Study how matter and energy behave, running experiments and building theories to explain them.
Universities, national labs, and research firms
Full-time, flexible
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Doctoral / professional degree
Training path: Doctoral degree.
No license required to start in most places.
Studies matter, energy, and the laws of the universe, work that usually requires a doctorate.
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Standard Occupational Classification 19-2012. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.