The median annual wage for astronomers was $104,100 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $52,460, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $166,320.
The median annual wage for physicists was $111,580 in May 2015.
The lowest 10 percent earned less than $55,610, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $185,230.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for physicists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Hospitals; state, local, and private
$163,210
Scientific research and development services
126,080
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
113,980
Federal government, excluding postal service
113,310
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
63,840
In May 2015, the median annual wages for astronomers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Federal government, excluding postal service
$144,220
Scientific research and development services
114,760
Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state, local, and private
73,010
Most physicists and astronomers work full time. Astronomers may need to work at night, because radiation from the sun tends to interfere less with observations made during nighttime hours. Most astronomers typically visit observatories only a few times per year and therefore keep normal office hours.
Physicists and Astronomers
Median annual wages, May 2015
Physicists
$111,580
Physicists and astronomers
$110,980
Astronomers
$104,100
Physical scientists
$76,140
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics