Physicists pay range in Trenton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $102,440 a year or less, while the top 10% make $225,870 or more. The middle half of physicists in Trenton earn between $103,480 and $178,000.
- $102K10th
- $103K25th
- $135KMedian
- $178K75th
- $226K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $153,100 | $12,758 | $73.61 |
| Median | $135,030 | $11,252 | $64.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $103,480 | $8,623 | $49.75 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $178,000 | $14,833 | $85.58 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Trenton vs. New Jersey and the U.S.
Physicists in Trenton earn 13% less than the New Jersey average ($175,090) and 11% less than the U.S. average ($171,180). At the median the gap is -22% against the U.S. median of $172,250.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | $153,100 | $135,030 | $102,440 | $225,870 | n/a |
| New Jersey | $175,090 | $163,270 | $100,490 | $289,830 | 470 |
| 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 Trenton
On the average salary of $153,100, a single filer in Trenton takes home about $108,347 a year, or $9,029 a month and $4,167 every two weeks. Taxes take 29% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Is Trenton a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Trenton area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.2), so the average $153,100 buys what about $148,381 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.1 times the median wage of all jobs in Trenton ($63,490). A typical home costs $446,377, or 2.9 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in nearby metro areas
- Philadelphia, PA$162,610
- New York, NY$191,320
- Lexington Park, MD$134,720
- Albany, NY$176,840
- Washington, DC$169,660
- Worcester, MA$166,280
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 Trenton: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Trenton?
$73.61 an hour on average, and $64.92 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $102,440 a year and the 25th percentile is $103,480, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Trenton?
About $108,347 a year ($9,029 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $153,100. New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Do physicists earn more in Trenton than elsewhere?
The average here is 11% 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ (45940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- 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). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
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