Physicists Salary in Pittsburgh, PA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Pittsburgh, PA

Median annual salary $211,600 +27.2% vs national
Median hourly $101.73
10th percentile $137,630
90th percentile —
National median $166,290

Compare Physicists salary & buying power

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

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Physicists
in
Pittsburgh, PA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $137,630
    25th
    $194,660
    50th (median)
    $211,600
    75th
    $214,900

    Pittsburgh economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.60% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $73,942 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 286% Median Physicists salary is 186% 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
    Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL $266,260
    Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL $219,070
    Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI $215,340
    Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX $212,050
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $165,730
    Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL $146,350

    Related occupations in Pittsburgh, PA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $90,280
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $82,590
    Chemists $74,200
    Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other $51,200
    Chemical Technicians $60,690
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $75,550

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in Pittsburgh?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in Pittsburgh, PA is $101.73, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $128.03 or more per hour.

    Is Pittsburgh above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in Pittsburgh, PA is 27.2% above 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 Pittsburgh?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $137,630 per year in Pittsburgh, PA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $194,660.