Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Doctoral or professional degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
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Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Astronomers work in a small, highly specialized field with national employment of 2,000 and a projected growth rate of 2.2%. The national median annual salary of $132,170 points to strong earning potential for those who enter and remain in the field. This career typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, reflecting the advanced knowledge and research capabilities needed. Success in this path draws on a blend of mathematics, science, and computers and information technology, supported by critical and analytical thinking. Strong writing, reading, speaking, and listening skills also contribute to communicating complex ideas. Creativity, innovation, project management, leadership, and adaptability round out the core skill set. For individuals prepared for long-term education and who enjoy quantitative, scientific, and analytical work, astronomy offers a focused but rewarding opportunity. Similar paths to consider include physicists, aerospace engineers, materials scientists, computer hardware engineers, and atmospheric and space scientists.
Astronomers have a national median annual salary of $132,170, indicating high earning potential for qualified professionals. Salaries vary across states and metro areas. For example, Maryland shows a median salary of $132,620, very close to the national median, while California’s median is $123,540 and Arizona’s is $129,020. Hawaii’s median salary is $102,000, which is lower than these other top states for this career. At the metro level, the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV area stands out with a median salary of $156,750, notably higher than the national median and the listed state medians. These differences suggest that location choices can significantly influence earnings for astronomers. Overall, the combination of a doctoral or professional degree and the specialized skill set required for this occupation aligns with the higher salary levels reported across several key regions.
Astronomers work in a relatively small occupation with national employment of 2,000. The projected employment growth rate for this field is 2.2%. While growth is positive, the data show 0 annual openings, highlighting that new positions and turnover may be limited. This combination suggests that, although the field is not shrinking, opportunities may be competitive due to the small overall workforce and low indicated openings. In the top states listed—California, Maryland, Hawaii, and Arizona—the projected growth rate is also 2.2%, matching the national projection. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area shares the same 2.2% growth rate as well. For individuals considering astronomy, this outlook underscores the importance of advanced education and strong skills to compete for a relatively small number of roles, and it may be useful to explore similar occupations such as physicists or aerospace engineers as additional options.
Location plays an important role in astronomy careers, with several states and one metro area standing out. Among states, Maryland shows the highest employment level with 980 astronomers, substantially more than California’s 110 and the 100 reported for both Hawaii and Arizona. Salaries also differ: Maryland’s median salary of $132,620 is close to the national median of $132,170, while California’s is $123,540 and Arizona’s is $129,020. Hawaii offers a median salary of $102,000. Each of these states has the same projected growth rate of 2.2%, so the main differences lie in current employment and pay levels. The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area is notable, with 520 employed astronomers, a 2.2% growth rate, and a median salary of $156,750, higher than the listed state medians. CareerGPS opportunity scores are highest in California and the Washington metro area, with Maryland, Hawaii, and Arizona also presenting meaningful opportunities.
Astronomy typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, indicating a long and advanced educational path. This level of education supports the deep expertise needed in core areas such as mathematics and science. Competence with computers and information technology is also central, aligning with the analytical and technical nature of the work. Critical and analytical thinking skills help astronomers interpret complex information and data, while creativity and innovation support developing new ideas and approaches. Writing and reading skills are important for documenting and understanding detailed information, and speaking and listening skills support effective collaboration and communication. Project management and leadership abilities help in organizing work and guiding efforts, and adaptability allows professionals to navigate changing priorities and information. Together, the formal education requirement and this broad skill set suggest that preparing for a career in astronomy involves both intensive academic study and the development of strong analytical, communication, and organizational capabilities.
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