Field guide

How to become an astronomer

An astronomer studies stars, planets and the wider universe. This is one of the smallest science occupations in the US. Nearly all research posts need a PhD, and most are at universities, observatories and government space agencies.

Median pay (US)
$128,820
Middle 50%
$99,920 to $166,000
Employed (US)
2,120
Usual entry level
Doctoral or professional degree

What the work looks like

Very little of the work is looking through a telescope. It is mostly analyzing data, writing code, writing proposals for telescope time and teaching.

The official O*NET job description lists tasks such as:

  • 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.

The route in

  1. Major in physics or astronomy, with a heavy load of math and programming.
  2. Get research experience through summer programs.
  3. Apply for a physics or astronomy PhD, usually funded in the US.
  4. Plan for several years of postdoc work before permanent posts.
The catch. The numbers are tiny. Many people trained in astronomy move into data, software or aerospace work, and it is worth planning for that from day one.

Pay in the US

The May 2025 national figures for astronomers run from $78,010 at the 10th percentile to $195,190 at the 90th, with a median of $128,820 and a mean of $132,920. BLS projects employment growth of 7% over 2025-35 (much faster than average), with about 1,500 openings a year.

If you do a PhD in this area

In 2025 the median research doctorate recipient in physical sciences took 6.8 years from bachelor's degree, 6.0 years from starting graduate school and 5.8 years from starting the doctoral program.

In 2025, of 5,332 research doctorate recipients in physical sciences, 3,058 reported a definite postgraduation commitment and 1,538 of those were postdoctoral study positions in the United States. That is 50.3% of those with a commitment.

In the UK

UK astronomy PhDs are funded through research councils at a limited number of universities, and places are competitive.

ONS ASHE 2026 (provisional) gives median annual gross pay of £52,044 for full-time employees in SOC 2020 group 2114, physical scientists. This is a provisional figure from a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide.

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Related fields

Pay: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, SOC 19-2011, May 2025, national, all industries, retrieved 2026-11-03. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, retrieved 2026-11-03. NSF NCSES, Survey of Earned Doctorates 2025, Table 1-12 (NSF 26-326), retrieved 2026-11-03. NSF NCSES, Survey of Earned Doctorates 2025, Table 6-1 (NSF 26-326), retrieved 2026-11-03. ONS ASHE Table 14.7a (Occupation SOC20 4-digit, Annual pay - Gross, Full-Time sheet) and 14.7b (CV), retrieved 2026-11-03. Tasks from the O*NET 31.0 Database by USDOL/ETA, used under CC BY 4.0.