Physicists pay range in Albuquerque
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $120,720 a year or less, while the top 10% make $225,300 or more. The middle half of physicists in Albuquerque earn between $154,960 and $203,570.
- $121K10th
- $155K25th
- $165KMedian
- $204K75th
- $225K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $177,280 | $14,773 | $85.23 |
| Median | $165,340 | $13,778 | $79.49 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $154,960 | $12,913 | $74.50 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $203,570 | $16,964 | $97.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Albuquerque vs. New Mexico and the U.S.
Physicists in Albuquerque earn about the same as the New Mexico average ($176,680) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($171,180). At the median the gap is -4% against the U.S. median of $172,250.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $177,280 | $165,340 | $120,720 | $225,300 | 330 |
| New Mexico | $176,680 | $165,340 | $120,720 | $235,180 | 580 |
| 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 Albuquerque
On the average salary of $177,280, a single filer in Albuquerque takes home about $125,081 a year, or $10,423 a month and $4,811 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 (2026 rules).
Is Albuquerque a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Albuquerque area are 4% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 95.5), so the average $177,280 buys what about $185,544 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Albuquerque ($48,060). A typical home costs $352,894, or 2.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other New Mexico cities
Albuquerque ranks 1st of 2 New Mexico metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Albuquerque$177,280
- Las Cruces$120,260
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 Albuquerque: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Albuquerque?
$85.23 an hour on average, and $79.49 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Albuquerque?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $120,720 a year and the 25th percentile is $154,960, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Albuquerque?
About $125,081 a year ($10,423 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $177,280.
Do physicists earn more in Albuquerque than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more 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 Albuquerque, NM (10740). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.6%.
- 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).
- Job concentration: location quotient 6.17, this job is 6.2 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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