The Physics & Astronomy major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.
Within Physics, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.
Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.
As part of Physics, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.
Typical starting pay soon after graduation.
Estimated after a decade of experience.
Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.
CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.
Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.
Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections
| Occupation | Median Wage | Total Jobs | Growth Rate | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC: 25-1054 Occupation: Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $97,360 | 13,590 | N/A | N/A |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC: 11-9121 Occupation: Natural Sciences Managers | $161,180 | 100,870 | N/A | N/A |
Astronomers SOC: 19-2011 Occupation: Astronomers | $132,170 | 1,560 | N/A | N/A |
Physicists SOC: 19-2012 Occupation: Physicists | $166,290 | 21,340 | N/A | N/A |
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC: 25-1051 Occupation: Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary | $101,390 | 11,480 | N/A | N/A |
Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $97,360 | 13,590 |
| 2023 | $98,020 | 14,030 |
| 2022 | $86,550 | 12,860 |
| 2021 | $93,070 | 12,460 |
| 2020 | $90,400 | 13,670 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $161,180 | 100,870 |
| 2023 | $157,740 | 96,520 |
| 2022 | $144,440 | 82,570 |
| 2021 | $137,900 | 74,760 |
| 2020 | $137,940 | 75,870 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $132,170 | 1,560 |
| 2023 | $127,930 | 2,080 |
| 2022 | $128,330 | 2,160 |
| 2021 | $128,160 | 1,930 |
| 2020 | $119,730 | 1,910 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $166,290 | 21,340 |
| 2023 | $155,680 | 18,350 |
| 2022 | $142,850 | 18,840 |
| 2021 | $152,430 | 20,020 |
| 2020 | $129,850 | 16,160 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $101,390 | 11,480 |
| 2023 | $100,690 | 11,770 |
| 2022 | $97,770 | 11,150 |
| 2021 | $98,070 | 10,250 |
| 2020 | $94,520 | 11,750 |