Skip to content
Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

Physicists

Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.

Also called: Astrophysicist, Biophysics Scientist, Health Physicist, Medical Physicist, Research Physicist, Scientist

Median pay in Greater Boston
$106,000
$50.96/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
1,060
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+1.0%
40 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Doctoral or professional degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$82,050$82,070$106,000$170,190$213,150

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
  • Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
  • Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
  • Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
  • Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.
  • Observe the structure and properties of matter, and the transformation and propagation of energy, using equipment such as masers, lasers, and telescopes, to explore and identify the basic principles governing these phenomena.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure88 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 91
  • Language-model AIOE 78
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 96

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

Physicists have higher AI exposure, and substantial AI use has been observed already. AI tools can help with calculations, data analysis, and writing up results. Designing experiments and working with other scientists to build and test equipment still rely on people.

Likely to change

  • Running complex calculations and data analysis
  • Writing papers on experimental results

Still relies on people

  • Designing and testing experiments with colleagues
  • Interpreting what observations mean

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Materials Scientists

    Your research and testing skills carry over to studying the properties of materials, a role that typically asks for a bachelor's degree.

    Pay difference
    +$26,600 median
    AI exposure
    Higher
    MA growth
    +2.1%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

  • Computer and Information Research Scientists

    Strong math, data analysis, and computing skills carry over to this research role, which has strong projected growth in Massachusetts.

    Pay difference
    +$64,510 median
    AI exposure
    Higher
    MA growth
    +15.5%
    To get started
    Master's degree

  • Chemists

    Analyzing data and working with lab instruments carry over to chemistry, a field with lower AI exposure than physics.

    Pay difference
    +$21,290 median
    AI exposure
    Moderate
    MA growth
    +1.0%
    To get started
    Bachelor's degree

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

26 programs near Boston (plus 24 graduate)

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

A coach at the Office of Workforce Development can help you plan your next step, and connect you with training, apprenticeships and City partner programs that are not listed here.

Talk to a career coach