Career Profile: Astronomers

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 2,200 people employed as astronomers in the United States. The median annual salary is $128,160. Entry level employees earn approximately $61,910 per year and senior employees earn approximately $208,000 (or more) per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Review scientific proposals and research papers.
• Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.
• Calculate orbits and determine sizes, shapes, brightness, and motions of different celestial bodies.
• Serve on professional panels and committees.
• Develop and modify astronomy-related programs for public presentation.
• Conduct question-and-answer presentations on astronomy topics with public audiences.
• Direct the operations of a planetarium.
• Develop instrumentation and software for astronomical observation and analysis.
• Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues.
• Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
• Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects.
• Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
• Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.
• Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.
• Raise funds for scientific research.
• Teach astronomy or astrophysics.
• Measure radio, infrared, gamma, and x-ray emissions from extraterrestrial sources.

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