Science
Physicists
Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
Median salary (BLS)
$172,250
10th–90th percentile (BLS)
$82k – $274k
Job outlook
+4% (faster than average)
AI exposure
Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $119,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.
Plan a path to Physicists
Education
Typical entry: Master's degree
Plan my path to this →Typical progression
Physicists Intern
Internship
$41,055
~4 mos to advance
Junior Physicists
Entry / Junior
$82,110
~2 yrs to advance
Physicists
Established
$172,250
~3 yrs to advance
Senior Physicists
Senior
$223,180
Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.
Key skills
A typical day
- •Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- •Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- •Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- •Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- •Write research proposals to receive funding.
Fields of study
Any field
Top colleges for Science
Explore all- Massachusetts Institute of Technology4% admit · $124,000 grad pay
- California Institute of Technology3% admit · $112,000 grad pay
- Harvard University4% admit · $119,000 grad pay
- Stanford University4% admit · $122,000 grad pay
- University of California, Berkeley11% admit · $97,000 grad pay
Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.