If you have ever been fascinated with the sun, stars, moon, and planets, you may have thought about having a career in astronomy.
Astronomy is a branch of science that studies space, celestial objects, and the universe as a whole.
A lot of astronomy is studying chemistry, physics, and mathematics.
It is a great career path with many different options on which way to go.
In the astronomy industry, as well as in any other industry, jobs and their salaries will vary.
Locations play a big part in the availability of some jobs.
There are many great career paths you can follow with an astronomy degree.
Here are six of these paths with their salary estimates.
1. Meteorologist
Why Become a Meteorologist?
Salary Estimate: $97,000
Being a meteorologist is not just being a weather reporter on television.
Although that is one avenue that you can take with meteorology, there are more jobs available on this specific career path.
Meteorologists study weather patterns, natural events, geography, climate, and science to predict weather patterns.
There are meteorologists that focus purely on the research, study, and discovery of these weather patterns.
There are storm chasers that study specific weather patterns.
Because the weather is constantly changing, there is always something new to learn and experience.
If you love to learn and study, this is a great path for you.
| Meteorologist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $96,880 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $46.58 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 8% |
2. Aeronautical Engineer
Why Become an Aeronautical Engineer?
Salary Estimate: $119,000
The career path of an aeronautical engineer is a lucrative one.
If you have an interest in flight and the science and mechanics of aircraft, this is a great choice for you.
Aeronautical engineers play an important role in building aircraft.
They work on aircraft design, mechanics, and testing.
Because the planes of today are so much more complicated than they used to be, typically an aeronautical engineer specializes in one part of the whole plane.
A team of aeronautical engineers then works together on a plane.
If you love airplanes, mechanics, academics, and working on a team, this is the job for you.
| Aeronautical Engineer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $122,970 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $59.12 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 2% |
3. College Professor
Why Become a College Professor?
Salary Estimate: $80,000
College professors of all types need to enjoy reading, researching, writing and speaking.
To be a college professor, you need to be able to know every detail of the topic and subject you teach.
This will require constant research and education, especially in a field like astronomy that is always changing.
College professors need to have the desire to be lifelong learners.
As long as you are teaching, you will need to stay up to date with the current astronomy knowledge, so you can pass on that knowledge through your teaching.
If you have true love and passion for astronomy and you want to be able to share that passion with the next generation, being a college professor is a great path to take.
| College Professor Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $92,200 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 11% |
4. Astronomer
Why Become an Astronomer?
Salary Estimate: $122,000
It may seem like an obvious path, but with an astronomy degree, you can become an astronomer.
The job of an astronomer is focused on the skies.
Astronomers study galaxies, planets, stars, and solar systems.
If you are curious about the universe and how it works, this may be a great job for you.
Being an astronomer requires a lot of research and study, as do many jobs in the astronomy field.
Your daily job may include looking at the night sky to discover more of the planets and systems in space.
If you love to learn and research, this is a great job for you.
| Astronomer Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $139,410 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $67.02 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 10% |
5. Astrophysicist
Why Become an Astrophysicist?
Salary Estimate: $123,000
Astrophysics is a focused branch of astronomy that focuses on physics.
A large part of astrophysics is research and learning.
Constantly discovering more about astronomy is a big part of the job.
Many astrophysicists are also part of educating the younger generation about astrophysics.
When studying astrophysics, you will have classes in mathematics, quantum mechanics, natural sciences, optics, electromagnetism, and thermodynamics.
Research and discovery are the biggest components of the day-to-day job of an astrophysicist.
If you enjoy research and study, this is a great career for you.
| Astrophysicist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $139,410 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $67.02 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 9% |
6. Physicist
Why Become a Physicist?
Salary Estimate: $131,000
There are several different things you can do with a physics degree.
It is a broader field of work than specifical astrophysics.
However, you can still do many of the same things with a physics degree that you can do with an astrophysics degree.
Physicists do a lot of research and study.
Physicists spend their careers studying the whole universe and how it works.
They study energy, movement, space, and matter.
Physicists use a combination of mathematics and science to explain their theories of the universe.
If you are an academic who loves research and discovery, the career of a physicist is a good choice for you.
| Physicist Key Stats | |
|---|---|
| Avg. Salary / year | $151,580 |
| Avg. Pay / hour | $72.88 |
| Education | 4+ Years |
| Outlook | 14.5% |
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