SOC 19-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicists — Boulder
Boulder, CO · 2 metro areas compared
At $104,580, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Physicists, 39.3% beneath the national figure of $172,250.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $104,580, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Physicists, 39.3% beneath the national figure of $172,250. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $82,340 and $168,240. The lowest tenth earn under $82,340, while the highest tenth earn more than $195,190.
Employment stands at 860, or 4.5 jobs per thousand held locally. Denver leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $166,140. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 87th of 414 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $82,340 | −52.2% |
| 25th | $82,340 | −52.2% |
| Median (50th) | $104,580 | −39.3% |
| 75th | $168,240 | −2.3% |
| 90th | $195,190 | +13.3% |
| Mean | $123,130 | −28.5% |
Other metro areas in Colorado
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Denver | $166,140 | 120 | |
| 2 | Colorado Springs | $158,070 | 40 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Boulder run 3.1% above the national average, so the median of $104,580 buys what $101,435 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 41.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$104,580as reported by BLSLocal price level
103.1US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$101,435US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $104,580 a year, 39.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $82,340 to $195,190 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 860 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Denver, at $166,140.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicists in Boulder, CO?
The median annual wage is $104,580, or $50.28 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 Boulder, CO is 39.3% 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 Boulder, CO earns more than $195,190 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $82,340 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 Denver, at $166,140 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 860 jobs in this occupation in Boulder, CO. 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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