Learn How To Become An Astrophysicist – Qualification Requirements & Expected Salary
Last Updated: March 3rd, 2022 by
Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking, Michio Kaku, Carl Sagan, Neil deGrasse Tyson. Care to enter into such lofty ranks with a career as an Astrophysicist?
These are just a few of the notable figures who have dedicated their lives to understanding how the universe works.
Astrophysicists analyze how the laws of chemistry and physics explain the life cycle of galaxies, stars, solar systems and planets (including our own). Put simply, astrophysicists seek to understand the nature of life.
Nebula, black holes, worm holes, dark matter, and anti-matter. These concepts are part of the daily language of an astrophysicist.
Thanks to the work of people like Carl Sagan and Neil deGrasse Tyson (both of “Cosmos”), we are familiar with these concepts. They have become part of our culture thanks to movies (“Star Wars”) and television (“Star Trek”).
Most of us cannot follow in the footsteps of Albert Einstein or Stephen Hawking. However, if you are a curious, intelligent person who loves science and mathematics, and you’re prepared for a lengthy and (at times) solitary intellectual journey, becoming an astrophysicist may be an ideal career choice for you.
In fact, most people who choose this field have been curious about the workings of the universe and have felt comfortable with math and science since their childhood.
A research career as an astrophysicist is not a job, it is a calling. Asking, and trying to answer, why the universe operates in the way that it does isn’t work for an astrophysicist. It’s a passion.
Process for Becoming An Astrophysicist
To remain an astrophysicist dedicated to academic research, an advanced doctoral or professional degree is required. That can only be achieved by performing well in high school or perhaps even a bit earlier.
Becoming a success as an astrophysicist is inextricably tied to success as a student, beginning with high school and continuing through university, graduate and post-graduate work. Only by distinguishing yourself will you be able to reach the lofty pinnacle of academic scientific research.
With each advancing level of education, the number of people you will be working with will get smaller, while the subject becomes more esoteric. You will be working with fellow graduate students, postdoctoral candidates, and your teacher. With luck, you will find a mentor among them.
Read More: How to Become a Meteorologist. See what it takes to get started on this weather-focused career path!
Take Advanced Placement Classes In High School
It all begins early. Seek out every opportunity to learn.
In high school, don’t be afraid to be a “geek.” Join astronomy clubs and physics clubs and excel in math and science. This will be important to securing a spot in a prestigious university. That will be important to later success.
If your family can afford it, there are excellent private summer camps and internships. Summer Discovery and Summerfuel have programs at universities throughout the U.S. and abroad.
NASA also has a wide variety of summer programs.
The Summer Science Program, a non-profit organization that offers financial aid, has outstanding programs at the University of Colorado in Boulder and at the New Mexico Institute of Technology.
It is affiliated with two outstanding universities in the field, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology.
Bachelor’s Degree In Astrophysics (Or Astronomy Or Physics)
Your career path will be easier if you gain entrance into one of the high-caliber schools listed below. They include some Ivy League schools and a couple in California.
However, not all schools offer Bachelor’s Degree in Astrophysics. According to College Raptor, the top ten colleges offering astrophysics degrees include:
- University of California-Berkeley
- Michigan State University
- University of California-Los Angeles
- University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
- University of New Mexico-Main Campus
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- Princeton University
- University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Franklin and Marshall College
Ohio State University also offers a degree in astrophysics, as well as a co-curricular program. In that program, astrophysics majors work with faculty on research programs.
According to the Ohio State brochure, “Areas of research (to be conducted with faculty) include extrasolar planets, quasars, cosmology, dark matter, stellar structure, instrumentation, and galaxy evolution.”
You may opt for a school that offers outstanding graduate programs in astrophysics. In that case, get your Bachelor’s Degree in either Physics or Astronomy and make the other field a strong minor.
Wherever you pursue your Bachelor’s degree, make sure to obtain a solid background in computer science. This is because many astronomers and physicists write computer programs that help gather and analyze data.
