Physicist Salary in Los Angeles, CA
Physicists in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area earn a median $160,270 a year — 7% less than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $108,052 take-home, or $9,004 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median physicist salary in Los Angeles, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$27,199
- Social Security (6.2%)$9,937
- Medicare (1.45%)$2,324
- California income tax$10,676
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$2,084
- Take-home pay$108,052
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Physicist pay by experience in Los Angeles, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $88,000 | $42.31 | $65,640 | $5,470 |
| 25th percentile | $114,070 | $54.84 | $81,216 | $6,768 |
| Median (50th) | $160,270 | $77.05 | $108,052 | $9,004 |
| 75th percentile | $203,420 | $97.80 | $134,113 | $11,176 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $275,560+ | $132.48 | $174,885 | $14,574 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $160,270 buys in Los Angeles, CA
Prices in Los Angeles, CA are 13.6% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.70× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median physicist's $108,052 take-home pay has the buying power of $95,144 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Physicist jobs are less concentrated in Los Angeles, CA than nationally (location quotient 0.67), so openings may be scarcer.
Best-paying cities for physicists, adjusted for cost of living
Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 7 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $181,970 | $125,947 | $111,890 |
| 2 | Washington, DC | $171,580 | $116,925 | $107,385 |
| 3 | San Jose, CA | $173,450 | $115,663 | $104,745 |
| 4 | Los Angeles, CA | $160,270 | $108,052 | $95,144 |
| 5 | Chicago, IL | $137,140 | $98,358 | $94,944 |
| 6 | Boulder, CO | $104,580 | $78,509 | $74,627 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $106,000 | $78,321 | $72,341 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 7 metros →
Physicist salaries elsewhere in California
- San Jose, CA — $173,450
Frequently asked questions
How much does a physicist make in Los Angeles, CA?
The median physicist salary in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area is $160,270 a year, or about $77.05 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $114,070 and $203,420.
What is a physicist’s take-home pay in Los Angeles, CA?
On the median $160,270 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $108,052 a year ($9,004 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $12,759 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Los Angeles, CA a good place to work as a physicist?
Pay here is 7% below the national median of $172,250. Local prices are 13.6% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $95,144 would in a typical U.S. city. Los Angeles, CA ranks #4 of 7 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a physicist afford rent in Los Angeles, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles, CA is $2,245 a month ($2,755 for two bedrooms) — 25% of a median physicist’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Los Angeles, CA
- Psychologists, All Other — $153,630
- Physical Scientists, All Other — $136,160
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — $134,890
- Biochemist and Biophysicist — $131,700
- School Psychologist — $122,390
- Urban and Regional Planner — $111,380
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health — $105,340
- Forensic Science Technician — $104,410
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialist — $102,610
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other — $100,550
- Microbiologist — $100,420
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist — $99,250