Physicists Salary in St. Louis, MO-IL

BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics • May 2025 • St. Louis, MO-IL

Median annual salary $180,450 +8.5% vs national
Median hourly $86.75
10th percentile $83,770
90th percentile $234,260
Employed locally 50
National median $166,290

Compare Physicists salary & buying power

Type a city below to see how St. Louis, MO-IL stacks up on salary and cost of living.

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Physicists
in
St. Louis, MO-IL
vs

    Salary percentile breakdown

    10th
    $83,770
    25th
    $98,830
    50th (median)
    $180,450
    75th
    $215,680
    90th
    $234,260

    St. Louis economic context

    Unemployment rate 3.70% 2024 annual avg • BLS LAUS
    Median household income $78,225 2023 • Census ACS
    Physicists salary vs area income 231% Median Physicists salary is 131% 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
    Richmond, VA $212,950
    Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD $162,490
    Kansas City, MO-KS $141,200
    Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA $129,140

    Related occupations in St. Louis, MO-IL

    OccupationMedian salary
    Chemists $95,060
    Occupational Health and Safety Specialists $91,670
    Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists $99,250
    Clinical and Counseling Psychologists $93,290
    Biological Scientists, All Other $78,330
    Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other $60,900

    Frequently asked questions

    How much do Physicists make per hour in St. Louis?

    The median hourly wage for Physicists in St. Louis, MO-IL is $86.75, based on BLS OEWS 2025 data. Top earners (90th percentile) make $112.63 or more per hour.

    Is St. Louis above or below average for Physicists salaries?

    The median Physicists salary in St. Louis, MO-IL is 8.5% 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 St. Louis?

    Entry-level Physicists (10th percentile) earn around $83,770 per year in St. Louis, MO-IL. The 25th percentile — typically workers with 1–3 years of experience — earn approximately $98,830.