Physical Scientists, All Other · California

Physical Scientists, All Other Salary in California

Physical Scientists, All Other in California earn a median annual wage of $130,610 —6.6% above the national median of $122,570. That ranks CA #13 of 39 covered states and territories for this occupation.

Median annual
$130,610
Median hourly
$62.79
Entry level (P10)
$81,360
10th percentile
Top 10% (P90)
$211,150
90th percentile
Employment
2,320
0.1 per 1,000 jobs
vs U.S. median
+6.6%
U.S. $122,570

Wage distribution

How earnings are spread across workers in this occupation, from the 10th to the 90th percentile.

10th percentile90th percentile
$81,360
$106,480
$130,610
$171,270
$81,360$130,610$211,150
Annual wage distribution. Highlighted segment contains the median of $130,610.

Employment concentration (0.89×) is close to the national average.

Highest-paying states for physical scientists, all other

All 39 states ranked by median annual wage. California is highlighted.

#StateMedian annual Median hourlyEmploymentLocation quotient
1District of Columbia$156,730$75.357907.88
2Minnesota$147,890$71.105401.28
3North Dakota$147,650$70.99701.16
4Maryland$141,290$67.931,8104.56
5South Carolina$141,130$67.85700.22
6Massachusetts$138,380$66.533500.66
7Georgia$137,680$66.191,0201.46
8Alabama$135,350$65.071400.47
9Pennsylvania$134,780$64.804600.53
10Colorado$134,440$64.637101.72

Related occupations in California

Occupations in the same job family, compared within California.

Frequently asked questions

How much do physical scientists, all other make in California?

The median annual wage for physical scientists, all other in California is $130,610, or $62.79 per hour. That is 6.6% above the national median of $122,570.

What is the entry-level physical scientists, all other salary in California?

Workers at the 10th percentile earn $81,360 per year ($39.11/hour). The 25th percentile is $106,480.

How many people work as physical scientists, all other in California?

About 2,320 people work in this occupation in California, or 0.1 per 1,000 jobs statewide.

Is California a good state for physical scientists, all other?

California ranks #13 of 39 states by median wage for this occupation. Employment concentration (0.89x) is close to the national average.

Which state pays physical scientists, all other the most?

District of Columbia has the highest median wage at $156,730 per year, followed by Minnesota ($147,890) and North Dakota ($147,650).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025. Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, cross-industry estimates. Retrieved 2026-10-26. Figures are rounded by BLS to the nearest dollar (annual) and cent (hourly). Percentile wages describe the distribution of workers, not the pay range for a single job posting. bls.gov/oes