Physicists Salary in Denver, CO

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO

Median annual salary $151,660 -8.8% vs national
Median hourly $72.92
10th percentile $81,610
90th percentile $218,770
Employed locally 160
National median $166,290

Compare Physicists salary & buying power

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

Full tool →
Physicists
in
Denver, CO
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $81,610
    25th
    $124,750
    50th (median)
    $151,660
    75th
    $194,760
    90th
    $218,770

    Denver economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,339 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 148% Median Physicists salary is 48% 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 Denver, CO

    OccupationMedian salary
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $98,680
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $126,260
    Biological Technicians $61,720
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health $95,680
    Chemists $93,500
    Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers $114,960

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in Denver?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in Denver, CO is $72.92, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $111.03 or more per hour.

    Is Denver above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in Denver, CO is 8.8% 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 Denver?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $81,610 per year in Denver, CO. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $124,750.