How Much Do Astronomers Make A Month?

Article Content:
How Much Do Astronomers Make A Month?
What is the job outlook for an astronomer?
What education is needed to become an astronomer?

Hyperion, one of Saturn's ten moons, "looks like a pockmarked hamburger patty." Another, Phoebe, is thought to have been formed elsewhere in the solar system and "captured later by Saturn." 

These are the observations of astronomers, specialists in a tiny science with vast new horizons to explore. Stars and moons are being discovered, college students are operating satellites as class projects, and outer space is the frontier of the future, yet astronomy is far from a growing field. About 6,000 astronomers work in the U.S. today, and tomorrow's growth is expected to be limited. 


Astronomers, also called astrophysicists, use math and physics principles to answer questions about the nature of the universe. Some predict that the occupation will disappear as a separate classification in the near future and be considered part of physics. 

You may actually want to major in physics with a minor in astronomy because the disciplines are drawing so close together. A reading knowledge of two foreign languages German and French or Russian is also a good idea. 

Astronomers use large telescopes, radiotelescopes, and other instruments (here and in orbiting satellites) to make their observations. Like most 1980s specialists, they also use computers to analyze data and solve complex mathematical equations, such as those used to calculate orbits and guide spacecraft. 


You'll hardly ever find an astronomer looking through a telescope himself, however. Photographic and light-detecting equipment do a much better job than the human eye. Anyway, if you were an astronomer, you'd spend only a few weeks per year actually making observations. You'd devote the rest of your time to analyzing that data and writing scientific papers on the results of your research. Almost all astronomers do research or teach, more than half of them at colleges and universities. Still, more than one in six works for NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) or another area within the Federal government. Others work for planetariums, museums, and in the aerospace industry. 

You'll need a truly inquisitive mind for this career. Perseverance and the ability to concentrate on detail and work independently are also important. Possible specialties include instruments and techniques, the sun, the solar system, and the evolution and interiors of stars and galaxies. 

How much money do astronomers make per month?

Yearly Salary $117,200
Monthly Salary  $9,700
Weekly Salary $2,400
Hourly Salary  $60

What is the job outlook for an astronomer?

Depressing. Occupational growth is expected to be small or nonexistent, because of declining college enrollments and limited government funds for research. 

What education is needed to become an astronomer?

Ph.D. in astronomy or astrophysics. Your bachelor's degree should be in astronomy, physics, or math (with a physics minor). 

Competition: 

Brutal. Get into the best school you can find, then be prepared to move anywhere for a good job. 

Work Style: 

Office or classroom work with considerable pressure to produce publishable research. When making observations, night work and travel are common. 

A day in the life of an astronomer


Best Locations: 

College towns and cities with NASA installations. 

Work Force: 

78 percent male, 22 percent female, and 11 percent minorities (figures for all physical scientists). 

Part-Time Work Available: 

Rarely.

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