SOC 19-2012 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Physicists — Tucson
Tucson, AZ · 1 metro areas compared
The median wage for Physicists in Tucson, AZ is $171,190 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 Tucson, AZ is $171,190 per year, close to the national median of $172,250 for the same occupation. Pay ranges from under $96,630 at the tenth percentile to more than $242,730 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $102,620 to $171,190.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.1 of every thousand jobs. Phoenix leads the state's metro areas for this occupation, at $130,500. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 12th of 490 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $96,630 | −43.9% |
| 25th | $102,620 | −40.4% |
| Median (50th) | $171,190 | −0.6% |
| 75th | $171,190 | −0.6% |
| 90th | $242,730 | +40.9% |
| Mean | $149,540 | −13.2% |
Other metro areas in Arizona
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix | $130,500 | 80 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Tucson sit close to the national average, so $171,190 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$171,190as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$170,000US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $171,190 a year, 0.6% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $96,630 to $242,730 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Phoenix, at $130,500.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Physicists in Tucson, AZ?
The median annual wage is $171,190, or $82.31 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 Tucson, AZ is 0.6% 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 Tucson, AZ earns more than $242,730 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $96,630 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 Phoenix, at $130,500 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Tucson, AZ. 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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