Continue to remain active academically during the summer, pursuing internships or other educational programs (see above).
Graduate Degrees And Beyond (Temporary Postdoctoral Research Fellowships)
After your four years of college, if you want to remain in research and academia, you will need to pursue a Ph.D. (which may take up to six years). Then, obtain paid post-doctoral research fellowship positions, which usually last three years.
To reach the highest levels of academia, you may need to do two or three research fellowships. This is before you become a member of the junior faculty. After another three to five years of research, writing, publishing and teaching, you may get tenure.
If you choose to stop your higher education or pursue a Master’s degree, you can still get very satisfying work in the field (see below).
Job Description
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Physicists and astronomers study the ways in which various forms of matter and energy interact … and the nature of time and the origin of the universe.”
Modern astronomy applies the laws of physics to the study of celestial objects. It is an observational science (as opposed to an experiential science such as chemistry or biology).
Astrophysicists can only suggest theories based on data supplied from “incoming radiation from space. Observations over the entire electro-magnetic spectrum (gamma rays, x-rays, ultraviolet, visible light, infrared, microwave and radio waves) are collected with both earth-based and space telescopes.” (from the Ohio State University brochure).
The astrophysicist interprets that data and proposes a theory. After that, other astrophysicists try to prove or disprove that theory; each refinement of the theory advances human knowledge to some degree.
Occasionally, such as with Albert Einstein, this work even makes a “quantum leap” (another expression we use thanks to physics) in human knowledge.
Getting The Facts Straight
People’s fascination with the universe occasionally leads to excitement over false claims. This is given our 24-hour news cycle and the lightning speed with which the Internet moves information.
In 2014, James Franson, a physicist from the University of Maryland, published an article. He claimed to have found evidence, based on observing a supernova, that the speed of light is slower than previously thought.
If this were true, then everything that follows from Einstein’s famous E=mc² would have been incorrect. The headlines shouted, “Einstein is wrong!”
Other astrophysicists soon pointed out that the original article was published in an uncritically reviewed journal (not peer-reviewed). They pointed out that Franson incorrectly assumed that the speed of light was wrong. This was instead of positing that our understanding of supernovas is incomplete.
In fact, the constant, unchanging speed of light, or “c,” has been verified over and over in the decades since Einstein’s work.
Not Making Headlines Doesn’t Make The Work Less Important
Most astrophysicists’ work doesn’t make the headlines. However, it is very important and at the cutting edge of human knowledge. Astrophysicists work in laboratories, observatories, or universities.
They may also work for the federal government (the Department of Energy, perhaps NASA, the Air Force or the Navy). Or, they may work for federally-supported observatories and laboratories, such as the National Radio Astronomy Observatory or the National Optical Astronomy Observatories.
Some astrophysicists who choose to focus on more technical matters might work in the aerospace industry.
What Does an Average Day For An Astrophysicist Look Like?
If an astrophysicist remains in academia, a typical day will be spent on research (likely including observing and measuring celestial bodies or otherwise verifying data), working on collaborative research projects, which may involve meetings with colleagues, including fellow professors, postdoctoral students, graduate students, and on teaching duties.
Astrophysicist Catherine Heymans explained her daily job tasks. One important duty will be writing research proposals for federal funding; competition for government grants is fierce.
Astrophysicists who choose other fields or career paths may be applying their knowledge, rather than engaging in research, so they may not be required to research and submit academic articles in respected, peer-reviewed publications.
Are You Suited for a Career as an Astrophysicist?
Personality & Skills
“Mathematics is the language with which God wrote the Universe,” said Galileo Galilei.
Very strong mathematical, analytical and problem-solving skills are a must for the budding astrophysicist. They must be able to understand problems, research the results and express those results in mathematical terms.
However, they must also be able to express those results to others. Therefore, good communication and writing skills are important for grant applications, reports, and requests for funding.
