Physicists pay range in Ann Arbor
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,380 a year or less, while the top 10% make $176,440 or more. The middle half of physicists in Ann Arbor earn between $64,380 and $114,920.
- $64K10th
- $64K25th
- $64KMedian
- $115K75th
- $176K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,460 | $8,372 | $48.30 |
| Median | $64,380 | $5,365 | $30.95 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $64,380 | $5,365 | $30.95 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $114,920 | $9,577 | $55.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Ann Arbor vs. Michigan and the U.S.
Physicists in Ann Arbor earn 26% less than the Michigan average ($135,340) and 41% less than the U.S. average ($171,180). At the median the gap is -63% against the U.S. median of $172,250.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $100,460 | $64,380 | $64,380 | $176,440 | 80 |
| Michigan | $135,340 | $94,520 | $64,380 | $248,500 | 510 |
| 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 Ann Arbor
On the average salary of $100,460, a single filer in Ann Arbor takes home about $75,481 a year, or $6,290 a month and $2,903 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Ann Arbor a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Ann Arbor area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.9), so the average $100,460 buys what about $99,584 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Ann Arbor ($55,380). A typical home costs $422,945, or 4.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other Michigan cities
Ann Arbor ranks 2nd of 3 Michigan metro areas for this job; Detroit pays the most ($186,150).
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 Ann Arbor: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Ann Arbor?
$48.30 an hour on average, and $30.95 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Ann Arbor?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,380 a year and the 25th percentile is $64,380, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Ann Arbor?
About $75,481 a year ($6,290 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,460.
Do physicists earn more in Ann Arbor than elsewhere?
The average here is 41% 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 Ann Arbor, MI (11460). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.9%.
- 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 (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 2.81, this job is 2.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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