Astronomy and Astrophysics degree: salary, jobs & colleges
Bachelor's graduates in astronomy and astrophysics earn a median $69,728 four years after finishing, across 4 U.S. colleges. At ages 25-34, people whose degree is in astronomy and astrophysics earn $52,473, $9,576 less than all bachelor's holders. The most common job is software developers (8%).
Median across 4 colleges; middle half $66,759–$72,698.
College Scorecard field of study (graduates who received federal aid)
Middle half $29,831–$83,958. 100 survey respondents.
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata; field "Astronomy And Astrophysics"; EducationGuide calculation
- All bachelor's, 25-34$62,049
- High school, 25-34$35,638
- This degree vs high school+$16,835/yr
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school
Median across colleges reporting.
College Scorecard field of study
Jobs astronomy and astrophysics graduates hold
What employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in astronomy and astrophysics actually do, with U.S. wages and the outlook for each job. The first column comes from the Census survey; wages and growth from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
| Job | Share of graduates | U.S. median wage | Jobs growth 2025-35 | Typical entry | Interests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software Developers | 8% | $135,980 | +10.2% | Bachelor's degree | IC |
| Teaching Assistants | 8% | $37,010 | +0.0% | — | — |
| Elementary And Middle School Teachers | 7% | $64,170 | -0.4% | — | — |
| Postsecondary Teachers | 6% | $82,250 | +6.0% | — | — |
| Secondary School Teachers | 5% | $70,930 | -0.2% | — | — |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | 4% | $122,570 | +2.1% | Bachelor's degree | IRC |
| Tutors | 3% | $43,350 | -0.2% | Some college, no degree | S |
| Astronomers And Physicists | 3% | $166,880 | +7.2% | — | — |
Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata (ages 25-34, bachelor's as highest degree, employed); BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025; BLS Employment Projections 2025-35; O*NET 31.0 interest codes (R realistic, I investigative, A artistic, S social, E enterprising, C conventional).
Colleges where astronomy and astrophysics graduates earn the most
In the states we cover so far (Florida, Virginia, California): 3 in Florida, 2 in Virginia, 7 in California offer this major. Open a college to see cost to finish and payback for your income.
| # | College | Earnings, 4 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of California-BerkeleyCA | $90,943 | $19,500 |
College Scorecard field of study. Colleges meeting our core-data standard; online campuses left out.
Related degrees
Astronomy and Astrophysics degree questions
How much do Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates make?
Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates earn a median $69,728 four years after finishing, across 4 U.S. colleges that report it (the middle half of colleges: $66,759 to $72,698; College Scorecard, graduates who received federal aid). Among all workers ages 25-34 whose bachelor's degree is in astronomy and astrophysics, the median is $52,473 (Census ACS 2020-2024).
Is a Astronomy and Astrophysics degree worth it?
At ages 25-34, people with a bachelor's in astronomy and astrophysics earn a median $52,473: $9,576 less than all bachelor's degree holders ($62,049) and $16,835 more than high school graduates ($35,638). EducationGuide calculation from Census ACS 2020-2024 microdata, workers not in school.
What jobs do Astronomy and Astrophysics graduates get?
Among employed 25-34-year-olds whose bachelor's is in astronomy and astrophysics, the most common jobs are software developers (8%), teaching assistants (8%), elementary and middle school teachers (7%). Software Developers earn a U.S. median $135,980.
Sources: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey microdata; Bureau of Labor Statistics; O*NET 31.0 (U.S. Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Method
Data: JSON · Markdown · all degrees
Cite this: “Astronomy and Astrophysics degree: salary, jobs and colleges,” EducationGuide.com, https://educationguide.com/degrees/astronomy-and-astrophysics.