Entry-level Physicists salary in California
Roles that require limited judgement and close supervision. Typically less than two years of relevant experience or fresh graduates entering the field.
Entry-level Physicists in California: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 78 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $85,209. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 78 | $85,209 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Entry-level Physicists in California. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Leland Stanford, Jr University | Physical Science Research Scientist | 19 | $83,680 |
| Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/SLAC National Accelerator Lab | Research Associate | 19 | $80,000 |
| California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratory | Technologist | 6 | $140,049 |
| Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC | Postdoctoral Research Staff | 6 | $128,916 |
| California Institute of Technology | LIGO Laser Physicist/Engineer | 4 | $93,500 |
| Western Digital Technologies, Inc. | Staff Engineer, Hardware Development Engineering | 4 | $124,052 |
| SETI Institute | Research Scientist | 3 | $106,000 |
| Chapman University | Postdoctoral Fellow | 2 | $78,042 |
| Kent State University | Research Scientist | 1 | $79,914 |
| W.M. RICE UNIVERSITY | Postdoctoral Associate | 1 | $78,125 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Physical Science Research Scientist at The Leland Stanford, Jr University$84,460Menlo ParkWage Level IDecided Sep 25, 2025I-200-25261-320069
- Postdoctoral Scholar at California Institute of Technology/Jet Propulsion Laboratory$86,880PasadenaWage Level IDecided Aug 27, 2025I-200-25232-255565
- Research Scientist at Kent State University$79,914BerkeleyWage Level IDecided Aug 19, 2025I-200-25224-237564
- Research Associate at Leland Stanford Jr. Univ/SLAC National Accelerator Lab$81,994Menlo ParkWage Level IDecided Jul 22, 2025I-200-25196-175119
- Postdoctoral Associate at W.M. RICE UNIVERSITY$78,125Los AngelesWage Level IDecided Jul 17, 2025I-200-25191-167129
- Physical Science Research Scientist at The Leland Stanford, Jr University$82,000StanfordWage Level IDecided Jul 17, 2025I-200-25191-165636
- LIGO Laser Physicist/Engineer at California Institute of Technology$135,725PasadenaWage Level IDecided Jul 17, 2025I-200-25191-166518
- Postdoctoral Research Affiliate at The Leland Stanford, Jr University$79,914StanfordWage Level IDecided Jul 16, 2025I-200-25190-163229
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.