Physicists Hourly Pay

Median hourly wage: $82.81

Hourly Wage Percentiles

PercentileHourly Wage
10th$39.48
25th$53.71
Median$82.81
75th$107.10
90th$131.79

Data source: BLS OES national file · U.S. BLS OES, May 2024 (updated April 2025)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do physicists make an hour?

The median hourly wage is $82.81; the mean hourly wage is $82.30.

What is the entry-level hourly pay for physicists?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn about $39.48 per hour — a common proxy for entry-level pay.

What is the top hourly pay for physicists?

Workers at the 90th percentile earn about $131.79 per hour.