How to Become a Physicist
Research how matter and energy behave, powering everything from quantum computing to medical imaging. It typically requires a doctoral degree, with a median salary of $172,250 per year and about average projected job growth.
Median pay
$172,250/yr
Middle half
$111,720 to $222,760
Job growth
About average
Openings / yr
1,700
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Theoretical Modeling
- Experimental Design
- Mathematics
- Programming
- Scientific Writing
Helpful certifications
- PhD (research track)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
68/100
Work-life balance
60/100
Stress level
35/100
Related careers
- Natural Sciences Manager$167,220 median
- Astronomer$128,820 median
- Biochemist$127,410 median
- Biostatistician$105,650 median
- Statistician$105,650 median
- Biomedical Scientist / Researcher$103,410 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Physicist make?
The median pay for a Physicist is $172,250 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $111,720 and $222,760 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Physicist?
The usual entry point is a doctoral degree. Common majors are Physics, Mathematics, Engineering, and Astronomy and Astrophysics.
Is Physicist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is about average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 1,700 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Physicist use most?
Common skills for this role are Theoretical Modeling, Experimental Design, Mathematics, Programming, and Scientific Writing.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).