Astrophysicists must also be able to collaborate with others on research projects. Successful astrophysicists cannot be complete loners, tinkering over the perfect calculation in a tucked-away laboratory or paper-strewn office.
The academic world is a hierarchy, and as such, a certain amount of “schmoozing” is necessary to advance in one’s career. The BLS indicates that there were only 19,900 physicists and astronomers in the United States in 2016. Clearly, the field is quite competitive.
Certifications & Proficiency
- Advanced Placement Classes In High School
- Bachelor’s Degree In Astrophysics (Or Astronomy Or Physics)
- Graduate Degrees And Beyond (Temporary Postdoctoral Research Fellowships)
Top Colleges and Universities
According to U.S. News and World Report’s 2018 annual rankings, the best places to earn Bachelor’s degrees and Ph.D.s in astrophysics, mathematics or physics are either on the East Coast, in California, in Chicago or in Austin, Texas.
The strength of a school’s astrophysics program is tied closely to the quality of its mathematics and physics programs, so rankings in all three are listed below. Not surprisingly, most of the same schools reappear on all three lists.
Astrophysics Rankings
According to U.S. News, the best schools for studying Einstein’s work in cosmology, relativity and gravity are:
- Princeton University in New Jersey
- California Institute of Technology in Pasadena (Cal Tech)
- University of Chicago
- Harvard University in Massachusetts
- Stanford University in California
- University of California at Berkeley
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT),
- University of California at Santa Barbara
- University of Texas in Austin
- Pennsylvania State University
Mathematics Rankings
U.S. News and World Report assigns a numerical value for mathematics and physics rankings. For mathematics,
- Princeton ranked first (5.0)
- Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and the University of California at Berkeley tied for second (4.9)
- University of Chicago came in sixth
Physics Rankings
In physics, the rankings were as follows:
- MIT and Stanford tied for first (5.0)
- California Institute of Technology, Harvard, Princeton, and the University of California at Berkeley tied for third (4.9)
- Cornell and University of Chicago tied for seventh (4.7)
How Does An Astrophysicist Find Work?
Developing connections, finding mentors, joining research projects, writing research papers and being invited to be a part of peer review panels or to deliver a talk are important ways to advance your career; most academic astrophysicists work in the educational institutions listed below.
The social aspect of an astrophysicist’s academic career begins as a university student, continues through doctoral work, and of course, during the post-doctoral research fellowships.
However, doing brilliant work is far more important than being at ease making small talk at your professor’s cocktail party.
Astrophysicists can find work in the government, such as with the U.S. Navy (annual salary up to $149,000).
NASA or even private companies, such as Virgin, that want to send civilians into space, might be an ideal place to dream of working.
NASA hires few astrophysicists, because it primarily builds, maintains and controls satellites. Sending people into space hasn’t been a recent priority. The pay for a full-time astronomer with NASA is around $100,000.
What is the Average Salary of an Astrophysicist?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in May 2017, the median salary for physicists is $118,830 annually; for astronomers, the median annual wage was $100,590.
Higher salaries may be found by working in state, local or private hospitals ($170,740 in 2017), by providing scientific research and development services ($130,530) or by working in the federal government (excluding the postal service) ($118,440).
Because of the nature of the work, top research positions are found in only a few states, where prestigious laboratories or universities are located. According to the BLS, in May 2017, the best states to make a living for astronomers are California, Arizona, Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, and Ohio.
Astrophysicist Job Growth & Outlook
The BLS indicates that employment of physicists and astronomers is projected to grow 14 percent from 2016 to 2026.
Capable physicists will always be in demand for engineering, medicine, information, communications, and semiconductor technology research and development.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, astrophysicists who do not wish to pursue the highest level of research and academia can still obtain satisfying, well-paid jobs. These include:
- Academia (research, writing, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses)
- Education (teaching math, physics or similar topics in high school or junior high school)
- Applied research and development for private companies or in government (physical, engineering and life sciences)
- Technician or research assistant in engineering or computer science, or at an observatory
