Physicists Salary in California (2025)

Official BLS OEWS data · May 2025 · 5,930 employed

Annual Mean

$201,930

$97.08/hr

Annual Median

$207,490

$99.75/hr

Bottom 10%

$125,390

$60.28/hr

Top 10%

$296,740

$142.66/hr

Location vs National Average

California

$201,930

Difference

+18.0% vs US avg

US National

$171,180

Salary Percentile Breakdown

Percentile	Annual	Hourly
10th Percentile Bottom 10%	$125,390	$60.28/hr
25th Percentile Lower quarter	$173,450	$83.39/hr
50th PercentileMedian Median	$207,490	$99.75/hr
75th Percentile Upper quarter	$222,760	$107.10/hr
90th Percentile Top 10%	$296,740	$142.66/hr

Salary Distribution

Annual Salary Range

10th

$125K

25th

$173K

Median

$207K

75th

$223K

90th

$297K

California has a moderate number of Physicists positions (approximately 5,930), reflecting steady demand in this occupation.

In California, Physicists salaries range from $125,390 at the 10th percentile to $296,740 at the 90th percentile — a spread of $171,350 (83% of the median). This wide range suggests significant variation based on experience and employer in this area.

Top Paying Cities in California

Metro areas with highest Physicists wages

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA

$189,390

per year

Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

$172,470

per year

Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA

$169,620

per year

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

$165,380

per year

San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

$159,690

per year

Bakersfield-Delano, CA

$137,290

per year

Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

$130,050

per year

How Physicists Compares in California

The average Physicists salary of $201,930 in California ranks above the national average of $171,180. There are approximately 5,930 Physicistss employed in California.