Becoming a Physicist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Western Governors University
is a US school (accredited) offering physics courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
physicists,
biophysicists,
medical physicists,
astrophysicistss, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 13,630 people employed as
physicists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$111,250.
Life, physical, and social science employees make on average $65,660
per year and there are about 1,308,380
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Western Governors University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Physicist
- Observatories
- International Facilities
- Laboratories
- Scientific Offices
- Universities
- Private Corporations
- Large Research Laboratories
- Educational Institutions
- Hospitals
- N.A.S.A.
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Physicist
- The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem
- Job field offers advancement
- Well-paid profession
- Good working conditions
- The ability to work independently
- The opportunity to work from home on occasion
- Job security is valued
- The opportunity to advance quickly
- Building and impressive reputation and status
- Able to build new ways of working
Potential Drawbacks
- Working alone quite often
- Mentally strenuous work
- Use a portion of the time off to research
- Competitive industry
- Research under the confines of high administration
- Credibility may be difficult to attain
- Long hours
- Expensive schooling
- A large amount of schooling and training required
- Advancement based on individual work
Related Professions to Consider
- Health Professions Admissions Counselor
- Research Sensor Physicist
- Nuclear Technologist
- Health Physicist
- Atmospheric Scientists
- Chemists and Materials Scientists
- Engineers
- Environmental Scientists
- Medical Physicist
- Computer Scientists
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Physicist
- Tell us about yourself?
- How do you teach to the State Standards?
- Describe your discipline philosophy?
- How do you make sure you meet the needs of people with State Standards?
- What is your previous experience as Physicist?
- What is your parents and family background?
- What is your strength and weakness?
- What is your ambition?
- Why do you want to be a Physicist?
- What are your thoughts amount the American Health Care Systems?
Common Collaborating Professions
- computer Programmer
- Physician
- Statistician
- Mathematician
- Teacher
- Electrical Engineer
- Research Engineer
- Medical Technologist
- Biologist
- Thermal Design Engineer
Physicist Training books
Physicist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Math
- Biochemistry
- Earth and Space Sciences
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Biology
- Meteorology
- Science Technologies
Physicist Salary Information
Category: Life, physical, and social science occupations
| Total # Employed in the US |
1,308,380 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.57/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $14.86 |
$19.94 |
$28.03 |
$39.44 |
$53.01 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$65,660 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $30,920 |
$41,470 |
