Physicists Salary in Boulder, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Boulder, CO

Median annual salary $144,670 -13% vs national
Median hourly $69.55
10th percentile $109,250
90th percentile $183,170
Employed locally 890
National median $166,290

Compare Physicists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how Boulder, CO stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Physicists
in
Boulder, CO
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $109,250
    25th
    $144,670
    50th (median)
    $144,670
    75th
    $183,170
    90th
    $183,170

    Boulder economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,772 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 141% Median Physicists salary is 41% above the area median household income

    Top-paying metros for Physicists

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $266,260
    Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN $226,750
    Cleveland, OH $225,930
    Minnesota $222,550
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $219,070
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $215,340

    Nearby metros — Physicists salary comparison

    Metro areaMedian salary
    Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area $175,960
    New Mexico $175,960
    Wisconsin $174,010
    Connecticut $171,630
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $162,490
    Colorado Springs, CO $158,070

    Related occupations in Boulder, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $86,720
    Atmospheric and Space Scientists $121,870
    Chemists $102,600
    Biochemists and Biophysicists $126,800
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $123,350
    Biological Scientists, All Other $137,940

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in Boulder?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in Boulder, CO is $69.55, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $93.84 or more per hour.

    Is Boulder above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in Boulder, CO is 13% below the national median of $166,290. The national figure is from BLS OEWS 2025 data covering all US metropolitan areas.

    What is the entry-level salary for Physicists in Boulder?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $109,250 per year in Boulder, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $144,670.