Physicists Salary in Riverside, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA

Median annual salary $150,490 -9.5% vs national
Median hourly $72.35
10th percentile $93,180
90th percentile $234,620
Employed locally 70
National median $166,290

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Physicists
in
Riverside, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $93,180
    25th
    $109,660
    50th (median)
    $150,490
    75th
    $216,500
    90th
    $234,620

    Riverside economic context

    Unemployment rate 5.20% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $86,031 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 175% Median Physicists salary is 75% 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
    San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $214,520
    California $180,900
    North Carolina $170,690
    Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD $165,730
    Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA $163,210
    Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $153,890

    Related occupations in Riverside, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$92,230
    Occupational Health and Safety Technicians$57,610
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$128,890
    School Psychologists$124,200
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$96,390
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$96,600

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in Riverside?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in Riverside, CA is $72.35, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $115.29 or more per hour.

    Is Riverside above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in Riverside, CA is 9.5% 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 Riverside?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $93,180 per year in Riverside, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $109,660.