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Computational Physicist Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Computational Physicist in the United States is $73,510 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): $86,583
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $64,523 to $80,353
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $56,341
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

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): $75,383
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $94,761
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $111,159
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $144,661
  • Expert (over 8 years): $161,471
Levels Salary
Computati... Level Computational Physicist$75,383
Physicist... Level Computational Physicist$94,761
Physicist... Level Computational Physicist$111,159
Physicist... Level Computational Physicist$144,661
Physicist... Level Computational Physicist$161,471
View as Graph

How Do Computational Physicist 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 Computational Physicists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $81,391.
  • California: $81,082.
  • Massachusetts: $80,001.

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: $92,719
  • San Francisco: $91,703
  • Oakland: $89,771

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.
Skills Demand Percentage
Planning 10.25%
Calibration 6.54%
Technical Skills 1.6%
See More Skills

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 $114,676
56%
Consulting $111,001
51%
MRI $110,265
50%
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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$117,616$57.060%
Pharmaceuticals$102,914$49.040%
Biotechnology$95,563$46.030%
Energy & Utilities$88,212$42.020%
Aerospace & Defense$80,861$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 September 01, 2026
$64,523
Average $73,510/year
$80,353
$5,377
Average $6,126/month
$6,696
$1,241
Average $1,414/week
$1,545
$31
Average $35/hour
$39
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $80,353 $6,696 $1,545 $39
Average $73,510 $6,126 $1,414 $35
25th Percentile $64,523 $5,377 $1,241 $31

Most common benefits for Computational Physicist

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

Common company salaries for Computational Physicist

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

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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.

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