist IV

Here are companies hiring for Physicist IV and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Physicist IV

1. What are the responsibilities of Physicist IV?

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 highly independent. May assume a team lead role for the work group. A specialist on complex technical and business matters. Typically requires 7+ years of related experience.

2. What are the skills of Physicist IV

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.

1.)

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.

2.)

Radiology: Recording, analyzing, and measuring brain activities through electroencephalogram tests to detect, diagnose, and treat brain disorders.

3.)

Patient Care: Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

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