Astronomers & physicists

Detailed Occupation

Add Comparison

2020 Workforce

13.4k

Average Age

Average Salary

$111,256

Average Male Salary

$114,463

Average Female Salary

$94,664

About

Astronomers & physicists are most often employed by the Scientific research & development services industry. The average yearly wage for Astronomers & physicists was $111,256 in 2016. The top 3 most similar occupations to Astronomers & physicists by wage are Other financial specialists, Computer and information research scientists, and Physician assistants.

Astronomers & physicists are part of the Life, physical, & social science occupations, along with Agricultural & food scientists, Biological scientists, Conservation scientists & foresters, Medical scientists, & life scientists, all other, Astronomers & physicists, and 17 more.

The top 3 locations that employ the most Astronomers & physicists are Livermore, Pleasanton & Dublin Cities PUMA, CA, North Central New Mexico PUMA, NM, and Pasco, Richland (North) & West Richland Cities PUMA, WA. The top 3 locations with a relatively high concentration of Astronomers & physicists are North Central New Mexico PUMA, NM, Pasco, Richland (North) & West Richland Cities PUMA, WA, and Livermore, Pleasanton & Dublin Cities PUMA, CA.

Photo by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center

Information on the businesses and industries that employ Astronomers & physicists and on wages and locations for those in the field. Scientific research & development services is the industry that employs the most Astronomers & physicists, both by share and by number, though the highest paid industry for Astronomers & physicists, by average wage, is Administration of environmental quality & housing programs. Astronomers & physicists are paid most in Columbia (West) & Ellicott City (Northwest) PUMA, MD but are relatively concentrated in North Central New Mexico PUMA, NM.

Yearly Wage

$111,256

AVERAGE SALARY

± $14,200

In 2020, Astronomers & physicists earned an average of $111,256, $55,302 more than than the average national salary of $55,954.

Other financial specialists make somewhat more than Astronomers & physicists while Computer and information research scientists make somewhat less. This chart shows the various occupations closest to Astronomers & physicists as measured by average annual salary in the US.

Wage Distribution

0.324

WAGE GINI

In 2015, Astronomers & physicists had a wage GINI coefficient of 0.324, which is lower than than the national average of 0.478. In other words, wages are distributed more evenly for Astronomers & physicists (shown in red) than for the overall labor force (shown in gray).

Wage by Location

HIGHEST PAYING PUMAS

This map shows the Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States shaded by average annual wage for Astronomers & physicists.

Spatial Concentration

PUMAs with a Relatively High Concentration of Astronomers & physicists

This map displays which Public Use Microdata Areas (PUMAs) in the United States have a relatively high population of Astronomers & physicists.

Most Common

The most common industries employing Astronomers & physicists, by number of employees, are Scientific research & development services, Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals, National security & international affairs, Administration of economic programs & space research, Architectural, engineering & related services, Electric power generation, transmission & distribution, Management, scientific & technical consulting services, Other health care services, Aircraft & parts manufacturing, and Electronic component & product manufacturing, n.e.c. .

Highest Paying

The highest paying industries for Astronomers & physicists, by average wage, are Administration of environmental quality & housing programs, Aircraft & parts manufacturing, and Offices of physicians.

Industries by Share

13.4k

2020 Workforce

± 2,846

19.9%

1 YEAR GROWTH

± 26.2%

The number of people employed as Astronomers & physicists has been growing at a rate of 19.9%, from 11,206 people in 2019 to 13,441 people in 2020.

This graphic shows the share of Astronomers & physicists employed by various industries. Scientific research & development services employs the largest share of Astronomers & physicists at 33.2%, followed by Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges with 22.2% and General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals with 5.57%.

Diversity

Demographic information on Astronomers & physicists in the US. The average age of male Astronomers & physicists in the workforce is 47.2 and of female Astronomers & physicists is 40.1, and the most common race/ethnicity for Astronomers & physicists is White (Non-Hispanic).

Composition by Sex

11.3k

MALE WORKFORCE

± 2,606

2.18k

FEMALE WORKFORCE

± 1,146

83.8% of Astronomers & physicists are Male, making them the more common sex in the occupation. This chart shows the sex breakdown of Astronomers & physicists.

Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity of Astronomers & physicists

White (Non-Hispanic)
Asian (Non-Hispanic)
Two or More Races (Non-Hispanic)

78.5% of Astronomers & physicists are White (Non-Hispanic), making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 12% of Astronomers & physicists, Asian (Non-Hispanic) is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation. This chart shows the racial and ethnic breakdown of Astronomers & physicists.

Age by Sex

47.2

AVERAGE MALE AGE

± 3.58

40.1

AVERAGE FEMALE AGE

± 6

The median age of Astronomers & physicists is 46, and Male employees are generally 7.04 years older than than their Female counterparts.

Education

Data on higher education choices for Astronomers & physicists from The Department of Education and Census Bureau. The most common major for Astronomers & physicists is Physical Sciences but a relatively high number of Astronomers & physicists hold a major in Physical Sciences.

Majors

ACS PUMS data only shows the major for bachelor's degrees. However, we can filter the data based on highest degree obtained.

MOST COMMON MAJORS

MOST SPECIALIZED MAJORS

Skills

Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for Astronomers & physicists from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Astronomers & physicists need many skills, but most especially Science, Reading Comprehension, and Mathematics. The revealed comparative advantage (RCA) shows that Astronomers & physicists need more than the average amount of Science, Programming, and Technology Design.