Physicists pay range in Philadelphia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,570 a year or less, while the top 10% make $269,270 or more. The middle half of physicists in Philadelphia earn between $82,590 and $248,780.
- $65K10th
- $83K25th
- $165KMedian
- $249K75th
- $269K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $162,610 | $13,551 | $78.18 |
| Median | $164,850 | $13,738 | $79.25 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $82,590 | $6,882 | $39.71 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $248,780 | $20,732 | $119.61 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Philadelphia vs. Pennsylvania and the U.S.
Physicists in Philadelphia earn 15% less than the Pennsylvania average ($191,120) and 5% less 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | $162,610 | $164,850 | $64,570 | $269,270 | 150 |
| Pennsylvania | $191,120 | $210,990 | $88,300 | $261,820 | 230 |
| 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 Philadelphia
On the average salary of $162,610, a single filer in Philadelphia takes home about $117,418 a year, or $9,785 a month and $4,516 every two weeks. Taxes take 28% of gross pay.
The Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in PA | $117,418 | $9,785 |
| Working in MD | $114,641 | $9,553 |
| Working in NJ | $114,242 | $9,520 |
| Working in DE | $112,909 | $9,409 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Is Philadelphia a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Philadelphia area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 102.6), so the average $162,610 buys what about $158,560 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 3.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Philadelphia ($54,310). A typical home costs $390,463, or 2.4 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other Pennsylvania cities
Philadelphia ranks 2nd of 2 Pennsylvania metro areas for this job; Pittsburgh pays the most ($211,220).
- Pittsburgh$211,220
- Philadelphia$162,610
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 Philadelphia: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Philadelphia?
$78.18 an hour on average, and $79.25 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Philadelphia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $64,570 a year and the 25th percentile is $82,590, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Philadelphia?
About $117,418 a year ($9,785 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $162,610. Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
Do physicists earn more in Philadelphia than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD (37980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.3%.
- 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). Local earned income taxes (for example Philadelphia's wage tax) are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.38, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.38).
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