What are the main factors that influence a Nuclear Physicist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Nuclear Physicist's salary?

A Nuclear Physicist's salary grows with experience: a Nuclear Physicist (0-2 years)earns $72,881, a Physicist II (2-4 years)earns $91,606, a Physicist III (4-7 years)earns $107,466, a Physicist IV (7+ years)earns $139,850, a Physicist V (7-10 years)earns $156,120,

What are the highest paying states for a Nuclear Physicist?

Nuclear Physicist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Nuclear Physicist roles are District of Columbia $81,237, California $80,929, Massachusetts $79,850. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Nuclear Physicist roles make?

Salaries for Nuclear Physicist level roles vary by specialization: Physicist VI: $186,405; Physicist V: $157,221; Specialist Physicist: $140,900; Physicist IV: $140,836; Senior Physicist: $108,300.

How do different companies affect a Nuclear Physicist's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Nuclear Physicist roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Nuclear Physicist Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Nuclear Physicist in the United States is $73,372 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,114
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $65,520 to $80,041
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $58,372

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Nuclear Physicist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$80,041	$6,670	$1,539	$38
Average	$73,372	$6,114	$1,411	$35
25th Percentile	$65,520	$5,460	$1,260	$32

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Key Factors That Influence Nuclear Physicist Salaries

A Nuclear 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 Nuclear Physicist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Nuclear 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): $72,881
Early Career (1-2 years): $91,606
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $107,466
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $139,850
Expert (over 8 years): $156,120

Levels	Salary
Nuclear P... Level Nuclear Physicist	$72,881
Physicist... Level Nuclear Physicist	$91,606
Physicist... Level Nuclear Physicist	$107,466
Physicist... Level Nuclear Physicist	$139,850
Physicist... Level Nuclear Physicist	$156,120

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What Am I Worth?

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

District of Columbia: $81,237.
California: $80,929.
Massachusetts: $79,850.

District of Columbia $81,237 California $80,929 Massachusetts $79,850 Washington $79,557 New Jersey $79,528 Alaska $79,425 Connecticut $78,412 New York $78,001

Hawaii $76,688 Rhode Island $76,072 Maryland $75,654 Minnesota $75,081 Colorado $74,861 Illinois $74,788 Oregon $74,509 Delaware $74,304

New Hampshire $74,174 Virginia $73,885 Pennsylvania $73,042 Nevada $72,616 North Dakota $72,477 Michigan $72,256 Wisconsin $72,176 Vermont $72,014

Texas $71,567 Maine $71,537 Arizona $71,493 Ohio $71,442 Georgia $70,767 Indiana $70,429 Wyoming $70,363 Utah $70,261

Iowa $70,217 Kansas $69,865 Louisiana $69,762 North Carolina $69,725 Missouri $69,710 Florida $69,424 Montana $69,270 Nebraska $69,123

Kentucky $69,043 South Carolina $68,749 Tennessee $68,566 Idaho $68,492 New Mexico $67,957 Oklahoma $67,839 Alabama $67,407 South Dakota $66,680

Arkansas $66,284 West Virginia $66,071 Mississippi $65,433

Top Paying Cities for Nuclear 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: $92,544
San Francisco: $91,530
Oakland: $89,602

