SOC 19-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicists — Arkansas
Arkansas
In Arkansas the median wage is $135,820.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
In Arkansas the median wage is $135,820. That is 21.1% lower than the national median of $172,250. Pay ranges from under $110,390 at the tenth percentile to more than $214,000 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $110,390 to $175,050.
The area has 60 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.36 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Arkansas ranks number 31st out of 43 states by median pay for this occupation. Of the 673 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 22nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $110,390 | −35.9% |
| 25th | $110,390 | −35.9% |
| Median (50th) | $135,820 | −21.1% |
| 75th | $175,050 | +1.6% |
| 90th | $214,000 | +24.2% |
| Mean | $146,880 | −14.7% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arkansas run 13.1% below the national average, so the median of $135,820 goes as far as $156,295 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 9.3% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$135,820as reported by BLSLocal price level
86.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$156,295US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $135,820 a year, 21.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $110,390 to $214,000 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 60 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 31st of 43 states for this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicists in Arkansas?
The median annual wage is $135,820, or $65.30 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $172,250, so pay in Arkansas is 21.1% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arkansas earns more than $214,000 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $110,390 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 60 jobs in this occupation in Arkansas. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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