SOC 19-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicists — New York
New York · 3 metro areas compared
The median wage for Physicists in New York is $181,970 per year, close to the national median of $172,250 for the same occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Physicists in New York is $181,970 per year, close to the national median of $172,250 for the same occupation. Half of workers earn between $131,600 and $221,590. Beyond that band, the tenth percentile sits at $80,000 and the ninetieth at $292,950.
The area has 1,140 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. New York ranks number 8th out of 43 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, New York records the highest median at $181,970. Of the 776 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 28th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $80,000 | −53.6% |
| 25th | $131,600 | −23.6% |
| Median (50th) | $181,970 | +5.6% |
| 75th | $221,590 | +28.6% |
| 90th | $292,950 | +70.1% |
| Mean | $182,580 | +6.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in New York
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in New York run 7.9% above the national average, so the median of $181,970 buys what $168,647 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 2.1% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$181,970as reported by BLSLocal price level
107.9US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$168,647US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $181,970 a year, 5.6% above the national median.
- Published pay spans $80,000 to $292,950 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 1,140 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 8th of 43 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is New York, at $181,970.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicists in New York?
The median annual wage is $181,970, or $87.48 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 New York is 5.6% higher. 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 New York earns more than $292,950 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $80,000 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 New York, at $181,970 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 1,140 jobs in this occupation in New York. 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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