Astronomers salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,010 | $37.50 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $128,820 | $61.94 |
| Mean (average) | $132,920 | $63.91 |
| 90th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Astronomers pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 5 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $129,020 | $75,600 | $177,020 | 100 | 2.33 |
| California | $123,540 | $76,020 | $195,190 | 110 | 0.44 |
| Hawaii | $102,000 | $71,590 | $139,720 | 100 | 11.67 |
| Maryland | $132,620 | $83,200 | $214,450 | 980 | 26.06 |
| Virginia | $128,930 | $94,710 | $175,560 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for astronomers
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 100. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 5.8%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for astronomers
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: 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).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Astronomy CIP 40.0201
- Astrophysics CIP 40.0202
- Planetary Astronomy and Science CIP 40.0203
- Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other CIP 40.0299
- Physics and Astronomy CIP 40.1101
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- 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.
- Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.
Technology skills
- C (in demand)
- C++ (in demand)
- Python (in demand)
- The MathWorks MATLAB (in demand)
- Apache Hadoop (hot technology)
- IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Linux (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- Oracle Java (hot technology)
- R (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
- Structured query language SQL (hot technology)
- Abstraction plus reference plus synthesis A++
Transferable skills for career changers: Judgment and Decision Making, Complex Problem Solving, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Persuasion, Instructing.
Common job titles: Astronomer, Astronomy Outreach Coordinator, Astrophysicist, Research Astrophysicist.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do astronomers make?
The national median annual wage for astronomers was $128,820 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $78,010 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $195,190. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do astronomers need?
BLS lists doctoral or professional degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is astronomers a growing career?
BLS projects employment of astronomers to change +7.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 100 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay astronomers the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Maryland ($132,620), Arizona ($129,020), Virginia ($128,930). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.