Key takeaways
- Physicists earned a median $172,250 in May 2025 (BLS), but research and university jobs typically require a Ph.D.
- With a bachelor's, physics grads commonly work in engineering, software, data and tech; BLS notes federal physicist jobs often require just a bachelor's.
- About 67% of physics bachelor's holders also have a graduate degree (New York Fed), so many students plan for grad school, which is often funded.
- Recent physics grads had 6.6% unemployment in New York Fed data, higher than many majors, so internships and coding skills matter.
Physics is the major for students who keep asking "but why?" It covers mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, thermodynamics and a lot of math, and it trains students to break hard problems into pieces they can solve.
Families sometimes worry the only job is "physicist." In reality, physics grads are spread across engineering, technology, finance, energy, medicine and education. The American Institute of Physics (AIP) Statistical Research Center tracks exactly where new physics bachelor's grads land each year. Below are the main paths and what they pay. For students torn between physics and engineering, see our engineering degree guide.
What jobs can you get with a physics degree?
With a bachelor's, physics grads work as engineers, software developers, data scientists, lab and nuclear technicians, and high school teachers. With a Ph.D., they become research physicists, astronomers or professors; medical physics and dosimetry need added training. BLS reports physicists earned a median $172,250 and data scientists $120,230 in May 2025.
Pay below is the national median (the middle wage) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, the newest release. Our calculator and Continuum use a different series, so their numbers won't match exactly.
1. Engineer (Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace, Optical)
Many physics grads are hired into engineering roles, sometimes after a master's. See our engineering guide for pay by specialty.
2. Data Scientist
Builds models from large datasets, a natural fit for physics training. BLS: median $120,230.
3. Computer Hardware Engineer
Designs processors and devices; physics plus electronics courses helps. BLS: median $161,740.
4. Nuclear Engineer
Works on nuclear power, medical isotopes and radiation safety. BLS: median $133,970.
5. Nuclear Technician
Monitors radiation and runs equipment at plants and labs. BLS: median $110,240, with an associate degree as typical entry.
6. Atmospheric Scientist or Meteorologist
Forecasts weather and studies climate. BLS: median $99,070.
7. Medical Dosimetrist or Medical Physicist
Plans radiation doses for cancer treatment. BLS medical dosimetrists: median $147,470; needs added certification. Medical physicists usually need a graduate degree.
8. High School Physics Teacher
Teaches physics and other sciences with a state license. BLS secondary teachers: median $72,040.
9. Physicist or Astronomer
Researches matter, energy and the universe. BLS: physicists median $172,250 (middle half $111,720–$222,760), astronomers $128,820; usually requires a Ph.D.
10. Physics Professor
Teaches and researches at a college. BLS physics teachers, postsecondary: median $100,310.
How much do physics majors make?
BLS medians in May 2025 ranged from $72,040 for high school teachers to $172,250 for physicists, who usually need a Ph.D. Bachelor's-level paths like data scientist ($120,230) and computer hardware engineer ($161,740) pay well. The New York Fed reports a $105,000 mid-career median for physics majors.
| Career | Median pay | Middle 50% range | Typical entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| High school teacher | $72,040 | $59,980–$92,570 | Bachelor's + license |
| Atmospheric and space scientist | $99,070 | $73,350–$129,960 | Bachelor's |
| Physics teacher, postsecondary | $100,310 | $74,050–$132,650 | Ph.D. (some master's) |
| Nuclear technician | $110,240 | $99,110–$123,990 | Associate |
| Data scientist | $120,230 | $85,660–$158,880 | Bachelor's |
| Astronomer | $128,820 | $99,920–$166,000 | Ph.D. |
| Nuclear engineer | $133,970 | $108,690–$163,630 | Bachelor's |
| Medical dosimetrist | $147,470 | $132,080–$167,030 | Bachelor's + certificate |
| Computer hardware engineer | $161,740 | $126,090–$202,990 | Bachelor's |
| Physicist | $172,250 | $111,720–$222,760 | Ph.D. (federal roles: bachelor's) |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 national estimates. The middle 50% is the 25th to 75th percentile. Pay varies by state, employer and experience.
