Physicists pay range in Portland
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,780 a year or less, while the top 10% make $123,780 or more. The middle half of physicists in Portland earn between $57,780 and $117,080.
- $58K10th
- $58K25th
- $58KMedian
- $117K75th
- $124K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $84,480 | $7,040 | $40.62 |
| Median | $57,780 | $4,815 | $27.78 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $57,780 | $4,815 | $27.78 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $117,080 | $9,757 | $56.29 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Portland vs. Maine and the U.S.
Physicists in Portland earn 51% less than the U.S. average ($171,180). At the median the gap is -66% against the U.S. median of $172,250.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portland | $84,480 | $57,780 | $57,780 | $123,780 | 50 |
| United States | $171,180 | $172,250 | $82,110 | $274,110 | 20,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physicists salary after taxes in Portland
On the average salary of $84,480, a single filer in Portland takes home about $64,237 a year, or $5,353 a month and $2,471 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Is Portland a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Portland area are 2% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 101.9), so the average $84,480 buys what about $82,939 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Portland ($56,960). A typical home costs $542,063, or 6.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in nearby metro areas
- Boston, MA$129,840
- Worcester, MA$166,280
- Providence, RI$171,850
- Albany, NY$176,840
- New York, NY$191,320
- Trenton, NJ$153,100
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
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Physicists salary in Portland: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Portland?
$40.62 an hour on average, and $27.78 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Portland?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $57,780 a year and the 25th percentile is $57,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Portland?
About $64,237 a year ($5,353 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $84,480. Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
Do physicists earn more in Portland than elsewhere?
The average here is 51% less than the U.S. average for this job ($171,180).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2012; area Portland-South Portland, ME (38860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 27.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). Maine's standard deduction phase-out above $102,250 of income is not modelled.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.35, this job is 1.4 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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