What jobs can you get with an astronomy degree? Do they pay well? Can you work internationally? Actually, you can do many things and make a midlife career change if you have an astronomy degree. Don’t know where to start? This article will give you all the info you need to create a career that fits your knowledge and skill sets.
If you’re interested in astronomy, you may be wondering what jobs you can get with a degree in the subject.
The field of astronomy is booming—with more than 1 million people working as astronomers worldwide, it’s one of the most popular and fastest-growing fields in science.
Astronomers study everything from stars to galaxies to planets and everything else in between. They work on everything from designing telescopes that will help us see farther into space than ever before to finding new planets outside our solar system that could potentially support life.
Some of these jobs include:
- Research scientist – Astronomers often work as researchers at universities, research institutes, or national observatories. They may study the formation of stars or galaxies or research how black holes affect their surroundings.
- Public astronomer – Astronomers who work for museums or planetariums often give presentations about their area of expertise or teach adults and children about astronomy using interactive activities. They also monitor local weather patterns to help forecast eclipses and other astronomical events for their audiences.
- Teacher – Teachers who are also astronomers can teach their students about space through exciting lessons that incorporate real-world scientific principles like gravity and motion!
What jobs can you get with an astronomy degree
Introduction
If you’re interested in studying astronomy, you’re probably hoping to get a job working in the field. So, what kind of astronomy degree jobs are out there? Though many people with degrees in astronomy become astronomers (no surprises there), these aren’t the only careers available. Some graduates get jobs in education and research, while others pursue opportunities as educators or science writers. So if you don’t want to be an actual “astronomer,” don’t worry. The world of astronomy is full of different kinds of work that can be rewarding and lucrative careers.
Astronomer
As an astronomer, you’ll need a degree in astronomy or physics. This can be achieved through either a graduate program or bachelor’s degree, but it’s important to note that most people who get into this field have at least a master’s degree. If you’re interested in pursuing this profession, make sure you have the qualifications required before doing so—it will be much harder to get a job without them.
Before we dive into how much astronomers make and what they do on a daily basis (spoiler alert: it’s pretty cool), let’s address one of the biggest questions prospective students might have when considering studying astronomy as an undergraduate: How long does it take? The answer depends on what type of institution you attend and whether or not your college offers any special programs for aspiring astronomers. For example, at Cornell University in New York City there are two distinct tracks available that each take five years total to complete—one involves taking general education courses alongside astronomy electives while another allows students to focus solely on astronomy courses during their first four years before taking more general-education classes afterwards.
Academic researcher
- Researching, teaching and lecturing: The academic realm is rife with opportunities for astronomy majors. You can become an astronomer who researches new discoveries or conducts research that fuels the understanding of how our universe works. You may also choose to teach at a university, high school or even middle school level.
- Advising students: As an adviser, you’d have the opportunity to help your fellow students navigate their way through college life and study requirements. Your experience as an astronomer can be valuable in helping other students learn about their own career paths and decide what they want to study next year or in graduate school after graduation.
- Writing papers: If writing has always come easily for you, then this could be one option for getting paid while pursuing your passion for astronomy. Astronomy papers are often collaborative efforts between many different people with varying degrees of expertise on any given subject matter; however, since most astronomers do have advanced degrees themselves (masters’ degrees are common), it’s not uncommon for someone who writes professionally about science topics like astronomy to earn at least some level of pay off those articles they publish online or in print magazines such as Scientific American magazine.”
Astrophysicist
As you may have guessed, an astrophysicist is a scientist who studies the universe. They do this by looking at things like black holes, stars and even the big bang. As you can imagine, it’s a very popular field with many jobs available.
However, if you’re interested in becoming an astrophysicist but don’t want to go through all of the schooling required (which could take anywhere from four years up to ten years), there are some other options for you:
- A position as an assistant astronomer will allow you to learn about astronomy while working alongside someone who has already been in the field for some time. You’ll get hands-on experience while helping them with their work and projects; one day they may even recommend that you go back to school once they see how talented and hardworking you are! This is a great option if money is tight or if your family doesn’t support your decision at first because they might not understand what exactly it means when someone says “I want to be an astronaut.”
Assistant Professor – Physics and Astronomy
Salary: $60,000 – $100,000
- Job Description: Assist professors in research and teaching. You’ll help develop and implement new courses, teach undergraduate and graduate students, conduct research or other scholarly activities, and publish papers in peer-reviewed journals.
- Education Requirements: Doctorate degree in physics or astronomy (PhD). A master’s degree is also required for many positions at this level.
- Work Environment: Most work is done indoors in an office environment with other scientists who are interested in the same topic as you are (e.g., astrophysics). Some travel may be necessary for conferences or meetings with colleagues from other universities around the world.
Senior Lecturer – Physics and Astronomy
A Senior Lecturer is a mid-career academic who holds the rank of professor and continues to teach, conduct research and mentor students.
Salary: The average annual salary for a Senior Lecturer in the United States is $69,000 (Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Qualifications: In addition to holding an advanced degree, there are specific requirements for becoming a Senior Lecturer. These include holding an earned doctoral degree from an accredited institution and three years of teaching experience at any level (including graduate teaching assistant positions). Also required is evidence of outstanding scholarship or performance as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals or other sources.
These are the most common jobs for people with astronomy degrees
- Astronomer
- Academic researcher
- Astrophysicist
Conclusion
This article has outlined the various jobs that people with astronomy degrees might work in. These are just a few, but there are many more opportunities across the globe for those who want to study outer space and its fascinating features!
