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occupation · 19-2012 · detailed

Physicists — wages and employment

Physicists earned a median annual wage of $166,290 in the United States in May 2024, with 21,340 people employed, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.

MEDIAN 2024: $166,290SOURCE: BLS OEWSEvery value source-linked

Cite: FACTANKER, https://factanker.com/occupation/19-2012-physicists

What stands out

Physicists earned a median annual wage of $166,290 in the United States in May 2024, with 21,340 people employed, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. The lowest-paid tenth earned $80,020 or less, the best-paid tenth at least $239,200 or more. Since May 2015 the median moved from $111,580 to $166,290, +49.0 %. The best-paying state is Minnesota at $222,550; the lowest South Dakota at $78,390. Among metropolitan areas, Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN pays the highest median, $226,750. Wages are as published by BLS for May of each year; '≥ $239,200' is BLS's top code for May 2024 (the cap changes by year). Every value links to its fact record.

United States, year by year

Annual wages at the median, mean and four percentiles; employment is the May estimate.

By state

Median annual wage, May 2024, highest first. Each state has its own record with the full series.

StateMedian annualEmployment
Minnesota$222,55060
Florida$209,020240
Pennsylvania$208,470540
Arizona$190,96070
Oregon$183,860120
California$180,9006,220
Missouri$180,45090
New Hampshire$179,44030
New Mexico$175,960770
New York$174,1601,190
Wisconsin$174,010220
Tennessee$173,660260
Connecticut$171,63070
North Carolina$170,690170
Texas$170,450700
Kentucky$168,66030
New Jersey$168,610320
Virginia$164,1801,260
Maryland$163,9501,420
Massachusetts$153,890570
District of Columbia$153,340570
Colorado$144,6701,120
Ohio$135,550710
Utah$133,90060
Idaho$132,060170
Arkansas$131,88080
Georgia$131,500190
Illinois$131,2601,660
South Carolina$131,100370
Iowa$120,810120
Mississippi$120,64070
Washington$120,080430
Nevada$116,080—
Alabama$114,690360
Maine$114,610—
Indiana$110,410160
Michigan$107,640550
Oklahoma$84,57040
Delaware$82,78040
South Dakota$78,39030

Highest-paying metropolitan areas

Top 20 by median annual wage.

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