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Astronomer

Overview and Key Facts

astronomer
Education
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$132,170
Job Growth
Job Growth
2.20%
(Below US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
1,800

What Do They Do?

An astronomer could...

 
moon walk
Help plan a voyage to another planet or the moon and explain the mission to the public.
planet
Determine the composition of a planet, its atmosphere, and its moons.
galaxy
Investigate how galaxies are formed and if supermassive black holes live at their centers.
radio telescope
Use sensitive radio telescopes to spot comets and asteroids with the potential to impact Earth.
 
moon walk planet galaxy radio telescope

Overview Listen to this section

Astronomers think big! They want to understand the entire universe—the nature of the Sun, Moon, planets, stars, galaxies, and everything in between. An astronomer's work can be pure science—gathering and analyzing data from instruments and creating theories about the nature of cosmic objects—or the work can be applied to practical problems in space flight and navigation, or satellite communications.
Grace Wolf Chase does research and educates people about science in her career. She says all scientists share the quality of curiosity.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6clVI6l3rZc

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of an Astronomer?


  1. Reading Comprehension: ?
  2. Science: ?
  3. Critical Thinking: ?
  4. Writing: ?
  5. Active Listening: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks an Astronomer might do:
  • Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues.
  • Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
  • Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
  • Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects.
  • Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.
  • Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.
  • Raise funds for scientific research.
  • Teach astronomy or astrophysics.
  • Develop instrumentation and software for astronomical observation and analysis.
  • Measure radio, infrared, gamma, and x-ray emissions from extraterrestrial sources.
  • Review scientific proposals and research papers.
  • Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.
  • Calculate orbits and determine sizes, shapes, brightness, and motions of different celestial bodies.
  • Serve on professional panels and committees.
  • Develop and modify astronomy-related programs for public presentation.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state
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Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Astronomer Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Astronomer jobs (2.20%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming an Astronomer

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Because most jobs are in basic research and development, a doctoral degree is the usual educational requirement for astronomers. Master's degree holders qualify for some jobs in applied research and development, whereas bachelor's degree holders often qualify as research assistants or for other occupations related to astronomers.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Doctoral or professional degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

A PhD degree in physics or closely related fields is typically required for basic research positions, independent research in industry, faculty positions, and advancement to managerial positions. This prepares students for a career in research through rigorous training in theory, methodology, and mathematics.

Additional experience and training in a postdoctoral research appointment, although not required, is important for astronomers aspiring to permanent positions in basic research in universities and government laboratories. Many astronomy PhD holders ultimately teach at the college or university level.

Holders of a bachelor's or a master's degree in astronomy often enter an unrelated field. However, they are also qualified to work in planetariums running science shows, to assist astronomers doing research, and to operate space-based and ground-based telescopes and other astronomical instrumentation.

Companies That Hire Astronomers

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Award-winning astronomer, Dr. Blakesley Burkhart, is leading a team that is using statistical methods to discover how the sun and planets were formed.
I really think a lot of girls, and even young boys, think they are not good at math and science and label themselves before giving themselves a chance.  
Blakesley Burkhart, Ph.D.

Work Environment

Most astronomers do not encounter unusual hazards in their work. Astronomers who make observations with ground-based telescopes may spend many hours working in observatories; this work usually involves travel to remote locations and may require working at night. Astronomers whose work depends on grant money often are under pressure to write grant proposals to keep their work funded.

Astronomers may need to work at odd hours to observe celestial phenomena, particularly those working with ground-based telescopes.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Additional Resources

Sources

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