SOC 19-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicists — Michigan
Michigan · 3 metro areas compared
At $94,520, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Physicists, 45.1% beneath the national figure of $172,250.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
At $94,520, this is one of the lower medians recorded for Physicists, 45.1% beneath the national figure of $172,250. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $71,580 and $199,170. The lowest tenth earn under $64,380, while the highest tenth earn more than $248,500.
The area has 510 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.89 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Among the 43 states with published data for this occupation, Michigan ranks 41st by median wage. Detroit leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $199,170. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 134th of 774 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $64,380 | −62.6% |
| 25th | $71,580 | −58.4% |
| Median (50th) | $94,520 | −45.1% |
| 75th | $199,170 | +15.6% |
| 90th | $248,500 | +44.3% |
| Mean | $135,340 | −21.4% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Michigan
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $94,520 goes as far as $98,254 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 43.0% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$94,520as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$98,254US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $94,520 a year, 45.1% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $64,380 to $248,500 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 510 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 41st of 43 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Detroit, at $199,170.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicists in Michigan?
The median annual wage is $94,520, or $45.44 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 Michigan is 45.1% 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 Michigan earns more than $248,500 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $64,380 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 Detroit, at $199,170 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 510 jobs in this occupation in Michigan. 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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