Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
SOC: 19-2012.00
Common Job Titles
Health Physicist
Physicist
Research Scientist
Scientist
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage data for Physicists (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
21,340
Wage Distribution by Percentile
Line chart of annual wages by percentile. U.S. is the solid line. 10th percentile: U.S. $80,020. 25th percentile: U.S. $117,450. 50th percentile: U.S. $166,290. 75th percentile: U.S. $210,260. 90th percentile: U.S. $239,200. Use the left and right arrow keys to move between percentiles.
U.S.
Metric
U.S.
10% of workers earn the following or less
$80,020
10% of workers earn the following or more
$239,200+
Workers on average earn
$166,000
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Skills & Requirements
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
Physics4.9/5
Mathematics4.8/5
Engineering and Technology4.5/5
Computers and Electronics4.4/5
English Language3.7/5
Skills & Requirements: Knowledge
Tools & Technology
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
