The salary statistics and trend of physicists in the industry of research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences are shown in the following tables and chart. In Table 3 we compare physicist salaries in different industries within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector.
| Percentile Bracket | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile Wage | $78,070 |
| 25th Percentile Wage | $106,340 |
| 50th Percentile Wage | $130,470 |
| 75th Percentile Wage | $158,280 |
| 90th Percentile Wage | $189,680 |
Table 1 shows the average annual salaries for physicists in the industry of research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences. The salaries are shown in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) physicists is $189,680. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $130,470. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent physicists is $78,070.
The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of physicists in the industry of Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences from 2012 to 2017.
| Year | Median Salary | Yearly Growth | 5-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $130,470 | -0.57% | 19.79% |
| 2016 | $131,210 | 3.81% | - |
| 2015 | $126,210 | 7.16% | - |
| 2014 | $117,170 | 2.48% | - |
| 2013 | $114,260 | 8.41% | - |
| 2012 | $104,650 | - | - |
The average salaries of physicists in nine industries within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector are shown in Table 3. For salary information of physicists in a specific industry, use the links in the table.
| Industry | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Computer Systems Design and Related Services | |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | |
| Engineering Services | |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | |
| Testing Laboratories | |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | |
Back to: Salary of physicists in the industry sector of professional, scientific, and technical services.