$58,300 |
$82,040 |
$110,250 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| % |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
% |
|
Life, physical, and social science occupations — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$44.68/hr
|
$92,940
|
| Mississippi |
$37.58/hr
|
$78,160
|
| North Dakota |
$36.74/hr
|
$76,420
|
| Missouri |
$35.92/hr
|
$74,710
|
| Colorado |
$35.05/hr
|
$72,890
|
| Ohio |
$34.71/hr
|
$72,190
|
| Delaware |
$34.22/hr
|
$71,180
|
| District of Columbia |
$33.86/hr
|
$70,430
|
| Connecticut |
$33.26/hr
|
$69,180
|
| Kansas |
$33/hr
|
$68,630
|
| Wyoming |
$32.16/hr
|
$66,880
|
| Utah |
$31.69/hr
|
$65,920
|
| Nebraska |
$31.51/hr
|
$65,540
|
| Oklahoma |
$31.29/hr
|
$65,070
|
| Alaska |
$30.33/hr
|
$63,090
|
| New York |
$30.02/hr
|
$62,440
|
| Virginia |
$29.93/hr
|
$62,260
|
| Indiana |
$29.59/hr
|
$61,540
|
| Oregon |
$29.47/hr
|
$61,290
|
| Idaho |
$28.98/hr
|
$60,270
|
| South Carolina |
$28.97/hr
|
$60,250
|
| Puerto Rico |
$28.9/hr
|
$60,110
|
| North Carolina |
$28.77/hr
|
$59,850
|
| Montana |
$27.99/hr
|
$58,220
|
| Hawaii |
$27.97/hr
|
$58,190
|
| New Hampshire |
$27.8/hr
|
$57,820
|
| Arkansas |
$27.8/hr
|
$57,830
|
| Tennessee |
$27.64/hr
|
$57,480
|
| Massachusetts |
$27.62/hr
|
$57,440
|
| South Dakota |
$27.61/hr
|
$57,430
|
| Michigan |
$27.37/hr
|
$56,920
|
| Alabama |
$27.28/hr
|
$56,730
|
| Wisconsin |
$27.25/hr
|
$56,690
|
| Maine |
$26.81/hr
|
$55,770
|
| New Mexico |
$26.43/hr
|
$54,970
|
| Nevada |
$25.91/hr
|
$53,900
|
| Louisiana |
$25.7/hr
|
$53,460
|
| California |
$25.17/hr
|
$52,360
|
| Washington |
$25.11/hr
|
$52,230
|
| Kentucky |
$24.93/hr
|
$51,850
|
| Guam |
$24.86/hr
|
$51,710
|
| Maryland |
$24.61/hr
|
$51,180
|
| Iowa |
$23.94/hr
|
$49,800
|
| Pennsylvania |
$23.75/hr
|
$49,400
|
| West Virginia |
$23.04/hr
|
$47,910
|
| New Jersey |
$22.26/hr
|
$46,290
|
Category: Biochemists and biophysicists
| Total # Employed in the US |
22,860 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$42.57/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $21.63 |
$28.82 |
$39.61 |
$51.93 |
$66.74 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$88,550 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $44,990 |
$59,950 |
$82,390 |
$108,010 |
$138,820 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.9% |
2.6% |
3.3% |
43.2% |
30.2% |
19.8% |
|
Biochemists and biophysicists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Utah |
$50.64/hr
|
$105,320
|
| Florida |
$48.21/hr
|
$100,270
|
| North Dakota |
$46.25/hr
|
$96,190
|
| Missouri |
$45.88/hr
|
$95,420
|
| Delaware |
$45.5/hr
|
$94,640
|
| District of Columbia |
$45.21/hr
|
$94,030
|
| Kentucky |
$45.04/hr
|
$93,680
|
| Idaho |
$44.18/hr
|
$91,900
|
| Montana |
$44/hr
|
$91,510
|
| Connecticut |
$43.05/hr
|
$89,540
|
| Colorado |
$43.01/hr
|
$89,460
|
| Kansas |
$42.4/hr
|
$88,190
|
| Oklahoma |
$42.02/hr
|
$87,400
|
| Wisconsin |
$41.63/hr
|
$86,580
|
| Wyoming |
$40.95/hr
|
$85,180
|
| Louisiana |
$40.89/hr
|
$85,050
|
| Guam |
$40.65/hr
|
$84,550
|
| Mississippi |
$40.19/hr
|
$83,590
|
| Oregon |
$38.79/hr
|
$80,680
|
| Washington |
$36.62/hr
|
$76,170
|
| Hawaii |
$36.59/hr
|
$76,120
|
| Indiana |
$35.79/hr
|
$74,450
|
| New Mexico |
$34.53/hr
|
$71,830
|
| South Carolina |
$33.07/hr
|
$68,780
|
| Alabama |
$31.19/hr
|
