Astronomers vs Physicists: $129K vs $172K Median Pay

Astronomers vs Physicists: what changes?

Consider Astronomers if you want to observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems. Consider Physicists if you would rather conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories. Both list doctoral or professional degree; compare training and prior experience separately.

Try this next: Compare three local entry-level postings for Astronomers and Physicists. List the duties, credentials, prior experience, and paid training each employer actually asks for. Try a supervised class or sample project from each field before choosing a program.

BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. National medians are not starting offers. Occupation size is not a count of vacancies. View the BLS data.

Compare the practical differences

Astronomers

National median pay (2025): $128,820
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 100

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (2,400 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Astronomers brief

Physicists

National median pay (2025): $172,250
Route into the job: Doctoral or professional degree
Prior related experience: No prior related occupation is typically required; employer requirements vary.
Training and licensing: BLS does not list a separate on-the-job training requirement. Employers may still provide orientation and role-specific training.
Work to investigate: Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
Annual openings (2025–2035): 1,300

Know before you choose

This is a small national occupation (23,200 jobs in 2025), so location and employer concentration can matter more than the national median suggests.

See the full Physicists brief

How the national numbers differ

Physicists has the edge on annual openings

Physicists is at 1,300 annual openings, compared with 100 annual openings for Astronomers.

Physicists has the edge on median pay

Physicists is at $172,250, compared with $128,820 for Astronomers.

Astronomers has the edge on projected growth

Astronomers is at 7.8% projected growth, compared with 7.2% projected growth for Physicists.

50.6/ 100

Astronomers

58.4/ 100

Physicists

Each available metric is ranked from 0 to 100 against the careers on ChooseField. The weighted average uses this profile: pay 30%, growth 25%, openings 30%, preparation level 15%. Missing values are not scored as zero; their weights are redistributed across available metrics. Occupation size has zero weight: employment is not accessible vacancies. Preparation categories do not measure admission difficulty or years without earnings. The score summarizes national measures; local opportunities and personal fit still need separate consideration.

Detailed evidence