Astronomers
What Astronomers Do
Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.
See full salary breakdown & percentiles →
Career Outlook
National employment outlook, 2024–2034.
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- Self-employed
- 5.4%
Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.
How Much Preparation Does This Take?
Job Zone 5 of 5Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Experience
- Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.
- Education
- Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
- Job training
- Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Source: O*NET Job Zones.
Key Knowledge Areas
Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.
- Physicsimportance 5.0/5
- Mathematicsimportance 4.9/5
- Computers and Electronicsimportance 4.2/5
- English Languageimportance 4.0/5
- Education and Trainingimportance 3.4/5
- Engineering and Technologyimportance 3.2/5
- Chemistryimportance 3.0/5
- Communications and Mediaimportance 2.4/5
Work Environment
What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.
- E-Mail4.9/5
- Freedom to Make Decisions4.8/5
- Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals4.7/5
- Spend Time Sitting4.3/5
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.3/5
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.1/5
Careers With Similar Skills
Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists97% skill match
- Management Analysts95% skill match
- Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists95% skill match
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary94% skill match
- Special Effects Artists and Animators94% skill match
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary94% skill match
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary94% skill match
- Graphic Designers94% skill match
Transferable Skills
Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.
- Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.6/5
- Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.5/5
- Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.1/5
- Coordinationimportance 3.1/5
- Persuasionimportance 3.0/5
- Instructingimportance 3.0/5
- Systems Analysisimportance 3.0/5
- Systems Evaluationimportance 3.0/5
Software & Technologies
Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.
Hot Technologies
Other Software Used
- Abstraction plus reference plus synthesis A++
- Adaptive optics AO simulation software
- Analyze
- Astronomical Image Processing System AIPS
- Astronomical Image Processing for Windows AIP4WIN
- Astronomical information processing system AIPS++
- Avis Fits Viewer
- Data reduction software
Work Style
Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.
- Intellectual Curiosity
- Innovation
- Attention to Detail
- Achievement Orientation
- Perseverance
- Dependability
- Integrity
Career Interests
This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.
- InvestigativeHigh
- RealisticHigh
- ConventionalMedium
- ArtisticMedium
- SocialLow
- EnterprisingLow
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Where This Career Is Most Concentrated
Metro areas where astronomers make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).
- 1Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV12.12× national avg
- 2Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH5.00× national avg
Possible Career Moves
A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.
- Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, PostsecondaryCareer Change
- Engineering Teachers, PostsecondaryCareer Change
- Atmospheric and Space ScientistsLateral Move
- Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsLateral Move
Related Education Programs
Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.