Salary distribution
Where Texas 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.
Physicists in Texas: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 62 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $66,436. 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 | 36 | $60,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 11 | $78,616 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $84,234 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 5 | $262,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Physicists in Texas. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas at Austin | Postdoctoral Fellow | 8 | $62,429 |
| Texas A&M University | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 8 | $58,501 |
| UT Southwestern Medical Center | Clinical Medical Physics Resident | 6 | $66,918 |
| W.M. Rice University | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 5 | $61,800 |
| W.M. RICE UNIVERSITY | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 4 | $61,633 |
| The University of Texas at Dallas | Research Associate | 4 | $71,500 |
| SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY | Research Associate 2 (Particle Physics Electronics Engineer) | 3 | $61,571 |
| Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | Senior Physicist | 3 | $275,100 |
| Texas A&M AgriLife Research | Research Scientist | 2 | $79,795 |
| The University of Texas at Arlington | Postdoctoral Research Associate | 2 | $57,043 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Research Scientist at Texas A&M AgriLife Research$80,974College StationDecided Dec 30, 2025I-200-25356-503472
- Research Scientist at W.M. Rice University$75,000HoustonDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-490597
- Physics Post Doctoral Fellow at Southern Methodist University$58,656DallasDecided Dec 24, 2025I-200-25351-490387
- Assistant Research Professor at The University of Texas El Paso$67,500El PasoDecided Dec 19, 2025I-200-25346-478242
- Postdoctoral Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin$66,571AustinDecided Dec 17, 2025I-200-25344-473061
- Sr. Computational Development Engineer at Lam Research Corporation$148,678AustinDecided Nov 24, 2025I-200-25322-415232
- Postdoctoral Research Associate at W.M. RICE UNIVERSITY$62,000HoustonDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25314-394752
- Research Associate at The University of Texas at Dallas$70,000RichardsonDecided Nov 7, 2025I-200-25273-350046
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.
Physicists pay by experience level in Texas
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 Texas
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 46 certified offers. The most common variant is Postdoctoral Research Associate at a median of $60,000.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Research Associate | Texas A&M University | 15 | $60,000 |
| Research Scientist | Texas A&M AgriLife Research | 9 | $80,974 |
| Postdoctoral Fellow | The University of Texas at Austin | 6 | $60,941 |
| Research Associate | The University of Texas at Dallas | 6 | $63,285 |
| Clinical Medical Physics Resident | UT Southwestern Medical Center | 4 | $66,918 |
| Research Fellow | The University of Texas at Austin | 3 | $62,975 |
| Senior Physicist | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | 3 | $262,000 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Physicists in Texas, by industry
Median offered wage across 62 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $61,571.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | The University of Texas at Austin | 47 | $61,571 |
| Professional services | Texas A&M AgriLife Research | 7 | $91,333 |
| Manufacturing | Varian Medical Systems, Inc. | 6 | $205,339 |
| Healthcare | Scott & White Memorial Hospital | 1 | $212,285 |
| Technology and software | INTERPRETIVE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS, INC. | 1 | $105,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Texas over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 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.
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Explore coursesTop metros in Texas
Metro-level salary data for physicists in major Texas metropolitan areas.
- Houston$212,050
- Dallas$202,610
- San Antonio$170,130
- Austin$129,380
Compare Physicists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Physicists in Texas?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Physicists in Texas is $170,450.
- How does Texas compare to the national median for Physicists?
- The Texas median is +5.3% versus the BLS national figure of $161,819.
- 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.