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Astrophysics

Types of Degrees Astrophysics Majors Are Earning

Those studying Astrophysics may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	375
Master’s Degree	53
Doctor’s Degree	57

What Astrophysics Majors Need to Know

Studies in Astrophysics build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Astrophysics graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Astrophysics emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Astrophysics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Astrophysics careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Astrophysics graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.2 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.0 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.0 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.0 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.0 / 7
Processing Information	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Astrophysics professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Adobe Photoshop	Graphics or photo imaging software	—
ESRI ArcGIS software	Geographic information system	✓
Software development tools	Development environment software	—
National Instruments LabVIEW	Development environment software	—
IBM SPSS Statistics	Analytical or scientific software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Astrophysics graduates include:

• Research Coordinator
• Clinical Trials Manager
• Clinical Project Manager
• College Professor
• Petrology Teacher
• Meteorology Faculty Member
• Oceanology Teacher
• Hydrology Teacher
• University Faculty Member
• Space Studies Faculty Member
• Geochemistry Teacher
• Earth Science Faculty Member
• Lecturer
• Adjunct Instructor
• Geoscience Professor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Astrophysics graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	26.1%
Master’s degree	23.5%
Doctoral degree	21.1%
Post-doctoral training	13.7%
Postsecondary certificate	3.7%
Some college courses	3.0%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	2.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.3%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	2.1%
Post-master’s certificate	1.8%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Astrophysics?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 40.4% women and 59.6% men among Astrophysics graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	196	40.4%
Men	289	59.6%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Astrophysics graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	253	52.2%
Asian	53	10.9%
Hispanic or Latino	70	14.4%
Black or African American	8	1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native	1	0.2%
Two or More Races	32	6.6%
Race Unknown	12	2.5%
International Students	56	11.5%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Astrophysics Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Astrophysics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$41,600
4 years	$50,573
5 years	$61,687

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $61,687 — roughly 48% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Astrophysics Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Astrophysics graduates earn a median of $50,573 four years after completion — roughly 33% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Astronomy and Astrophysics	40.02
Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other	40.0299
Astronomy	40.0201
Planetary Astronomy and Science	40.0203
Physics and Astronomy	40.1101
Acoustics	40.0809
Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology	40.0402
Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics	40.0403
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General	40.0401
Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other	40.0499
Atomic/Molecular Physics	40.0802
Condensed Matter and Materials Physics	40.0808

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.