Computational Physicist Salary in the United States

How much does a Computational Physicist make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Computational Physicist in the United States is $73,498 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, a Computational Physicist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,569
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,513 to $80,340
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,332
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered HR
View as table View as graph 25% $64,513 10% $56,332 90% $86,569 75% $80,340 $73,498 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Computational Physicist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $80,340 $6,695 $1,545 $39
Average $73,498 $6,125 $1,413 $35
25th Percentile $64,513 $5,376 $1,241 $31
Check out Computational Physicist Job Openings in the United States
Physician Oncology Ohio Permanent Associate Medical Director

eviCore healthcare - Columbus, OH

RN

Alto Health Care Staffing - Columbus, OH

Search More Computational Physicist Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Computational Physicist Salaries

A Computational Physicist'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 Computational Physicist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Computational Physicist'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $75,369
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $94,734
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $111,135
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $144,624
  • Expert (over 8 years): $161,450
Levels Salary
Computati... Level Computational Physicist$75,369
Physicist... Level Computational Physicist$94,734
Physicist... Level Computational Physicist$111,135
Physicist... Level Computational Physicist$144,624
Physicist... Level Computational Physicist$161,450
$75,369 0 yr
$94,734 < 2 yrs
$111,135 2-4 yrs
$144,624 5-8 yrs
$161,450 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Computational Physicists

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: $92,702
  • San Francisco: $91,687
  • Oakland: $89,755

What Skills Can Increase a Computational Physicist'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 Computational Physicist'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
$114,656
56%
Consulting
$110,981
51%
MRI
$110,246
50%
Coordination
$87,462
19%
Planning
$85,257
16%
Insight
$82,317
12%
Get Latest Data

Computational Physicist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Computational Physicist 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, Computational Physicist positions in Transportation or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Computational Physicist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Computational Physicist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$117,596$57.060%
Pharmaceuticals$102,896$49.040%
Biotechnology$95,547$46.030%
Energy & Utilities$88,197$42.020%
Aerospace & Defense$80,847$39.010%

How Education impacts a Computational Physicist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Computational Physicists 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 Computational Physicist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $70,975 and $75,970).

Computational Physicist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Computational Physicist
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

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

Understanding how a Computational Physicist'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

Salary Trends for Computational Physicist

Salaries for a Computational Physicist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $56,210 in 2023 to around $55,970 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Computational Physicist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Computational Physicist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$56,210
2024
$56,181
2025
$55,970
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $56,210
2024 $56,181
2025 $55,970
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Computational Physicist

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Computational Physicist

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

Find Your Next Computational Physicist Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Computational Physicist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • XPO

    Columbus, OH

    CDL

    XPO | Columbus, OH

    XPO is Hiring Driver Teams. XPO Teams. As an XPO Team, you’ll run dedicated routes between XPO facilities in. new sleeper. trucks equipped with microwaves ... more

    4 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Summit Recruiting Group

    Columbus, OH

    Summit Recruiting Group | Columbus, OH

    NP/PA Dermatology job opening in Columbus, OHPosition Details. Full-time, permanent opening. Experience required. Well-Established Practice. Seeking a NP/P... more

    6 Days Ago

  • GO Staffing

    Columbus, OH

    GO Staffing | Columbus, OH

    Locums - A well respected group has a Trauma Surgery APP opportunity available in Columbus, Ohio. Certified Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant. 1/1/... more

    7 Days Ago

  • The Curare Group, Inc

    Columbus, OH

    The Curare Group, Inc | Columbus, OH

    Hospital is seeking a Board Certified/Board Eligible Pediatrician to join a well-respected and growing practice located an hour from Columbus. Only Pediatr... more

    7 Days Ago

  • OhioHealth

    Columbus, OH

    OhioHealth | Columbus, OH

    Join an award winning, physician-led health system that prides itself on an inclusive, collegial and innovative culture. As an Anesthesiologist at OhioHeal... more

    7 Days Ago

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

FAQ about Computational Physicist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Computational Physicist?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Computational Physicist 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.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

  • Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
  • Job and employee pricing reports
  • Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.
Learn about CompAnalyst