Career comparison
Astronomer vs. Physics Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Astronomers earn more at the median ($128,820 vs. $100,310), while astronomers usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s plus postdocs of training). Astronomers study stars, planets and the universe using telescopes and data. Physics professors teach physics and lead research into how the universe works.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Astronomer | Physics Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $128,820 ($61.94/hr) | $100,310 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $78,010 – $195,190 | $60,200 – $177,850 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.8% (much faster than average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 100 | 1,100 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s plus postdocs | 6–9 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. | Ph.D. in physics |
| Work setting | Astronomers work at universities, observatories and space agencies.. | Faculty work in classrooms, labs, observatories and offices.. |
What each job does
Astronomer
- Plan observations
- Analyze data
- Build models
- Write code
- Publish papers
Physics Professor
- Teach physics courses
- Run labs and demonstrations
- Lead research
- Mentor students
- Write grants
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, working independently, high-pay, and problem-solving. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and education & childcare, but share transferable skills such as curiosity and clear explanation.
Which should you choose?
Choose astronomer if…
- I love space
- I like physics and math
- I can code
Choose physics professor if…
- I love physics
- I enjoy math
- I like explaining hard ideas
Still torn? Take the Astronomer fit quiz and the Physics Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, astronomer or physics professor?
Astronomers earn more at the median: $128,820 versus $100,310 for physics professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Astronomers typically train faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s plus postdocs) than physics professors (6–9 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects astronomers to grow +7.8% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for physics professors.