|. Nationally, the median wage for physicists is $6,970 per month ($40.23 per hour). Half of all physicists earn between $5,430 and $8,690 per month ($31.35 and $50.14 per hour). Most physicists can expect benefits such as paid vacation, sick leave, health insurance, and a retirement plan. In Minnesota, the median wage for physicists is $36.88 per hour, or $6,391 per month for a full-time worker. Half of all physicists earn between $31.78 and $49.10 per hour, or between $5,507 and $8,509 per month.