Engineering Physicist Salary in the United States

How much does an Engineering Physicist make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for an Engineering Physicist in the United States is $84,560 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $41.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $104,674
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $70,824 to $95,089
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,318
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View as table View as graph 25% $70,824 10% $58,318 90% $104,674 75% $95,089 $84,560 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Engineering Physicist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $95,089 $7,924 $1,829 $46
Average $84,560 $7,047 $1,626 $41
25th Percentile $70,824 $5,902 $1,362 $34
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Key Factors That Influence Engineering Physicist Salaries

An Engineering 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 Engineering Physicist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Engineering 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): $82,652
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $83,225
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $85,133
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $87,422
  • Expert (over 8 years): $90,082
Levels Salary
Entry Level Engineering Physicist$82,652
Intermediate Level Engineering Physicist$83,225
Senior Level Engineering Physicist$85,133
Specialist Level Engineering Physicist$87,422
Expert Level Engineering Physicist$90,082
$82,652 0 yr
$83,225 < 2 yrs
$85,133 2-4 yrs
$87,422 5-8 yrs
$90,082 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Engineering 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 Engineering Physicists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $93,625.
  • California: $93,270.
  • Massachusetts: $92,027.

Top Paying Cities for Engineering 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: $106,656
  • San Francisco: $105,607
  • Oakland: $103,265

What Skills Can Increase an Engineering Physicist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.41% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Regulatory Compliance (Mentioned in 1.8% Job Postings): Monitoring strict adherence of all organizational processes and procedures to applicable laws and regulations.
  • Quality Assurance (Mentioned in 1.35% Job Postings): Verifying the adherence of product with required specifications and expectations to track and resolve deficiencies prior to product release.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.41%
Regulatory Compliance 1.8%
Quality Assurance 1.35%
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 an Engineering Physicist's salary.
  • Listening: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Reserve Management: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Listening
$96,399
14%
Reserve Management
$93,016
10%
Collaboration
$89,634
6%
Presentation
$88,788
5%
Economics
$88,788
5%
Teamwork
$87,943
4%
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How Education impacts an Engineering Physicist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Engineering Physicists enter the field with a No Diploma 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 Engineering Physicist with a No Diploma is between $83,856 and $95,969).

Engineering Physicist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Engineering Physicist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 47.1%
High School 47.1%
Associates 23.5%
Bachelors 29.4%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Engineering Physicist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Engineering 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 April 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Engineering Physicist

Salaries for an Engineering Physicist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $53,671 in 2023 to around $53,450 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Engineering Physicist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Engineering Physicist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$53,671
2024
$54,173
2025
$53,450
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $53,671
2024 $54,173
2025 $53,450
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Engineering Physicist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Engineering Physicist

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

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

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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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