Career comparison
Astronomer vs. Physicist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Physicists earn more at the median ($172,250 vs. $128,820), while physicists usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training). Astronomers study stars, planets and the universe using telescopes and data. Physicists study matter, energy and forces to discover how the universe works.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Astronomer | Physicist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $128,820 ($61.94/hr) | $172,250 ($82.81/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $78,010 – $195,190 | $82,110 – $274,110 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.8% (much faster than average) | +7.2% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 100 | 1,300 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s plus postdocs | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. | Ph.D. |
| Work setting | Astronomers work at universities, observatories and space agencies.. | Physicists work in labs and offices at national labs, universities and companies.. |
What each job does
Astronomer
- Plan observations
- Analyze data
- Build models
- Write code
- Publish papers
Physicist
- Design experiments
- Build models
- Analyze data
- Develop technology
- Write papers
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, working independently, high-pay, and problem-solving. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose astronomer if…
- I love space
- I like physics and math
- I can code
Choose physicist if…
- I love physics
- I like math
- I like experiments
Still torn? Take the Astronomer fit quiz and the Physicist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, astronomer or physicist?
Physicists earn more at the median: $172,250 versus $128,820 for astronomers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Physicists typically train faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s) than astronomers (5–7 years after a bachelor’s plus postdocs).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects astronomers to grow +7.8% from 2025–35, compared with +7.2% for physicists.