San Jose, CA $92,544

San Francisco, CA $91,530

Oakland, CA $89,602

New York, NY $84,479

Paramus, NJ $83,452

Queens Village, NY $83,449

Passaic, NJ $83,379

Bergenfield, NJ $83,372

Stamford, CT $83,211

Huntington, NY $83,181

Newark, NJ $82,639

Bridgeport, CT $82,484

Vallejo, CA $82,338

New Brunswick, NJ $82,308

Petaluma, CA $82,264

Middlesex, NJ $82,125

Somerset, NJ $82,074

Santa Cruz, CA $81,978

Boston, MA $81,531

Monterey, CA $81,273

Seattle, WA $81,105

Santa Rosa, CA $81,090

Los Angeles, CA $81,068

Juneau, AK $80,878

Washington, DC $80,797

Orange, CA $80,536

Santa Ana, CA $80,342

Long Beach, CA $80,269

Anaheim, CA $80,254

Anchorage, AK $80,217

Santa Maria, CA $79,997

Everett, WA $79,982

Danbury, CT $79,724

Bremerton, WA $79,623

Tacoma, WA $79,359

New Suffolk, NY $79,357

Sacramento, CA $79,337

Santa Barbara, CA $79,256

Trenton, NJ $79,175

San Diego, CA $79,175

Brockton, MA $79,095

Fairbanks, AK $78,915

Lompoc, CA $78,728

Lowell, MA $78,668

Ventura, CA $78,654

Nashua, NH $78,640

Stockton, CA $78,632

Modesto, CA $78,097

Poughkeepsie, NY $77,935

Olympia, WA $77,796

Kennewick, WA $77,796

New Haven, CT $77,767

Lawrence, MA $77,503

Hartford, CT $77,429

Riverside, CA $77,414

New Bedford, MA $77,341

Richland, WA $77,341

Bakersfield, CA $77,238

San Bernardino, CA $77,209

New Britain, CT $77,202

Atlantic City, NJ $77,202

New London, CT $77,172

Norwich, CT $77,150

Portsmouth, NH $77,136

Boulder, CO $76,980

Portland, OR $76,879

Worcester, MA $76,872

Minneapolis, MN $76,644

Philadelphia, PA $76,541

Honolulu, HI $76,299

Saint Paul, MN $76,264

Vineland, NJ $76,248

Providence, RI $76,035

Chicago, IL $75,822

Bellingham, WA $75,734

Springfield, MA $75,676

Baltimore, MD $75,654

Chico, CA $75,470

Pittsfield, MA $75,272

Manchester, NH $75,133

Spokane, WA $74,810

Denver, CO $74,802

Albany, NY $74,458

Troy, NY $74,428

Nassau, NY $74,350

Schenectady, NY $74,274

Wilmington, DE $74,215

Burlington, VT $74,113

Salem, OR $74,083

Portland, ME $73,856

Yakima, WA $73,783

Rochester, MN $73,555

Reno, NV $73,518

Fresno, CA $73,518

Milwaukee, WI $73,452

Detroit, MI $73,379

Ann Arbor, MI $73,367

Allentown, PA $73,357

Colorado Springs, CO $73,232

Syracuse, NY $73,196

Carson City, NV $73,196

Houston, TX $73,093

Eugene, OR $73,056

Gary, IN $72,968

Springfield, OR $72,909

Bismarck, ND $72,895

Galveston, TX $72,843

Medford, OR $72,733

Fort Collins, CO $72,704

Concord, NH $72,667

Austin, TX $72,645

Mesa, AZ $72,491

Reading, PA $72,484

Phoenix, AZ $72,477

Dallas, TX $72,455

Saint Cloud, MN $72,384

Madison, WI $72,286

Utica, NY $72,088

Rochester, NY $71,970

Des Moines, IA $71,963

Raleigh, NC $71,956

Atlanta, GA $71,846

Battle Creek, MI $71,824

Salt Lake City, UT $71,802

Lancaster, PA $71,691

Harrisburg, PA $71,589

Kansas City, MO $71,515

Champaign, IL $71,501

Kansas City, KS $71,501

Fort Worth, TX $71,493

Columbus, OH $71,481

Boca Raton, FL $71,464

Pittsburgh, PA $71,435

Richmond, VA $71,405

Indianapolis, IN $71,391

Cleveland, OH $71,383

Las Vegas, NV $71,295

Cincinnati, OH $71,295

Petersburg, VA $71,185

Huntsville, AL $71,075

Lansing, MI $71,026

Lebanon, PA $71,016

Pueblo, CO $71,009

Appleton, WI $70,987

Buffalo, NY $70,958

Dayton, OH $70,936

Racine, WI $70,921

Charlotte, NC $70,914

Saint Louis, MO $70,892

York, PA $70,848

Elkhart, IN $70,848

Gastonia, NC $70,834

Billings, MT $70,816

Beaumont, TX $70,796

Lorain, OH $70,782

Benton Harbor, MI $70,767

Toledo, OH $70,752

Binghamton, NY $70,716

Rock Hill, SC $70,708

Rockford, IL $70,672

Springfield, IL $70,642

Elyria, OH $70,635

Fargo, ND $70,635

Flagstaff, AZ $70,584

Fort Lauderdale, FL $70,540

Duluth, MN $70,496

Miami, FL $70,496

Cheyenne, WY $70,444

Grand Forks, ND $70,444

Bangor, ME $70,283

Cedar Rapids, IA $70,202

Durham, NC $70,171

Louisville, KY $70,165

Grand Rapids, MI $70,151

Hialeah, FL $70,143

Casper, WY $70,041

Scranton, PA $69,953

New Orleans, LA $69,931

Virginia Beach, VA $69,923

Akron, OH $69,887

Peoria, IL $69,791

Sarasota, FL $69,776

Nashville, TN $69,725

Omaha, NE $69,725

Green Bay, WI $69,725

Baton Rouge, LA $69,688

Charleston, SC $69,674

Jamestown, NY $69,637

Davenport, IA $69,637

Tucson, AZ $69,600

Saint Petersburg, FL $69,556

Tampa, FL $69,542

Evansville, IN $69,498

Port Arthur, TX $69,498

Bradenton, FL $69,468

Santa Fe, NM $69,336

Orlando, FL $69,204

Clearwater, FL $69,182

Canton, OH $69,028

La Crosse, WI $69,028

Albuquerque, NM $68,984

Newport News, VA $68,977

High Point, NC $68,955

Ogden, UT $68,925

Corpus Christi, TX $68,867

Norfolk, VA $68,823

Laramie, WY $68,823

Rock Island, IL $68,779

Saginaw, MI $68,764

Jacksonville, FL $68,757

Salisbury, NC $68,742

Boise, ID $68,727

Moline, IL $68,691

Fort Myers, FL $68,669

