Physicists pay in California
In California, the median pay for physicists is $99.75 an hour ($207,490 a year). About 5,930 people work in this job there.
That is 20% higher than the U.S. median ($172,250). California ranks 4th of 43 states and territories for this job’s median pay.
Pay range for physicists in California
| Earns more than | Hourly | Yearly |
|---|---|---|
| 10% of workers | $60.28 | $125,390 |
| 25% of workers | $83.39 | $173,450 |
| Half of workers (median) | $99.75 | $207,490 |
| 75% of workers | $107.10 | $222,760 |
| 90% of workers | $142.66 | $296,740 |
Physicists pay in California metro areas
| Metro area | Median yearly pay | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $173,450 | 440 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $163,990 | 0 |
| Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura | $163,210 | 50 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $160,270 | 550 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $156,480 | 290 |
| Bakersfield-Delano | $135,260 | 80 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $120,490 | 100 |
California unemployment rate: 5.1% (August 2026), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education, experience and outlook for physicists
- Typical education to start: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 2 to 4 years (O*NET)
- Job outlook: +7.2% over ten years, faster than average · about 1,300 openings a year (BLS)
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 |
| Chemists | $97,860 |
| Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | $106,500 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $130,610 |
| Materials Scientists | $177,030 |
| Hydrologists | $122,110 |
| Atmospheric and Space Scientists | $124,920 |
Other job titles for this job
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Post a job freeFind jobsCheck pay for any jobSource: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates. Figures are for wage and salary workers and do not include the self-employed. The median is the middle wage: half earn more, half earn less. Other job titles: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.