Astronomy & Astrophysics

Types of Degrees Astronomy & Astrophysics Majors Are Getting

The following table lists how many astronomy and astrophysics graduations there were in 2020-2021 for each degree level.

Education Level	Number of Grads
Master’s Degree	187
Doctor’s Degree	170
Graduate Certificate	14

What Astronomy & Astrophysics Majors Need to Know

In an O*NET survey, astronomy majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.

Knowledge Areas for Astronomy Majors

Astronomy majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Physics - Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Skills for Astronomy Majors

astronomy majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Abilities for Astronomy Majors

As a astronomy major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

What Can You Do With a Astronomy & Astrophysics Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with astronomy:

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Astronomers	10.0%	$105,680
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Professors	9.9%	$90,860
Natural Sciences Managers	9.9%	$123,860
Physicists	14.5%	$120,950
Physics Postsecondary Professors	10.2%	$90,800

Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Astronomy & Astrophysics?

This major attracts more men than women. About 59% of the graduates in this field are male.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of astronomy majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity	Number of Grads
Asian	19
Black or African American	2
Hispanic or Latino	21
White	95
International Students	34
Other Races/Ethnicities	16

Geographic Diversity

Astronomy appeals to people across the globe. About 18.2% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:

• China
• India
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Canada

How Much Do Astronomy & Astrophysics Majors Make?

Salaries According to BLS

Average salaries range from $103,830 to $125,280 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to astronomy. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.

Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Astronomy & Astrophysics

Some careers associated with astronomy require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

Find out what the typical degree level is for astronomy careers below.

Education Level	Percentage of Workers
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)	0.2%
Some College Courses	0.2%
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree)	0.4%
Bachelor’s Degree	9.1%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master.	2.6%
Master’s Degree	25.2%
Post-Master’s Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master’s degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.	0.9%
Doctoral Degree	35.1%
Post-Doctoral Training	26.8%

Online Astronomy & Astrophysics Programs

In the 2020-2021 academic year, 153 schools offered some type of astronomy and astrophysics program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.

Degree Level	Colleges Offering Programs	Colleges Offering Online Classes
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year)	0	0
Certificate (1-2 years)	2	0
Certificate (2-4 Years)	0	0
Associate’s Degree	31	0
Bachelor’s Degree	2	0
Post-Baccalaureate	0	0
Master’s Degree	52	0
Post-Master’s	1	0
Doctor’s Degree (Research)	54	0
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice)	0	0
Doctor’s Degree (Other)	0	0

Is a Degree in Astronomy & Astrophysics Worth It?

The median salary for a astronomy grad is $111,090 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 178% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,423,800 after 20 years!

Majors Related to Astronomy & Astrophysics

You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to astronomy.

Major	Number of Grads
Chemistry	5,005
Physics	3,727
Geological & Earth Sciences	2,491
Materials Sciences	448
Atmospheric Sciences & Meteorology	342
Other Physical Science	191
General Physical Sciences	107
Physics and Astronomy	23

References

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• College Scorecard
• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020

More about our data sources and methodologies.