Physicists Salary in Sacramento, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA

Median annual salary $109,540 -34.1% vs national
Median hourly $52.66
10th percentile $59,550
90th percentile $216,200
Employed locally 100
National median $166,290

Compare Physicists salary & buying power

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

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Physicists
in
Sacramento, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $59,550
    25th
    $85,060
    50th (median)
    $109,540
    75th
    $123,700
    90th
    $216,200

    Sacramento economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $93,986 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 117% Median Physicists salary is 17% 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 Sacramento, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$102,420
    Urban and Regional Planners$91,030
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists$131,390
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$101,060
    Biological Technicians$62,570
    Biological Scientists, All Other$96,140

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in Sacramento?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in Sacramento, CA is $52.66, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $108.55 or more per hour.

    Is Sacramento above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in Sacramento, CA is 34.1% 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 Sacramento?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $59,550 per year in Sacramento, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $85,060.