Physicist Salary in California
Based on 6K+ workers in California
Data year: 2024 · Last updated: May 2026
Median Annual Salary (CA)
$180,900
$86.971/hr
vs National Average
$149,537
+21.0% vs national median
Salary Range (10th–90th)
$104K – —
6K employed in California
Salary Distribution — Physicist in California
| Percentile | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $103,800 |
| 25th percentile | $164,550 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $180,900 |
| 75th percentile | $212,900 |
Historical Salary Trend — Physicist in California vs National
| Year | Median Salary (United States) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $170,490 |
| 2023 | $178,700 |
| 2024 | $180,900 |
| Year | California Median | National Median |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $170,490 | $140,924 |
| 2023 | $178,700 | $142,089 |
| 2024 | $180,900 | $149,537 |