Physicist salary in California
In California, space employers offer physicists, astronomers and optical engineers a median of $185k a year, the middle half $136k–$194k $20k above the national posted median. From 19 jobs at 9 employers that name a salary in their postings.
- 25th percentile$136,250/hr
- Median (50th)$185,000/hr
- 75th percentile$193,500/hr
- Distinct posted rates19
- Jobs stating an hourly rate19
- Employers9
The median is the middle of the 19 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $136,250–$193,500 an hour, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- 25th percentile$136,250/hr
- Median (50th)$185,000/hr
- 75th percentile$193,500/hr
- Distinct posted rates19
- Jobs stating an hourly rate19
- Employers9
The median is the middle of the 19 distinct rates they post, and the middle half, $136,250–$193,500 an hour, runs from their 25th percentile to their 75th: half of the rates fall between them. Each range counts at its midpoint, and a job posted many times at one rate counts once, so no employer's posting volume sets the figure.
- Median posted pay, a year$185,000
- Hours in a full-time year2,080
- The same per hour, full time$88.94/hr
Every figure here is a year's pay: a job that posts pay counts at 2,080 hours (40 a week for 52 weeks). Rounded to the nearest $100.
- SpaceX7 jobs
- K2 Space3 jobs
- Lockheed Martin2 jobs
- RTX2 jobs
- Muon Space1 job
- Cowboy Space1 job
- Inversion Space1 job
- Voyager Technologies1 job
- Impulse Space1 job
Jobs stating pay, the employers with the most first: 19 in all, at 9 employers.
The jobs themselves: Physicist jobs in California · Physicist pay nationwide
What physicists, astronomers and optical engineers are paid in California
Each bar counts the open jobs posting pay in its step of pay (a range at its midpoint).
Median $185k a year. Middle half $136k to $194k. Point at a bar for its count. Tap a bar for its count.
Posted on open jobs in California
Middle half of 19 distinct posted rates (a job posted many times at one rate counted once), median $185k. 54% of the 35 open physicist jobs in California state pay.
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Physics in California: new openings every week
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Physicist pay by town in California
Towns where at least three open jobs state pay, the towns with the most such jobs first.
| Town | Median posted | Posted range | Jobs (employers) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawthorne | $185k | $105k–$285k | 7 (1) |
| Los Angeles | $170k | $100k–$221k | 4 (2) |
Median of employers' rates in the town, the lowest and highest rate posted, and the jobs and employers behind them. A town opens its own job page.
Physicist pay by employer in California
What each employer posts for physicists, astronomers and optical engineers here, the employers with the most jobs stating pay first.
Median of each employer's jobs in California (a range at its midpoint), and its lowest and highest rate here. An employer's name opens its pay for physicists, astronomers and optical engineers nationwide when it has such a page.
Best-paid open physicist jobs in California
The open jobs posting the highest pay figures tonight, at most two from one employer.
$185,400–$344,400/yr
$190,000–$285,000/yr- $135,700–$280,000/yr
- $165,000–$230,000/yr
$171,000–$218,000/yr
$165,000–$220,000/yr
$161,000–$221,000/yr
$150,000–$220,000/yr
$165,000–$205,000/yr- $110,000–$200,000/yr
$120,000–$150,000/yr
$75,800–$144,200/yr
Physicist salary in California: common questions
How much does a physicist make in California?
Open physicist jobs in California that state pay post a median of $185k, the middle half $136k–$194k (19 jobs from 9 employers).
Where in California do physicists, astronomers and optical engineers earn the most?
By the median rate open jobs post, in the towns with the most jobs stating pay: Hawthorne ($185k) and Los Angeles ($170k). The town table lists 2.
Which employers in California pay physicists, astronomers and optical engineers the most?
Among employers stating a rate on at least three open jobs here: SpaceX ($185k) and K2 Space ($155k).
How does California compare with the rest of the country?
The posted median in California ($185k) is $20k above the national posted median of $165k.
Where do these figures come from?
From the pay open jobs state, read every night from each employer's own job board: 19 of 35 open physicist jobs in California (54%) state pay. No pay is estimated for a job that states none; "up to" ceilings and weekly travel rates are left out.
Sources and method
Cite this page
SpaceJobs.Now. (2026). Physicist salary in California. Data as of 7 Nov 2026. https://spacejobs.now/salaries/physicists/california