Can you get a job with just a physics bachelor's?
Yes. BLS says bachelor's holders usually qualify as technicians and research assistants in engineering and computer science, for federal physicist jobs and, with a license, as science teachers. Many also work as engineers, programmers and analysts. Adding coding, instrumentation or engineering electives makes the bachelor's much more employable.
AIP's Statistical Research Center publishes follow-up surveys of new physics bachelor's grads, including which sectors hire them, what they earn and what skills they use. Its most recent report (January 2026) covers the classes of 2022–23 and 2023–24 and is worth reading with your student.
High school physics teachers are also in short supply: the Learning Policy Institute reports 41 states listed science as a shortage area for 2024–25. For students who love explaining physics, teaching is a stable path.
Is a physics degree worth it?
For students who love it, yes. Physics leads to well-paid technical work and is excellent preparation for engineering, data and grad school, where many Ph.D. programs pay a stipend. The caution: New York Fed data show 6.6% unemployment for recent grads, so internships, research and coding skills are essential.
The New York Fed tracks how physics graduates actually fare, using Census survey data. Recent graduates (ages 22–27) had an unemployment rate of 6.6% and an underemployment rate of 29.1%, meaning that share worked in jobs that don't usually require a degree. Median pay was $67,000 early in their careers and $105,000 at mid-career (ages 35–45), and 67% of physics bachelor's holders also have a graduate degree.
MajorMatch's Physics Loan vs Upside calculator starts from Continuum wages of about $100,000 early-career and $139,000 mid-career. At its default $50,000 loan (6.5% for 10 years), total repayment is about $68,129, against an estimated lifetime earnings gain of about $2,459,184 over a high-school-only path, roughly 36.1 times the loan cost. It is an illustration you can adjust with your real net price, not a quote.
NACE's Winter 2026 survey projected a $74,184 average starting salary for math and sciences bachelor's grads overall. Physics often appears on lists of the hardest majors, so be honest with your student about the workload.
Will AI affect physics careers?
MajorMatch's AI-Proof Career Check rates physicists and astronomers at 68% task exposure, because much of the work is modeling, coding and writing. But hands-on roles score far lower: nuclear technicians at 23%. Physics grads who can build and test real systems, not just simulate them, are best protected.
MajorMatch's AI-Proof Career Check (part of the assessment results) estimates what share of a job's tasks AI tools could significantly speed up or automate. It measures exposure, not a forecast of job loss. Physics scores 53% overall. AI is also a growing employer of physics grads: the math behind machine learning, computing hardware and quantum computing draws heavily on physics training. For the bigger picture, see our guide to AI-proof college majors.
Is physics the right major for your teen?
It fits students who love math, enjoy abstract puzzles and keep asking how things work at the deepest level. It suits patient problem-solvers comfortable with being stuck for a while. Students who mainly want to build things or earn a high salary right after college may prefer engineering.
Picture a student who… reads about black holes for fun, finds calculus satisfying, and isn't sure yet whether he wants to research, teach or code. Physics keeps all three open, especially with a computer science minor. This is an illustrative scenario, not a real student.
Compare with math, aerospace engineering and computer engineering, then take the assessment to see where Physics ranks among your student's 100 majors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do physicists make?
BLS reports a median of $172,250 for physicists in May 2025. The top 10% earned more than $274,110. Most research physicist jobs require a Ph.D.
What can you do with a physics degree besides research?
Engineering, software development, data science, finance, energy, medical physics and dosimetry, meteorology and teaching are common paths.
Is physics a good major for engineering?
Yes. Physics covers the science behind engineering, and many physics grads work as engineers. A few engineering electives or a master's can make the switch easier.
Is a physics degree hard?
Yes. It is among the most math-intensive majors, with calculus, differential equations and linear algebra throughout.
What is the job outlook for physicists?
BLS projects 7% growth for physicists and astronomers from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 1,500 openings a year.