The average salary for a physicist in South Dakota is around $83,050 per year.
Avg Salary
Physicists earn an average yearly salary of $83,050.
Wages typically start from $53,910 and go up to $180,690.
66% above national average Updated in 2025
Physicist earnings by seniority
Top-level physicist earnings begin at:
$86.87 per hour
$180,690 per year
Senior-level physicist earnings begin at:
$64.57 per hour
$134,300 per year
Mid-level physicist earnings begin at:
$39.93 per hour
$83,050 per year
Junior-level physicist earnings begin at:
$31.81 per hour
$66,170 per year
Starting level physicist earnings begin at:
$25.92 per hour
$53,910 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Physicist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Michigan | $94,520 |
| South Dakota | $83,050 |
| Delaware | $82,590 |
| Vermont | $79,110 |
| Florida | $225,390 |
| New Hampshire | $214,030 |
| Pennsylvania | $210,990 |
| California | $207,490 |
| Oregon | $200,320 |
| Oklahoma | $200,050 |
| Texas | $184,040 |
| New York | $181,970 |
| Kentucky | $180,910 |
| Connecticut | $180,300 |
| Iowa | $178,110 |
| Maryland | $174,390 |
| North Carolina | $174,180 |
| Wisconsin | $173,120 |
| Minnesota | $171,220 |
| Louisiana | $166,240 |
| New Mexico | $165,340 |
| Tennessee | $165,010 |
| New Jersey | $163,270 |
| Ohio | $162,900 |
| District of Columbia | $157,040 |
| Utah | $156,760 |
| Rhode Island | $155,150 |
| Nevada | $154,030 |
| Virginia | $145,040 |
| Georgia | $144,870 |
| Missouri | $140,460 |
| Alabama | $139,330 |
| South Carolina | $138,400 |
| Illinois | $137,140 |
| Arkansas | $135,820 |
| Idaho | $135,150 |
| Washington | $134,790 |
| Arizona | $130,500 |
| Mississippi | $129,970 |
| Hawaii | $117,190 |
| Massachusetts | $106,410 |
| Indiana | $105,940 |
| Maine | $105,400 |
| Colorado | $104,580 |
| Montana | $103,800 |
How much does a Physicist earn?
Individuals with a physics degrees earn more, on average, than their fellow graduates in all but a handful of disciplines. According to a study by PayScale.com, physicists are the sixth-highest-earning group of graduates, with a median physicist salary of approximately $100,000 after at least ten years in the workforce. Physics was one of only three non-engineering majors to be in the top ten, along with computer science and economics. Starting physicists salaries aren’t bad either - approximately $55,000. (Please note that PayScale’s data set is based on information provided by users of the website, not a random sample of US graduates.
The top three industries where physicists work are in the federal government; research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences; and colleges, universities, and professional schools.
How do physicist salaries compare to similar careers?
Physicists earn 13% more than similar careers in South Dakota. On average, they make less than nanotechnology engineers but more than geodesists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Nanotechnology engineer salary | $112K |
| Physicist salary | $83K |
| Atmospheric scientist salary | $79K |
| Occupational health specialist salary | $89K |
| Food science technologist salary | $71K |
| Geodesist salary | $77K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)