Physicists pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,270 a year or less, while the top 10% make $289,950 or more. The middle half of physicists in Houston earn between $108,850 and $271,450.
- $79K10th
- $109K25th
- $200KMedian
- $271K75th
- $290K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $196,520 | $16,377 | $94.48 |
| Median | $199,770 | $16,648 | $96.04 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $108,850 | $9,071 | $52.33 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $271,450 | $22,621 | $130.50 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Physicists in Houston earn 11% more than the Texas average ($176,530) and 15% more than the U.S. average ($171,180). At the median the gap is +16% against the U.S. median of $172,250.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $196,520 | $199,770 | $79,270 | $289,950 | 140 |
| Texas | $176,530 | $184,040 | $69,960 | $289,950 | 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 Houston
On the average salary of $196,520, a single filer in Houston takes home about $146,333 a year, or $12,194 a month and $5,628 every two weeks. Taxes take 26% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $196,520 buys what about $199,252 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 4.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 1.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 1st of 4 Texas metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Houston$196,520
- San Antonio$191,070
- Dallas$182,220
- Austin$152,630
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 Houston: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Houston?
$94.48 an hour on average, and $96.05 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,270 a year and the 25th percentile is $108,850, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Houston?
About $146,333 a year ($12,194 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $196,520. Texas has no state income tax.
Do physicists earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 15% 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 3.4%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.31, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.31).
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