$64,870
|
| Nebraska |
$28.62/hr
|
$59,530
|
| New Hampshire |
$26.8/hr
|
$55,750
|
| Arkansas |
$25.68/hr
|
$53,410
|
| Tennessee |
$24.71/hr
|
$51,400
|
| Massachusetts |
$24.34/hr
|
$50,630
|
Category: Physicists
| Total # Employed in the US |
13,630 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$53.49/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $27.02 |
$38.33 |
$51.15 |
$66.62 |
$79.69 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$111,250 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $56,210 |
$79,740 |
$106,390 |
$138,560 |
$165,750 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.0% |
0.4% |
4.5% |
1.0% |
18.5% |
24.4% |
51.2% |
|
Physicists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Maryland |
$67.22/hr
|
$139,810
|
| Hawaii |
$65.57/hr
|
$136,380
|
| Kentucky |
$65.48/hr
|
$136,200
|
| Nebraska |
$62.9/hr
|
$130,840
|
| Kansas |
$60.59/hr
|
$126,020
|
| Oklahoma |
$59.8/hr
|
$124,370
|
| Florida |
$58.9/hr
|
$122,500
|
| Delaware |
$57.09/hr
|
$118,750
|
| North Carolina |
$56.61/hr
|
$117,750
|
| Wisconsin |
$56.35/hr
|
$117,210
|
| Mississippi |
$56.1/hr
|
$116,680
|
| Idaho |
$55.82/hr
|
$116,100
|
| Missouri |
$55.39/hr
|
$115,210
|
| Iowa |
$54.73/hr
|
$113,840
|
| Utah |
$53.96/hr
|
$112,230
|
| Connecticut |
$53.32/hr
|
$110,900
|
| Alabama |
$53/hr
|
$110,240
|
| Tennessee |
$51.53/hr
|
$107,180
|
| Colorado |
$51.12/hr
|
$106,340
|
| North Dakota |
$50.23/hr
|
$104,470
|
| South Carolina |
$49.97/hr
|
$103,940
|
| Michigan |
$48.73/hr
|
$101,370
|
| Indiana |
$48.41/hr
|
$100,700
|
| Montana |
$47.55/hr
|
$98,910
|
| Oregon |
$47.49/hr
|
$98,770
|
| Guam |
$45.62/hr
|
$94,900
|
| New Mexico |
$41.79/hr
|
$86,920
|
| Wyoming |
$40.82/hr
|
$84,910
|
| Nevada |
$40.38/hr
|
$84,000
|
| District of Columbia |
$38.41/hr
|
$79,890
|
| Arkansas |
$36.22/hr
|
$75,340
|
| Washington |
$27.75/hr
|
$57,730
|
Category: Physics teachers, postsecondary
| Total # Employed in the US |
12,870 |
| Average Yearly Salary |
$83,320 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $43,190 |
$56,090 |
$75,060 |
$102,110 |
$135,310 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.2% |
0.7% |
2.7% |
2.3% |
15.3% |
34.6% |
44.2% |
|
Physics teachers, postsecondary — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Alabama |
-
|
$74,240
|
| California |
-
|
$63,790
|
| Colorado |
-
|
$96,860
|
| Connecticut |
-
|
$106,380
|
| Delaware |
-
|
$70,760
|
| Florida |
-
|
$91,150
|
| Hawaii |
-
|
$72,970
|
| Idaho |
-
|
$75,240
|
| Kansas |
-
|
$60,710
|
| Kentucky |
-
|
$77,980
|
| Louisiana |
-
|
$75,820
|
| Maine |
-
|
$68,800
|
| Maryland |
-
|
$69,800
|
| Massachusetts |
-
|
$72,310
|
| Michigan |
-
|
$79,820
|
| Mississippi |
-
|
$91,760
|
| Missouri |
-
|
$103,230
|
| Montana |
-
|
$89,940
|
| Nebraska |
-
|
$72,230
|
| Nevada |
-
|
$67,190
|
| New Hampshire |
-
|
$61,920
|
| New Mexico |
-
|
$70,480
|
| North Carolina |
-
|
$80,770
|
| North Dakota |
-
|
$92,830
|
| Ohio |
-
|
$72,170
|
| Oklahoma |
-
|
$106,200
|
| Oregon |
-
|
$85,560
|
| Pennsylvania |
-
|
$67,000
|
| South Carolina |
-
|
$80,130
|
| Tennessee |
-
|
$88,810
|
| Utah |
-
|
$88,600
|
| Virginia |
-
|
$94,700
|
| Washington |
-
|
$65,840
|
| Wisconsin |
-
|
$67,040
|
| Wyoming |
-
|
$89,620
|
| Guam |
-
|
$67,330
|
| Puerto Rico |
-
|
$68,490
|
