Physicists Salary in San Diego, CA

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA

Median annual salary $124,710 -25% vs national
Median hourly $59.96
10th percentile $40,770
90th percentile —
Employed locally 370
National median $166,290

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Physicists
in
San Diego, CA
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $40,770
    25th
    $56,890
    50th (median)
    $124,710
    75th
    $172,750

    San Diego economic context

    Unemployment rate 4.30% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $102,285 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 122% Median Physicists salary is 22% 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 San Diego, CA

    OccupationMedian salary
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $128,270
    Biological Scientists, All Other $105,160
    Biological Technicians $61,070
    Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other $65,560
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $99,990
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $97,300

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in San Diego?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in San Diego, CA is $59.96, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $105.33 or more per hour.

    Is San Diego above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in San Diego, CA is 25% 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 San Diego?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $40,770 per year in San Diego, CA. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $56,890.