Physicists pay range in Atlanta
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,860 a year or less, while the top 10% make $260,560 or more. The middle half of physicists in Atlanta earn between $106,860 and $222,500.
- $80K10th
- $107K25th
- $145KMedian
- $222K75th
- $261K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $178,430 | $14,869 | $85.78 |
| Median | $144,870 | $12,072 | $69.65 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $106,860 | $8,905 | $51.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $222,500 | $18,542 | $106.97 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Physicists pay in Atlanta vs. Georgia and the U.S.
Physicists in Atlanta earn about the same as the Georgia average ($179,130) and 4% more than the U.S. average ($171,180). At the median the gap is -16% against the U.S. median of $172,250.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta | $178,430 | $144,870 | $79,860 | $260,560 | 100 |
| Georgia | $179,130 | $144,870 | $79,860 | $288,170 | 160 |
| United States | $171,180 | $172,250 | $82,110 | $274,110 | 20,430 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Physicists salary after taxes in Atlanta
On the average salary of $178,430, a single filer in Atlanta takes home about $125,068 a year, or $10,422 a month and $4,810 every two weeks. Taxes take 30% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Atlanta a good place for physicists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Atlanta area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 100.1), so the average $178,430 buys what about $178,327 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.8 times the median wage of all jobs in Atlanta ($51,170). A typical home costs $382,938, or 2.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Physicists salary in nearby metro areas
- Greenville, SC$169,620
- Huntsville, AL$155,940
- Knoxville, TN$156,290
- Nashville, TN$208,700
- Memphis, TN$145,230
- Cincinnati, OH$145,800
Highest-paying cities for physicists
Miami, FL pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($245,010).
- Miami, FL$245,010
- Tampa, FL$244,380
- Pittsburgh, PA$211,220
- Portland, OR$210,060
- Cleveland, OH$209,480
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Physicists salary in Atlanta: questions
How much do physicists make an hour in Atlanta?
$85.78 an hour on average, and $69.65 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level physicists salary in Atlanta?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $79,860 a year and the 25th percentile is $106,860, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the physicists take-home pay in Atlanta?
About $125,068 a year ($10,422 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $178,430.
Do physicists earn more in Atlanta than elsewhere?
The average here is 4% more than the U.S. average for this job ($171,180).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-2012; area Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA (12060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 14.2%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.25, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.25).
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