Long-Term Prospects
Long-Term Prospects
Job Satisfaction
68.8% (StudentsReview) http://www.studentsreview.com/satisfaction_by_major.php3General quality of life statement
Endless nights, stretched out on a blanket, gazing at the stars…sounds great, right?
Well, it's not all peaches and constellations.
An astronomer or astrophysicist will also have long, irregular hours, imminent deadlines, and frequent travel. These elements can create a rather stressful work environment, but for some reason, astronomers still tend to be pretty satisfied with their jobs. In fact, 68.8% of astronomers and astrophysicists are—and when you compare that to the median of all jobs (54%) or even the 75th percentile (65%), that's pretty darn high.
Why are astronomers so satisfied, despite these difficult working conditions? Well, simple. Most astronomy majors actually get to work as astronomers. They've completed years and years of advanced study, which makes for a pretty passionate bunch. People who earn degrees in this field tend to be pretty sure this is what they want to do. And the money isn't bad either.
More importantly, they get to take pride in their work. Astronomers often make significant contributions to the fields of science, education, technology, and even medicine. Some of the same techniques that are used to detect things way out in space are being used in surgery today. Who knew?
25th Percentile Salary
$56,000Median Salary
$62,00075th Percentile Salary
$101,000Stats obtained from this source.