Physics Researcher
Impact: Intellectual
Physicists and astronomers study the interactions of matter and energy. They conduct research to develop theories and models to explain the properties of the natural world, often involving complex experiments, data analysis, and theoretical calculations. Their work contributes to fundamental scientific knowledge and can lead to technological advancements.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Extensive
- Team vs solo
- Balanced
- Client facing
- Rarely
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Moderate
- Schedule flexibility
- Moderate
- Remote work
- Limited Remote
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours per week
- Stress level
- High
At a glance
- Median salary
- $166,290 per year
- Entry-level
- $100,000 per year
- Senior
- $220,000 per year
- Growth by 2033
- 4%
- Demand
- Stable
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- High
- Typical student debt
- $120,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Advanced Mathematics
- Physics Principles
- Data Analysis
- Scientific Software
- Experimental Design
Soft skills
- Critical Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Communication
- Attention to Detail
- Creativity
Technical complexity: High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 8
- Years to senior
- 15
- Career switching
- Hard
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Postdoctoral Researcher
- Research Scientist
- Senior Research Scientist
- Principal Investigator/Professor
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- Low
- AI disruption risk
- Moderate
- Demand trend
- Stable
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 4/10
- Meaning
- 4/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.5/10
- Prestige
- 8.5/10
- Social perception
- High