Career comparison
Physicist vs. Physics Professor
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. $100,310), while physicists usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training). Physicists study matter, energy and forces to discover how the universe works. 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
| Physicist | Physics Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $172,250 ($82.81/hr) | $100,310 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $82,110 – $274,110 | $60,200 – $177,850 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.2% (much faster than average) | +2.4% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,300 | 1,100 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s | 6–9 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. | Ph.D. in physics |
| Work setting | Physicists work in labs and offices at national labs, universities and companies.. | Faculty work in classrooms, labs, observatories and offices.. |
What each job does
Physicist
- Design experiments
- Build models
- Analyze data
- Develop technology
- Write papers
Physics Professor
- Teach physics courses
- Run labs and demonstrations
- Lead research
- Mentor students
- Write grants
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, working with information, problem-solving, and working independently. 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 physicist if…
- I love physics
- I like math
- I like experiments
Choose physics professor if…
- I love physics
- I enjoy math
- I like explaining hard ideas
Still torn? Take the Physicist fit quiz and the Physics Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, physicist or physics professor?
Physicists earn more at the median: $172,250 versus $100,310 for physics professors, 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 physics professors (6–9 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects physicists to grow +7.2% from 2025–35, compared with +2.4% for physics professors.