Physicist Salary in Long Beach, CA: 2026
Physicist salary data for Long Beach, CA, adjusted for local cost of living. Entry-level to senior pay ranges, take-home pay calculator, and local job market insights.
The estimated median Physicist salary in Long Beach, CA is $254,930 per year ($21,244/month, $123/hr). This modeled estimate scales Salario's national benchmark (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median) by the local cost of living index of 148, which is 48% above the national average.
All four figures are Salario estimates (national benchmark scaled by Long Beach's cost-of-living index); BLS does not publish a metro median for this title here.
Physicist Take-Home Pay in Long Beach
Tax Breakdown (Median Salary)
| Gross Annual | $254,930 |
| Federal Tax | -$52,882 |
| State Tax (7.7% eff.) | -$19,616 |
| FICA (SS + Medicare) | -$15,135 |
| Annual Take-Home | $167,296 |
| Monthly Take-Home | $13,941 |
Living Cost Comparison
Physicist Requirements
Key Skills
Long Beach Job Market Overview
Long Beach, California has a population of 466,742 and an unemployment rate of 4.5%. The top industries are Shipping, Aerospace, Healthcare. The local job growth rate is 1.5%, and the average commute time is 30minutes. These local figures come from Salario's city dataset; verify current values with BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics and Census QuickFacts.
Related Science Salaries in Long Beach
Physicist Salary in Nearby California Cities
Salary Percentile Breakdown: Physicist in Long Beach
Based on Salario's cost-of-living-adjusted salary tiers for Physicist in Long Beach, CA, here is an estimated percentile breakdown:
| Percentile | Annual Salary | Hourly Equivalent | Career Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th (lowest) | $137,936 | $66/hr | Entry-level, < 1 yr exp. |
| 25th | $196,433 | $94/hr | Junior, 1-3 yrs exp. |
| 50th (median) | $254,930 | $123/hr | Mid-career, 2-5 years postdoc |
| 75th | $318,200 | $153/hr | Senior, 5-10 yrs exp. |
| 90th (top) | $419,728 | $202/hr | Lead/Principal, 10+ yrs |
Percentiles are approximations, not measured local percentiles: P10, P50, P75, and P90 map to Salario's entry, median, senior, and top salary tiers scaled by the local cost-of-living index, and P25 is interpolated halfway between entry and median. Top earners (P90) typically include managers, specialists with rare skills, or those at high-paying employers in Long Beach's Shipping sector.
5-Year Salary Trajectory
Salario's national dataset models approximately 17.0% salary growth for Physicists over the past 5 years. That national assumption is applied to the Long Beach estimate below; it is not a measured local trend, and it should be compared with cumulative CPI inflation before treating it as a real-terms gain:
Year-over-year, an average Physicist can expect a 14.9% annual increase moving from entry to senior level over 6 years in Long Beach. Negotiation, certifications (PhD in Physics, Postdoctoral Training), and changing employers strategically can accelerate this trajectory.
Long Beach vs National Average
The national median Physicist salary is $172,250 (BLS OEWS May 2025, Physicists). In Long Beach, the cost-of-living-adjusted median of $254,930 is 48.0% above the national figure. This reflects Long Beach's cost of living index of 148 (higher than the national average of 100).
For Physicists, this means: rent typically consumes 15.1% of take-home pay (households spending >30% are considered affordable), and a median home in Long Beach costs about 4.2× annual take-home. Homeownership is relatively attainable on this salary in Long Beach.
Industry Context: Shipping in Long Beach
Long Beach's economy is anchored by Shipping, Aerospace, Healthcare, with 466,742 residents and an unemployment rate of 4.5% in Salario's city dataset. Pay for Physicists can differ by sector, so compare Shipping employers with other local employers. The local job growth rate in Salario's city dataset is 1.5%, and Salario's job dataset lists a 8.0% growth outlook for Physicist roles; check the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for the official 2024-2034 projection for the closest matching occupation.
Methodology & Data Sources
How we calculate Physicist salaries in Long Beach, CA:
- Base salary model starts with Salario occupation data and public wage references, including BLS OEWS and O*NET when a direct or related occupational crosswalk is available (the national median is calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 median for Physicists). For niche titles, we do not treat a broader SOC family as an exact job-title wage.
- Cost-of-living adjustment applied using the Long Beach index of 148 relative to the national baseline of 100, with local rent, home price, unemployment, and tax inputs stored separately in Salario's city dataset.
- Percentile distribution (P10-P90) estimated from the entry, median, senior, and top compensation tiers in the Salario salary model rather than claimed as exact employer payroll data.
- Take-home pay calculated using 2026 federal tax brackets (10%-37%), CA 2026 state income tax brackets after the standard deduction (top rate 13.3%), and FICA (Social Security 6.2% + Medicare 1.45%).
- Tax brackets and standard deduction ($16,100 single filer for tax year 2026) sourced from IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 and updated annually.
Authoritative data sources:
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, national and metro-area salary data
- O*NET OnLine, occupation tasks, alternate job titles, skills, and SOC crosswalks
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, occupation outlook where a matching profile is available
- BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), regional inflation data (CPI measures price changes, not city-to-city price levels)
- U.S. Census Bureau, Long Beach QuickFacts, population and demographic data
- IRS Revenue Procedure 2025-32 summary, 2026 federal tax brackets and standard deductions
- BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics, official local unemployment rates to verify the Long Beach figure above
Last reviewed: 2026. Salario's salary dataset is refreshed periodically, not automatically; check the linked BLS releases for the latest official data. Physicist salaries can vary significantly based on employer, sector (Shipping vs others in Long Beach), specific skill set (Quantum Mechanics, Data Analysis, MATLAB), and individual negotiation. Always verify current compensation through multiple sources before making career decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Physicist salary in Long Beach, CA?
How much does a Physicist take home in Long Beach after taxes?
Is Long Beach a good city for Physicists?
What skills are needed for a Physicist in Long Beach?
How does Physicist salary in Long Beach compare to the national average?
Calculate Your Exact Take-Home Pay
Use our free paycheck calculator to see your after-tax income based on your specific salary, deductions, and filing status.
Calculate NowExplore More
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average Physicist salary in Long Beach, CA?
Salario estimates the median Physicist salary in Long Beach, CA at $254,930 per year for 2026. This is a modeled figure: Salario's national Physicist benchmark scaled by the local cost of living index of 148, not a measured local wage survey. The modeled entry-level estimate is around $137,936, and the senior estimate is $318,200 or more.
How much does a Physicist take home in Long Beach after taxes?
A Physicist earning the median salary of $254,930 in Long Beach, CA takes home approximately $167,296 per year ($13,941/month) after federal, state, and local taxes. The effective tax rate is 34.4%.
Is Long Beach a good city for Physicists?
Long Beach, CA has a cost of living index of 148 (above national average). Physicists here earn above the city median. The local unemployment rate is 4.5% and top industries include Shipping, Aerospace, Healthcare.
What skills are needed for a Physicist in Long Beach?
Key skills for Physicists include Quantum Mechanics, Data Analysis, MATLAB, Computational Physics, Research. Typical education requirement is Doctoral Degree (PhD). Valuable certifications include PhD in Physics, Postdoctoral Training.
How does Physicist salary in Long Beach compare to the national average?
Salario's national median benchmark for Physicist is $172,250 (calibrated to the BLS OEWS May 2025 national median). In Long Beach, the cost-of-living-adjusted estimate is $254,930, which is 48.0% higher than the national average, reflecting the local cost of living.