Key Takeaways:
- Physics degrees attract intellectually curious students and can enhance problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Graduates have diverse career options beyond physics, including roles in finance, healthcare, and engineering.
- Starting salaries vary widely by field, with physics bachelors earning around $45,000, increasing with advanced degrees.
In this guide, we explore what you can do with a physics degree, including physics degree jobs, entry-level physics jobs, and careers in physics. Physics majors have a wide range of career options, including roles in physics-related industries, research positions, and teaching. We’ll also examine physics degree salary expectations and how this field can provide a strong return on investment. Whether you’re considering jobs for physics majors or exploring career paths that align with your skills and interests, this article will help you weigh the benefits of earning a degree in physics.
How Many Majors Will You Compete With?
One of the first factors to consider when you are choosing a major is what the competition looks like. If there is an ample supply of graduates to choose from, competing for a job may be more difficult. According to a study conducted by Georgetown University Center on Education, only about 93,000 students out of the total 936,000 physical science majors will choose to focus on physics. If you consider all the students who attend college each year, this means that only .2% of the graduates will be declared physics majors. This either means that there is little competition in the workforce or there is little demand for a graduate who possesses a degree in this area of study.
Featured Programs
What Can You Do With a Physics Degree? What Types of Jobs Are You Qualified For?
You do not need to be a physicist to major in physics. While the same Georgetown survey uncovered that about 20% of majors do move on to become physicists, there are other options that you need to be aware of. Physics is one area in the physical sciences that is not inherently vocational, but with your degree, you will develop some beneficial and marketable skills. One thing that employers specifically appreciate is that someone who majored in physics will have learned to solve complex problems with innovative solutions that often require mathematical expertise. This is why it is not unusual for employers hiring computer programmers, finance experts, healthcare administrators, and engineers to consider physics majors. Since there is such a huge variety in titles that you can hold, majoring in this area may actually get you attention that others will not get.
What is Your Earning Potential?
There is a significant variance in the earnings of physics majors due to the variety of occupations. If you are a physicist with a bachelor’s degree, you will earn an average of $45,000 per year. The starting salary increases to $60,000 for individuals holding a graduate degree. Salaries in finance, healthcare administration, computer programming, and engineering can exceed those for physicists. Please note that the unemployment rate for physicists is 6.8%, which is significantly lower than the national average of 10%.
Not all degrees offer students good value for their money. If you would like to major in a discipline that will stimulate your mind, physics could be an option. Many majors in this area are uncertain about their career paths, but with your physics degree, there are more options than you might have thought to begin with.
Related: