SOC 19-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicists — Austin
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Physicists in Austin, TX is $107,340 per year, substantially below the national median of $172,250 — a gap of 37.7%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Physicists in Austin, TX is $107,340 per year, substantially below the national median of $172,250 — a gap of 37.7%. Half of workers earn between $77,790 and $226,680. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $75,230 and the ninetieth at $284,620.
The area has 120 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Within the state, Houston records the highest median at $199,770. Of the 598 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 72nd.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $75,230 | −56.3% |
| 25th | $77,790 | −54.8% |
| Median (50th) | $107,340 | −37.7% |
| 75th | $226,680 | +31.6% |
| 90th | $284,620 | +65.2% |
| Mean | $152,630 | −11.4% |
Other metro areas in Texas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Houston | $199,770 | 140 | |
| 2 | San Antonio | $194,290 | 100 | |
| 3 | Dallas | $156,750 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Austin run 2.9% below the national average, so the median of $107,340 goes as far as $110,546 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 35.8% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$107,340as reported by BLSLocal price level
97.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$110,546US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $107,340 a year, 37.7% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $75,230 to $284,620 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 120 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Houston, at $199,770.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicists in Austin, TX?
The median annual wage is $107,340, or $51.61 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 Austin, TX is 37.7% 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 Austin, TX earns more than $284,620 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $75,230 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.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Houston, at $199,770 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 120 jobs in this occupation in Austin, TX. 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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