Astronomers: Career Overview
Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.
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What Do Astronomers Do?
The core tasks performed by astronomers cover:
- 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.
- Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues.
- Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.
- Teach astronomy or astrophysics.
- Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.
Key Skills and Knowledge
Successful astronomers combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Key Skills
The competencies most central to this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Related Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Astronomer
- Astronomy Outreach Coordinator
- Astrophysicist
- Cosmologist
- Extragalactic Astronomer
- Galactic Astronomer
- High-Energy Astrophysicist
- Institute Scientist
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 120,217 astronomers working in the United States today. This occupation is expected to grow by +8.3% over the projection horizon.
Astronomers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $106,445 |
| Hourly median | $51.18 |
| 10th percentile | $67,207 |
| 25th percentile | $86,826 |
| 75th percentile | $126,064 |
| 90th percentile | $145,683 |
Pay can vary substantially based on experience, location, and industry.
Pay by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $189,430 |
| Maryland | $157,980 |
| California | $142,060 |
| Arizona | $125,480 |
| Washington | $103,980 |
| Hawaii | $103,000 |
Top-Paying U.S. Regions
Compensation for astronomers vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| New England | $189,430 | 6.5% | 1.79 |
| Middle Atlantic | $157,980 | 52.8% | 20.54 |
| Southwest | $125,480 | 8.3% | 2.87 |
| Far Western US | $122,084 | 32.4% | 9.36 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Astronomers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | MA | $189,430 | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | DC | $157,980 | 440 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | WA | $83,460 | 40 |
Which Industries Hire Astronomers
The largest employers of astronomers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 660 | $128,450 |
| Educational Services | 370 | $95,460 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tech Stack
- Data base management system software: Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- Development environment software: C (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Linux (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Word processing software: Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: Oracle Java (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: Python (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: R (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for astronomers tends to involve the following characteristics:
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Spend Time Sitting
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Getting Started in This Career
The role falls in Extensive Preparation Needed (Job Zone 5), indicating the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Computer and Information Research Scientists (Supplemental)
- Mathematicians (Primary-Short)
- Statisticians (Supplemental)
- Data Scientists (Primary-Long)
- Nanosystems Engineers (Primary-Long)
- Nanotechnology Engineering Technologists and Technicians (Supplemental)
- Biochemists and Biophysicists (Primary-Short)
- Bioinformatics Scientists (Primary-Long)
Top Programs to Study For This Career
Future astronomers commonly pursue programs in:
Physical Sciences
5 programs across 2 majors
Sources
Statistics shown above are sourced from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-2011.00 (Astronomers).
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