Physicists in New York. BLS OES + DOL OFLC + reader-reported submissions. How this is built →
Salary distribution
Where New York physicists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $131,600 and $221,590, with a median of $181,970.
Physicists in New York: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 264 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $104,250. 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 | 119 | $83,130 |
| Level II — qualified | 41 | $124,200 |
| Level III — experienced | 70 | $136,266 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 19 | $196,116 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Physicists in New York. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brookhaven National Laboratory | Research Associate Physics | 153 | $124,280 |
| The Simons Foundation Inc. | Flatiron Research Fellow | 22 | $115,125 |
| Columbia University | Associate Research Scientist | 12 | $77,280 |
| University of Rochester | Scientist | 11 | $85,000 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | Assistant Attending | 10 | $212,500 |
| Cornell University | Postdoctoral Associate | 9 | $74,500 |
| New York University | Postdoctoral Associate | 8 | $68,058 |
| Research Foundation for the State University of New York | Postdoctoral Associate | 6 | $68,058 |
| Research Foundation of CUNY | AI Research Associate | 6 | $79,487 |
| NYU Grossman School of Medicine | Assistant Professor (Research) | 3 | $149,240 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- AI Research Associate at Research Foundation of CUNY$85,000New YorkWage Level IDecided —I-200-26084-730004
- Research Associate Physics at Brookhaven National Laboratory$84,000UptonWage Level IDecided Mar 25, 2026I-200-26077-711499
- Postdoctoral Researcher at Syracuse University$66,664SyracuseWage Level IDecided Mar 24, 2026I-200-26076-709818
- Postdoctoral Associate at Cornell University$86,528IthacaWage Level IDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-705596
- Associate Research Scientist at The Simons Foundation Inc.$162,490New YorkWage Level IIDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-706520
- Postdoctoral Research Scientist at Columbia University$72,116New YorkDecided Mar 23, 2026I-200-26075-705601
- Associate Research Scientist at Columbia University$79,237New YorkWage Level IDecided Mar 20, 2026I-200-26072-702652
- Postdoctoral Associate at New York University$71,261New YorkWage Level IDecided Mar 18, 2026I-200-26070-695585
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.
Where do you stand?
Get an instant percentile reading. Anonymous, no signup.
Aggregate unlocks once 5 readers have shared a salary for this role and state.
Physicists pay by experience level in New York
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Physicists specialties in New York
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 236 certified offers. The most common variant is Research Associate Physics at a median of $125,913.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Associate Physics | Brookhaven National Laboratory | 118 | $125,913 |
| Associate Research Scientist | The Simons Foundation Inc. | 25 | $103,000 |
| Research Staff | Brookhaven National Laboratory | 24 | $122,975 |
| Postdoctoral Associate | New York University | 21 | $68,058 |
| Flatiron Research Fellow | The Simons Foundation Inc. | 11 | $91,000 |
| Physics Associate | Brookhaven National Laboratory | 7 | $77,606 |
| Scientist | University of Rochester | 7 | $100,000 |
| Postdoctoral Research Scientist | Columbia University | 6 | $74,212 |
| Postdoctoral Researcher | Syracuse University | 5 | $66,664 |
| Goldhaber Fellow | Brookhaven National Laboratory | 5 | $108,500 |
| Assistant Attending | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | 4 | $205,000 |
| Raymond Davis Jr. Fellow | Brookhaven National Laboratory | 3 | $125,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Physicists in New York, by industry
Median offered wage across 183 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Professional services leads with a median of $124,634.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional services | Brookhaven National Laboratory | 126 | $124,634 |
| Education | Columbia University | 42 | $74,639 |
| Healthcare | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | 12 | $205,000 |
| Manufacturing | INFICON, INC. | 1 | $103,000 |
| Nonprofit and civic | The Simons Foundation Inc. | 1 | $162,510 |
| Technology and software | Schrodinger, Inc. | 1 | $130,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in New York over the past 3 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2025 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.9 / 5
Physics
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Mathematics
Knowledge
- 4.8 / 5
Mathematical Reasoning
Ability
- 4.6 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.5 / 5
Engineering and Technology
Knowledge
- 4.4 / 5
Computers and Electronics
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Mathematics
Basic skill
- 4.3 / 5
Reading Comprehension
Basic skill
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- 02
Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- 03
Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- 04
Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- 05
Write research proposals to receive funding.
- 06
Teach physics to students.
- 07
Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
- 08
Conduct research pertaining to potential environmental impacts of atomic energy-related industrial development to determine licensing qualifications.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+4.1%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Average growth
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Physicists
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in New York
Metro-level salary data for physicists in major New York metropolitan areas.
- New York City$181,970
- Buffalo$175,060
Compare Physicists pay across nearby states
Considering a move? Compare New York with another state
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physicists in New York?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physicists in New York is $181,970.
- How does New York compare to the national median for Physicists?
- The New York median is +9.6% versus the BLS national figure of $166,057.
- What is the salary range for Physicists in New York?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $80,000 and the 90th-percentile at $292,950, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Physicists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 4.1% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Physicists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.