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Physicists

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeLower pressure

What they do

Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

Lower pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $172,250 Median per year · $82.81/hr Most earn $82,110–$274,110

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Advise authorities of procedures to be followed in radiation incidents or hazards, and assist in civil defense planning.
  • Write research proposals to receive funding.
  • Teach physics to students.
  • Conduct application evaluations and analyze results to determine commercial, industrial, scientific, medical, military, or other uses for electro-optical devices.
  • Conduct application evaluations and analyze results to determine commercial, industrial, scientific, medical, military, or other uses for electro-optical devices.
  • Conduct application evaluations and analyze results to determine commercial, industrial, scientific, medical, military, or other uses for electro-optical devices.

Job outlook

United States
7% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 1,300 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences37.6%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools17.6%
  • Federal government, excluding postal service13.4%
  • General medical and surgical hospitals7.0%
  • Self-employed (their own business)7.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Physicist is not an entry-level job. Most people need a doctoral degree and a few years of research experience first, so the full path usually takes about 10 to 14 years after high school. Many people also find early paths through the related work below, so you can explore before committing to the whole route.

  1. Bachelor's degree in physics (or a related field like math or engineering)

    4 years

    You build the math and physics foundation, and you get hands-on lab experience that graduate programs look for.

  2. PhD in Physics

    5-6 years

    You do original research under a professor, write a dissertation, and learn to design experiments and build theories, which is the core of this job.

  3. Postdoctoral Research Associate

    2-4 years

    You work as a researcher on a specific project after your PhD, publish papers, and build the experience that employers and labs expect before hiring you for a permanent physicist role.

  4. Physicist

    Ongoing career

    You conduct research, develop theories from observations and experiments, and find ways to apply physical laws to real problems.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Physicist

    3-5 years of experience first

    You lead your own research projects, guide junior scientists, and are often the main author on important papers and grant proposals.

  2. Principal Research Scientist

    5-10 years of experience first

    You set the overall research direction for a team or lab, manage budgets and staff, and represent your group to funders and other scientists.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take the most advanced math and science you canCalculus, physics, and chemistry give you the foundation that college physics courses build on.
  • Join a science, math, or robotics clubWorking on team projects helps you learn to test ideas, measure results, and fix mistakes, which is how real research works.
  • Enter a science fair or physics competitionDesigning your own experiment and presenting it teaches you the basics of the scientific method and gives you something to show later on applications.
  • Look for a summer job or volunteer role in a lab or science centerEven helping with simple tasks shows you what working in a research setting feels like and gives you a reference for the future.
  • Read about physics outside of classPopular science books, podcasts, or museum programs can help you figure out which parts of physics interest you most.

In college

  • Major in physics, or pair math or engineering with physics electivesA physics major gives you the coursework graduate programs look for, and it is the most direct route toward a PhD.
  • Get into a research lab as an undergraduateWorking with a professor on a real project is one of the strongest things you can add to a graduate school application.
  • Apply for a campus job as a lab assistant or tutorTutoring physics or math strengthens your own understanding and shows you can explain hard ideas clearly.
  • Attend department talks and join the physics or science clubSeminars and clubs help you meet professors and grad students, learn about research areas, and hear about opportunities.
  • Learn basic programming, such as PythonMost physicists use code to analyze data and run simulations, so coding skills make you more useful in any research setting.

Tips for getting started

  • Get strong grades in math and physics early, since most physics programs expect calculus and advanced physics coursework before graduate school.
  • Ask about research opportunities as soon as you can. Labs and professors often need helpers, and that experience matters more than you might think when applying to graduate school.
  • Practice explaining what you learn in simple words. Scientists have to share their findings with others, so clear communication is a big part of the job.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Physics Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $54,230 a year · typical debt $19,500
  • Public Health Professional degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $71,333 a year · typical debt $53,000
  • Astronomy and Astrophysics Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $44,930 a year · typical debt $19,500
  • Engineering Physics Bachelor's degree: typical pay 1 year after finishing $71,186 a year · typical debt $24,435
  • Physics and Astronomy Bachelor's degree

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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