As of April 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Physicist I in the United States is $73,240. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $63,840 to $81,224, with most professionals earning between $55,282 and $88,493.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $81,224 | $6,769 | $1,562 | $39 |
| Average | $73,240 | $6,103 | $1,408 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $63,840 | $5,320 | $1,228 | $31 |
An entry-level Physicist I with less than 1 year of experience earns about $72,539. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $73,478. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $75,266. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $75,623, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $75,862.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Physicist I | $72,539 |
| Intermediate Level Physicist I | $73,478 |
| Senior Level Physicist I | $75,266 |
| Specialist Level Physicist I | $75,623 |
| Expert Level Physicist I | $75,862 |
| Entry Level | 1% |
| Mid Level | 0% |
| Senior Level | 3% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 4% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of April 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Physicist I compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $54,738 in 2023 to approximately $54,710 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Physicist I salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Physicist I information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Physicist I job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Physicist I and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $73,240 | 69.9% | ||
| Bonus | $0 | 0.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $5,603 | 5.4% | ||
| 401K/403B | $3,076 | 2.9% | ||
| Disability | $1,465 | 1.4% | ||
| Healthcare | $8,352 | 8.0% | ||
| Pension | $3,955 | 3.8% | ||
| Time Off | $9,014 | 8.6% | ||
| Total Compensation | $104,705 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| High School | 1.0% |
| Bachelors | 41.9% |
| Masters | 19.0% |
| Doctorate | 38.1% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Physicist I is $73,240. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Physicist I is $35; the average weekly pay of Physicist I is $1,408; the average monthly pay of Physicist I is $6,103.
A Physicist I's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Physicist I earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Physicist I is $92,378.
The highest pay for Physicist I is $88,493.
The lowest pay for Physicist I is $55,282.
Researches subjects such as mechanics, heat, light, sound, electricity, pneumatics, magnetism, and radiation. Develops laws and theories of physics for their application to specific industries and fields. Describes and illustrates observations and conclusions in mathematical terms. Devises procedures for physical testing of materials. Conducts instrumental analyses to determine physical properties of materials. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Planning: 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.
Radiology: Recording, analyzing, and measuring brain activities through electroencephalogram tests to detect, diagnose, and treat brain disorders.
Health Care: Health care or healthcare is the improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, amelioration, or cure of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in people.
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.
