Assistant Physicist Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assistant Physicist in the United States is $119,330 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $57.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $135,210
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $111,066 to $127,642
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $103,542
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View as table View as graph 25% $111,066 10% $103,542 90% $135,210 75% $127,642 $119,330 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Assistant Physicist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $127,642 $10,637 $2,455 $61
Average $119,330 $9,944 $2,295 $57
25th Percentile $111,066 $9,256 $2,136 $53
Check out Assistant Physicist Job Openings in the United States
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Physician Assistant

Valley Immediate Care - MEDFORD, OR

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Key Factors That Influence Assistant Physicist Salaries

An Assistant 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Assistant Physicist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assistant 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): $114,665
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $114,932
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $115,998
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $117,598
  • Expert (over 8 years): $120,138
Levels Salary
Entry Level Assistant Physicist$114,665
Intermediate Level Assistant Physicist$114,932
Senior Level Assistant Physicist$115,998
Specialist Level Assistant Physicist$117,598
Expert Level Assistant Physicist$120,138
$114,665 0 yr
$114,932 < 2 yrs
$115,998 2-4 yrs
$117,598 5-8 yrs
$120,138 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

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

  • District of Columbia: $132,122.
  • California: $131,621.
  • Massachusetts: $129,867.

Top Paying Cities for Assistant 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: $150,511
  • San Francisco: $149,031
  • Oakland: $145,726

What Skills Can Increase an Assistant Physicist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Collaboration (Mentioned in 4.25% Job Postings): Works cooperatively and shares ideas with coworkers and managers to achieve common goals and objectives.
  • Diagnostic Tests (Mentioned in 3.6% Job Postings): Intended to help teachers identify what students know and can do in different domains to support their students' learning. Also to determine what students understand in order to build on the students' strengths and address their specific needs.
  • CPR (Mentioned in 2.62% Job Postings): Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) combines rescue breathing (mouth-to-mouth) and chest compressions to temporarily pump enough blood to the brain until specialized treatment is available.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Collaboration 4.25%
Diagnostic Tests 3.6%
CPR 2.62%
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 Assistant Physicist's salary.
  • CVS: Can increase your salary by up to 70%.
  • Wound Care: Can increase your salary by up to 20%.
  • Planning: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
CVS
$202,861
70%
Wound Care
$143,196
20%
Planning
$139,616
17%
Analysis
$130,070
9%
Coordination
$126,490
6%
Acute Care
$124,103
4%
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Assistant Physicist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assistant 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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Assistant Physicist

Salaries for an Assistant Physicist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $227,330 in 2023 to around $222,230 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Assistant Physicist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Assistant Physicist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$227,330
2024
$232,730
2025
$222,230
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $227,330
2024 $232,730
2025 $222,230
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Assistant Physicist

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

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

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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.)

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