19
Physicists is a notable career in the 19 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Physicists against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
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| soc | 19-2012 |
| title | Physicists |
| onet code | 19-2012.00 |
| description | Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories. |
| job zone | 5 |
| major group | 19 |
| tot emp | 21,340 |
| a mean | 166,000 |
| a median | 166,290 |
| a pct10 | 80,020 |
| a pct25 | 117,450 |
| a pct75 | 210,260 |
| a pct90 | N/A |
| h mean | 79 |
| h median | 79 |
The day-to-day work of a physicists typically centers on perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers. 7 of these 8 tasks are Core O*NET duties; the remainder are common supplemental work. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Science, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 4.11 out of 5 — critical for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working physicists, the most common entry qualification is a Doctoral Degree (49.0%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 100% of incumbents. This is a degree-heavy profession — most incumbents hold a four-year degree or beyond.
Median annual pay is highest in Minnesota at $222,550 and lowest in South Dakota at $78,390 — a 2.8× spread. The top five states (Minnesota, Florida, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Oregon) average $202,972. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | $222,550 | $217,700 | $95,970 | — | 60 |
| Florida | $209,020 | $199,040 | $109,050 | — | 240 |
| Pennsylvania | $208,470 | $188,220 | $76,860 | — | 540 |
| Arizona | $190,960 | $188,610 | $107,240 | — | 70 |
| Oregon | $183,860 | $188,090 | $79,580 | — | 120 |
| California | $180,900 | $187,720 | $103,800 | — | 6,220 |
| Missouri | $180,450 | $163,820 | $83,760 | — | 90 |
| New Hampshire | $179,440 | $182,360 | $67,670 | — | 30 |
| New Mexico | $175,960 | $185,650 | $134,310 | — | 770 |
| New York | $174,160 | $174,180 | $77,510 | — | 1,190 |
| Wisconsin | $174,010 | $173,010 | $84,480 | — | 220 |
| Tennessee | $173,660 | $163,690 | $64,930 | $226,750 | 260 |
| Connecticut | $171,630 | $193,520 | $107,730 | — | 70 |
| North Carolina | $170,690 | $152,640 | $66,730 | — | 170 |
| Texas | $170,450 | $171,790 | $71,650 | — | 700 |
| Kentucky | $168,660 | $178,660 | $95,760 | — | 30 |
| New Jersey | $168,610 | $177,610 | $98,030 | — | 320 |
| Virginia | $164,180 | $163,990 | $99,920 | — | 1,260 |
| Maryland | $163,950 | $159,890 | $101,040 | $211,240 | 1,420 |
| Massachusetts | $153,890 | $153,660 | $92,350 | $222,390 | 570 |
| District of Columbia | $153,340 | $146,150 | $82,780 | $191,880 | 570 |
| Colorado | $144,670 | $151,700 | $109,250 | $191,880 | 1,120 |
| Ohio | $135,550 | $143,270 | $49,180 | $225,930 | 710 |
| Utah | $133,900 | $147,660 | $56,020 | — | 60 |
| Idaho | $132,060 | $139,880 | $81,010 | $203,310 | 170 |
| Arkansas | $131,880 | $139,970 | $104,200 | $213,030 | 80 |
| Georgia | $131,500 | $159,690 | $77,740 | — | 190 |
| Illinois | $131,260 | $130,060 | $78,410 | $207,880 | 1,660 |
| South Carolina | $131,100 | $153,260 | $101,940 | $222,210 | 370 |
| Iowa | $120,810 | $157,580 | $62,500 | — | 120 |
| Mississippi | $120,640 | $132,230 | $59,950 | $235,470 | 70 |
| Washington | $120,080 | $136,300 | $67,240 | $224,320 | 430 |
| Nevada | $116,080 | $127,260 | $84,880 | $155,980 | — |
| Alabama | $114,690 | $130,730 | $69,320 | $222,590 | 360 |
| Maine | $114,610 | $130,330 | $55,300 | $225,430 | — |
| Indiana | $110,410 | $125,630 | $51,870 | $224,410 | 160 |
| Michigan | $107,640 | $133,920 | $67,710 | $237,760 | 550 |
| Oklahoma | $84,570 | $129,610 | $53,640 | $226,840 | 40 |
| Delaware | $82,780 | $145,140 | $66,190 | — | 40 |
| South Dakota | $78,390 | $104,100 | $51,000 | $172,940 | 30 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for physicists. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Aerodynamicist or Aerophysicist frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Physicists compares to others in the 19 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Physicists
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.
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