As of April 22, 2025, the average annual salary for a Research Physicist in the United Kingdom is £55,501, with an hourly rate of £27, according to Salary.com Global Salary IQ data. The average salary ranges from £46,130 to £65,304, influenced by factors like location, education, experience, and more.

Global Market Data
25TH   £46,130
50TH(Median)   £55,501
75TH   £65,304
Research Physicist Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
25th Percentile Research Physicist Salary £46,130 United Kingdom April 22, 2025
50th Percentile Research Physicist Salary £55,501 United Kingdom April 22, 2025
75th Percentile Research Physicist Salary £65,304 United Kingdom April 22, 2025

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How Much Does a Research Physicist Make by Hour, Week, Month, and Year?

Last Updated on April 22, 2025

Salary.com provides you with accurate and diversified Research Physicist salary data based on specialized databases to help you get a fairer salary. The average annual pay for a Research Physicist is about £55,501 a year, this translates to an approximate hourly rate of £27, a monthly salary of about £4,625, and a weekly pay of around £1,067. Click the switch button below to see more details about Research Physicist hourly pay, weekly pay, monthly pay, and so on.

How Much Do Research Physicists Earn at Different Levels in 2025?

A Research Physicist's salary varies significantly based on experience level. Entry typically earn £47,389 - £53,123, while Intermediate make £48,228 - £53,822, Senior earn £50,885 - £56,232, Specialist earn £55,501 - £61,061, Expert can reach £57,257 - £63,109 or more, depending on the company and location.

Levels Salary
Entry Level Research Physicist £51,305
Intermediate Level Research Physicist £52,004
Senior Level Research Physicist £54,522
Specialist Level Research Physicist £59,159
Expert Level Research Physicist £61,061
£51,305 0 yr
£52,004 < 2 yrs
£54,522 2-4 yrs
£59,159 5-8 yrs
£61,061 > 8 yrs
Entry Level 8%
Intermediate Level 6%
Senior Level 2%
Specialist Level 7%
Expert Level 10%
View as Table
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Last Updated on April 22, 2025

Skills to Boost a Research Physicist Salary

Mastering key skills can significantly increase your earning potential as a Research Physicist. According to Salary.com's Real-time Job Posting Data, expertise in Analysis can lead to a 10% salary raise, while strong SOP skills boost pay by a 3%. Even Process Development can result in a 2% salary increase.

Skill Library evaluates talent skills across five levels, supported by 5-10 behavior indicators, delivering precise insights for data-driven hiring decisions.
Analysis
Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
SOP
SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
Process Development
Process development consists of designing and developing, as well as evaluating costs and efficiency.
More Skills...
Based on recent job listings, in-demand skills in the Research Physicist field include Analysis (10%), SOP (3%), Process Development (2%), Clinical Trial (2%), and Cell Biology (2%). These skills reflect current market needs.
Skills Salary Demand
Skill & Salary Demand
Analysis £61,051
Analysis
£61,051
10%
SOP £57,166
SOP
£57,166
3%
Process Development £56,611
Process Development
£56,611
2%
Clinical Trial £56,611
Clinical Trial
£56,611
2%
Cell Biology £56,611
Cell Biology
£56,611
2%
Analysis
6.83%
SOP
5.64%
Process Development
1.44%
Clinical Trial
1.69%
Cell Biology
2.54%

What are the Highest Paying Cities in the United Kingdom for Research Physicist?

The top 3 highest-paying cities in the United Kingdom for Research Physicist are London, Brighton and Hove, and Manchester. In London, the average salary is £59,941 per year, while Brighton and Hove offers £55,913, and Manchester pays around £53,200 annually.

Which Job Pays More: Research Administrator or Research Physicist?

As of April 22, 2025 , a Research Administrator makes less than a Research Physicist. A Research Administrator earns an average annual salary of £27,524. And a Research Physicist earns an average annual salary of £55,501.

Job Title Salary Range in GBP
Research Administrator
£15,854
£34,592
Research Technician
£18,934
£33,075
Research and Development Director
£72,019
£117,496
Research and Development Manager
£58,651
£94,271
Market Research Manager
£43,218
£76,078

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