Career Paths and Salaries

According to the Society of Physics Students, only about 30 percent of those earning a Ph.D. in astronomy or physics go on to a higher education career. The rest work in the private sector, civilian government, the military, and other entities. Median salary figures indicate a starting salary of roughly $50,000 in the private sector, with more than double that for those with advanced degrees and professional experience. 

Students with physics majors can pursue a career as an: 

Median Salaries for Physics Majors

(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2019 Physical Scientist | Astronomer and Physicist)