Astronomers earn a median of $128,820 per year ($61.94/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to grow 7.8% through 2035, with about 100 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Doctoral or professional degree.
- SOC 19-2011
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Astronomer in four numbers
- Median pay
- $128,820a year, or $61.94/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $78KTop 10% $195K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +7.8%Much faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+7.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +7.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 1002,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20252.4K
- Projected 20352.6K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 2.4K Projected 2035 2.6K - Typical education
- Doctorateneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Master's8.7%
- Doctorate65.2%
- Post-doctoral training26.1%
Highest education held by astronomers Segment Value Master's 8.7% Doctorate 65.2% Post-doctoral training 26.1%
Also advertised as: Astronomer, Astronomy Outreach Coordinator, Astrophysicist, Research Astrophysicist.
Pay
How much do Astronomers make?
Every astronomer in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$128,820
Middle half earn $99,920 to $166,000
- 10th
- $78,010
- 25th
- $99,920
- 75th
- $166,000
- 90th
- $195,190
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $78,010 |
| 25th | $99,920 |
| Median | $128,820 |
| 75th | $166,000 |
| 90th | $195,190 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $128,820
- Median hourly wage
- $61.94/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $132,920
- People employed
- 2,120
Versus all US occupations
At $128,820, Astronomers earn 153% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $77,840 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 57% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $195,190 or more while the bottom 10% earn $78,010, a gap of 2.5×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 87% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Maryland posts the highest raw median ($132,620), but once local prices are taken into account Arizona leads at $128,152 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Astronomers the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Maryland | $132,620 | $126,354 | 980 |
| 2Arizona | $129,020 | $128,152 | 100 |
| 3Virginia | $128,930 | $127,522 | N/A |
| 4California | $123,540 | $111,579 | 110 |
| 5Hawaii | $102,000 | $92,769 | 100 |
Job outlook
Is Astronomer a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Much faster than average. +7.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Astronomers | +7.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Much faster than average
BLS projects employment of Astronomers to change 7.8% over 2025–2035, roughly 2.2× the 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 200 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 100 openings are projected each year, 4.2% of the 2,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Overall employment of physicists and astronomers is projected to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Deep-space telescope operations and special off-planet missions may require additional astronomers and physicists over the projections decade. Federal spending continues to be a primary source of physics- and astronomy-related research funds. The federal budget may directly impact employment growth.
Getting in
How to become an Astronomer
Physicists and astronomers typically need a Ph.D. for jobs in research and academia. However, physicist jobs in the federal government typically require a bachelor’s degree in physics.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Doctoral or professional degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as astronomers.
- Doctoral Degree65.2%
- Post-Doctoral Training26.1%
- Master's Degree8.7%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 65.2% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 26.1% |
| Master's Degree | 8.7% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does an Astronomer do?
Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.
Physicists and astronomers study the interactions of matter and energy. Theoretical physicists and astronomers may study the nature of time or the origin of the universe. Some physicists design and perform experiments with sophisticated equipment such as particle accelerators, electron microscopes, and lasers.
Day-to-day tasks
- Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
- Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
- Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.
- Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects.
- Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.
- Review scientific proposals and research papers.
- Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.
- Measure radio, infrared, gamma, and x-ray emissions from extraterrestrial sources.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most physicists and astronomers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Astronomers may need to do observation work at night. However, astronomers typically visit observatories only a few times per year.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery day
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where astronomers work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences47%
- Federal government, excluding postal service21%
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state16%
- Self-employed workers6%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 47% |
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 21% |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 16% |
| Self-employed workers | 6% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Science4.3
- Writing4.1
- Mathematics4.1
- Critical Thinking4.1
- Active Listening4.0
- Speaking4.0
- Active Learning4.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 |
| Science | 4.3 |
| Writing | 4.1 |
| Mathematics | 4.1 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.1 |
| Active Listening | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.5
- Social Perceptiveness3.1
- Coordination3.1
- Persuasion3.0
- Instructing3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
- Systems Evaluation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.5 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Persuasion | 3.0 |
| Instructing | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Data base management system software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Word processing software · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Internet browser software
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits an Astronomer?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Astronomer |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 5 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 3 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors.
- Investigative7.0
- Realistic5.1
- Conventional4.0
- Artistic3.3
- Social2.7
- Enterprising1.9
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Astronomer
O*NET related occupations
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Computer and Mathematical
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
Geoscientist, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
$101,920median a year
Most earn $59K to $200K
+5.1%Bachelor's - Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Educational Instruction and Library
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teacher, Postsecondary
$103,170median a year
Most earn $60K to $203K
+2.4%Doctorate
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with astronomers highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Astronomer$128,820
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Astronomer | $128,820 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Questions
Astronomer: frequently asked questions
How much do Astronomers make?
Astronomers earn a median of $128,820 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 153% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $61.94/hr. The middle half earn between $99,920 and $166,000. The top 10% earn $195,190 or more.
Do you need a degree to become an Astronomer?
Yes, and beyond a bachelor's: BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry requirement for Astronomers. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 65.2% hold doctoral degree.
Is Astronomer a growing career?
Yes, strongly. Employment is projected to grow 7.8% over 2025–2035, more than double the 3.5% projected for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 100 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does an Astronomer do?
Physicists and astronomers study the interactions of matter and energy. A core O*NET task: analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Data base management system software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Astronomers the most?
The highest state medians for Astronomers are Maryland ($132,620), Arizona ($129,020), Virginia ($128,930) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Arizona moves to the top at $128,152.
What personality type suits an Astronomer?
O*NET scores Astronomers highest on the Investigative, Realistic and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with hands-on, practical work with tools, machines or the outdoors. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INTJ, ISTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.