Career Overview
Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.
Also Known As
- Astronomer
- Astronomy Outreach Coordinator
- Astrophysicist
- Research Astrophysicist
Alternate Job Titles
- Astronomer
- Astronomy Outreach Coordinator
- Astrophysicist
- Cosmologist
- Extragalactic Astronomer
- Galactic Astronomer
- High-Energy Astrophysicist
- Institute Scientist
- Optical Astronomer
- Planetary Astronomer
- Postdoc Scientist (Postdoctoral Scientist)
- Postdoctoral Associate (Postdoc Associate)
- Postdoctoral Research Associate (Postdoc Research Associate)
- Postdoctoral Scholar (Postdoc Scholar)
- Radio Astronomer
What You'll Do
In this role, your typical responsibilities include:
- Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
- Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
- Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.
- Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects.
- Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues.
- Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.
- Teach astronomy or astrophysics.
Emerging Responsibilities
As this field evolves, you may also:
- Write and review scientific proposals and research papers.
Knowledge You'll Use
You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:
- Physics
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
Essential Skills
Success in this career requires strong skills in:
- Reading Comprehension
- Science
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Judgment and Decision Making
Key Abilities
This career requires key abilities in:
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Deductive Reasoning
- Inductive Reasoning
- Mathematical Reasoning
- Number Facility
- Near Vision
- Flexibility of Closure
Work Style
People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Innovation
- Attention to Detail
- Achievement Orientation
- Perseverance
What Matters in This Career
This career tends to satisfy these work values:
- Achievement
- Recognition
- Independence
- Working Conditions
- Relationships
Education & Preparation
Typical Education: Doctoral Degree
Related Work Experience Needed: Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years
On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month
Education Details: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Experience Required: Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Technology You'll Use
Popular Technologies & Software
- Apache Hadoop
- C
- C++
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Linux
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Word
- Oracle Java
Tools & Equipment
- Atomic absorption AA spectroscopes
- Automated telescopes
- Ball mills
- Baseband recorders
- Charge-coupled device CCD imagers
- Cryostats
- Desktop computers
- Differential scanning calorimeters
- Dobsonian telescopes
- Doppler Rayleigh laser imaging ranging and detecting LIDAR systems
- Ebert-Fastie spectrometers
- Echelle spectrometers
- Electron beam ion traps EBIT
- European VLBI Network EVN telescopes
- Fourier transform infrared FTIR spectrometers
Work Environment
- Freedom to Make Decisions
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
- Spend Time Sitting
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Salary & Job Market
| Salary Percentile | Annual Wage |
|---|---|
| Entry-Level (10th percentile) | $70,730 |
| Median | $132,170 |
| Top Earners (90th percentile) | $191,880 |
Workers Employed Nationally: 1,560
Related Careers
If you're interested in this career, you might also consider:
Physicists
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $166,290
Mathematicians
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $121,680
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
Education: Doctoral Degree
Median Salary: $97,360
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Education: Master's Degree
Median Salary: $99,240
Biochemists and Biophysicists
Education: Post-Doctoral Training
Median Salary: $103,650
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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.