Physicists Pay Range in North Carolina
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$64,050
- 25th Percentile — Junior$81,370
- 50th Percentile — Median$174,180
- 75th Percentile — Senior$209,210
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$256,860
Half of Physicists in North Carolina earn more than $174,180. The top 10% make $256,860 or more, while entry-level workers start around $64,050.
Physicists in North Carolina: Key Facts
Source: BLS OEWS May 2025
- North Carolina ranks 28th of 43 states for Physicists pay, at $153,120 per year (10.6% below the U.S. average of $171,180).
- 150 people work as Physicists in North Carolina — 0.7% of all U.S. Physicists jobs.
- Location quotient 0.23: Physicists jobs are less concentrated in North Carolina than in the U.S. overall.
- Pay range: the lowest-paid 10% earn under $64,050; the top 10% earn over $256,860.
- Hourly equivalent: $73.62 per hour (2,080 hours/year).
- The highest-paying state is Florida at $219,910.
- Among science jobs in North Carolina, Economists pays the most ($136,220).
Physicists Job Market in North Carolina
Key factors affecting compensation
North Carolina's key industries are Technology, Finance, Agriculture, and its job market is rated strong. Physicists here earn $153,120 on average, placing the state 28th nationally.
With a cost-of-living index of 0.91 (U.S. = 1.00), a North Carolina salary of $153,120 is roughly equivalent to $168,264 at the national average cost of living.
Compared with nearby states in the pay ranking, Virginia ($159,320), South Carolina ($159,280), District of Columbia ($156,320) are the closest alternatives for Physicists weighing a move.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
Other Science Jobs in North Carolina
Related career salary benchmarks
- Economists $136,220/yr North Carolina 11.0% vs this role
- Sociologists $129,740/yr North Carolina 15.3% vs this role
- Medical Scientists $112,360/yr North Carolina 26.6% vs this role
- Materials Scientists $110,700/yr North Carolina 27.7% vs this role
- Biochemists and Biophysicists $102,050/yr North Carolina 33.4% vs this role
- Geoscientists $100,170/yr North Carolina 34.6% vs this role
- Microbiologists $95,490/yr North Carolina 37.6% vs this role
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists $93,080/yr North Carolina 39.2% vs this role
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average Physicists salary in North Carolina?
The average Physicists salary in North Carolina is $153,120 per year (median $174,180), which is 10.6% below the national average of $171,180.
How does North Carolina rank for Physicists pay?
North Carolina ranks 28th out of 43 states. The highest-paying state is Florida ($219,910/yr).
How much do entry-level Physicists make in North Carolina?
The lowest-paid 10% of Physicists in North Carolina earn about $64,050 per year and the 25th percentile is $81,370.
How much do Physicists make per hour in North Carolina?
About $73.62 per hour, based on the $153,120 annual average and 2,080 working hours per year.
How many Physicists work in North Carolina?
BLS counts 150 Physicists jobs in North Carolina (OEWS May 2025).
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