RateOrchard
DATA PROFILE · 2024

Physicists salary in Rhode Island

Median, range, employment, and 10-year outlook from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, with skills and task data from O*NET. Cost-of-living adjustment from BEA Regional Price Parities.

Adrian Serafin, founder and editor of RateOrchardBy Adrian SerafinFounderUpdated May 4, 2026

2024 wage data not published for physicists in Rhode Island

The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage estimates when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish a figure without revealing individual firm pay. The privacy redaction happens upstream, before the data reaches us.

Use national figures and adjacent states below as a reference, or check BLS confidentiality rules for context.

Salary distribution

Where Rhode Island physicists fall on the wage curve.

Distribution not available

The Bureau of Labor Statistics suppresses wage percentiles for this occupation and state when the surveyed cell has too few employers to publish without revealing individual firm pay. National figures and adjacent states below remain a useful reference.

Real disclosed salaries

Physicists in Rhode Island: actual employer-disclosed pay

Public records from 5 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $85,000. 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.

LevelFilingsMedian offer
Level I — entry3$82,200
Level II — qualified2$85,000

Top employers filing for this role

Companies with the most certified filings for Physicists in Rhode Island. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.

EmployerMost-filed titleFilingsMedian
Brown UniversityAssistant Professor of Physics3$85,000
University of Rhode IslandPostdoctoral Fellow2$80,217

Recent sample filings

A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.

  • Assistant Professor of Physics at Brown University
    $82,200
    ProvidenceWage Level IDecided Aug 19, 2025I-200-25224-236271
  • Postdoctoral Fellow at University of Rhode Island
    $69,805
    KingstonWage Level IDecided Aug 12, 2025I-200-25217-221347
  • Research Associate in Physics at Brown University
    $85,000
    ProvidenceWage Level IIDecided Jun 10, 2025I-200-25154-045644
  • Research Assistant Professor at University of Rhode Island
    $90,628
    KingstonWage Level IDecided Jan 22, 2025I-200-25014-616954
  • Senior Research Associate in Engineering at Brown University
    $85,000
    ProvidenceWage Level IIDecided Oct 25, 2024I-200-24292-416705

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.

By seniority

Physicists pay by experience level in Rhode Island

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.

Typical entry

  • Education

    Doctoral or professional degree

  • Experience

    None

  • On-the-job training

    None

Top skills (O*NET)

  • Physics

    Knowledge

    4.9 / 5
  • Mathematics

    Knowledge

    4.8 / 5
  • Mathematical Reasoning

    Ability

    4.8 / 5
  • Science

    Basic skill

    4.6 / 5
  • Engineering and Technology

    Knowledge

    4.5 / 5
  • Computers and Electronics

    Knowledge

    4.4 / 5
  • Mathematics

    Basic skill

    4.3 / 5
  • Reading Comprehension

    Basic skill

    4.3 / 5

Common tasks (O*NET)

  1. 01

    Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.

  2. 02

    Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.

  3. 03

    Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.

  4. 04

    Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.

  5. 05

    Write research proposals to receive funding.

  6. 06

    Teach physics to students.

  7. 07

    Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.

  8. 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, 20242034 cycle.

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Top metros in Rhode Island

Metro-level salary data for physicists in major Rhode Island metropolitan areas.

Compare Physicists pay across nearby states

Frequently asked questions

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.
Disclaimer

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.