Memphis, TN $68,654

Tulsa, OK $68,617

Waterloo, IA $68,573

Spartanburg, SC $68,500

Lincoln, NE $68,463

Fort Wayne, IN $68,448

Provo, UT $68,441

Cedar Falls, IA $68,353

San Antonio, TX $68,324

Greensboro, NC $68,294

South Bend, IN $68,287

Savannah, GA $68,206

Muskegon, MI $68,177

Birmingham, AL $68,170

Winston Salem, NC $68,134

Lake Charles, LA $67,957

Anderson, IN $67,942

Lexington, KY $67,920

Augusta, GA $67,898

Greenville, SC $67,898

Lima, OH $67,839

Wichita, KS $67,832

Tuscaloosa, AL $67,832

Columbia, SC $67,766

Springfield, OH $67,751

Asheville, NC $67,634

Bloomington, IN $67,583

Knoxville, TN $67,319

Shreveport, LA $67,311

Wilmington, NC $67,216

Roanoke, VA $67,216

Topeka, KS $67,084

Frankfort, KY $67,076

Oklahoma City, OK $67,025

Chillicothe, OH $66,996

Longview, TX $66,988

Melbourne, FL $66,981

Sioux Falls, SD $66,864

Mobile, AL $66,856

Terre Haute, IN $66,827

Altoona, PA $66,783

Amarillo, TX $66,732

Killeen, TX $66,710

Fayetteville, AR $66,651

Chattanooga, TN $66,629

Sioux City, IA $66,563

Idaho Falls, ID $66,548

Lynchburg, VA $66,489

Gainesville, FL $66,394

Portsmouth, OH $66,357

Little Rock, AR $66,343

Lafayette, LA $66,313

Youngstown, OH $66,313

Daytona Beach, FL $66,269

Clarksville, TN $66,262

Pensacola, FL $66,255

Temple, TX $66,250

Hopkinsville, KY $66,035

Erie, PA $66,020

Florence, SC $65,991

Charleston, WV $65,873

Great Falls, MT $65,836

Macon, GA $65,734

Tallahassee, FL $65,726

Fayetteville, NC $65,712

Waco, TX $65,697

Helena, MT $65,646

Pine Bluff, AR $65,618

Vincennes, IN $65,528

Lubbock, TX $65,499

Alamogordo, NM $65,455

Twin Falls, ID $65,389

Rapid City, SD $65,367

Jackson, MS $65,235

Huntington, WV $65,230

Greenville, MS $65,227

Parkersburg, WV $65,153

Montgomery, AL $65,139

Wichita Falls, TX $65,066

Springfield, MO $65,066

Biloxi, MS $65,029

Monroe, LA $64,956

Johnstown, PA $64,905

Sumter, SC $64,875

Columbus, GA $64,868

Pascagoula, MS $64,729

Abilene, TX $64,729

Kingsport, TN $64,538

Albany, GA $64,538

Gulfport, MS $64,516

Alexandria, LA $64,274

Fort Smith, AR $64,090

El Paso, TX $63,892

Las Cruces, NM $63,562

Harlingen, TX $63,376

Pocatello, ID $63,364

Florence, AL $63,268

Brownsville, TX $63,254

Mcallen, TX $63,100

Dothan, AL $62,997

Columbus, MS $62,561

Altus, OK $62,219

Lawton, OK $62,080

Pierre, SD $61,816

What Skills Can Increase a Nuclear 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 Nuclear 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	$114,460	56%
Consulting	$110,791	51%
MRI	$110,058	50%
Coordination	$87,312	19%
Planning	$85,111	16%
Insight	$82,176	12%

Get Latest Data

Nuclear Physicist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industries for a Nuclear Physicist

Industry Sector	Average Annual Salary	Average Hourly Rate	Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking	$117,395	$56.0	60%
Pharmaceuticals	$102,720	$49.0	40%
Biotechnology	$95,383	$46.0	30%
Energy & Utilities	$88,046	$42.0	20%
Aerospace & Defense	$80,709	$39.0	10%

How Education impacts a Nuclear Physicist's Salary?

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

Nuclear Physicist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Nuclear Physicist

No Diploma 1.0%

High School 1.0%

Associates 19.0%

Bachelors 41.9%

Masters 19.0%

Doctorate 38.1%

view as table

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

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

Understanding how a Nuclear 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

$65,520

Average $73,372/year

$80,041

$5,460

Average $6,114/month

$6,670

$1,260

Average $1,411/week

$1,539

$32

Average $35/hour

$38

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$80,041	$6,670	$1,539	$38
Average	$73,372	$6,114	$1,411	$35
25th Percentile	$65,520	$5,460	$1,260	$32

Salaries of jobs related to Nuclear Physicist

Salary Trends for Nuclear Physicist

Salaries for a Nuclear Physicist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,355 in 2023 to around $54,123 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Nuclear Physicist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Nuclear Physicist Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$54,355

2024

$54,327

2025

$54,123

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$54,355
2024	$54,327
2025	$54,123
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Nuclear Physicist

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Disability

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FAQ about Nuclear Physicist

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

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Nuclear 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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