What You Need to Know About Physicist
Career Description Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
Life As a Physicist
- Direct testing and monitoring of contamination of radioactive equipment, and recording of personnel and plant area radiation exposure data.
- Teach physics to students.
- Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- Conduct research pertaining to potential environmental impacts of atomic energy-related industrial development to determine licensing qualifications.
- Conduct application evaluations and analyze results to determine commercial, industrial, scientific, medical, military, or other uses for electro-optical devices.
- Develop manufacturing, assembly, and fabrication processes of lasers, masers, infrared, and other light-emitting and light-sensitive devices.
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What Every Physicist Should Know
When polled, Physicists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Mathematics: Using mathematics to solve problems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Other Physicist Job Titles
- Electrodynamicist
- Electro Optical Engineer
- Space Physicist
- Mass Spectroscopist
- Thermodynamic Physicist
What Kind of Physicist Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 17,900 jobs in the United States for Physicist. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 14.5% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 2,600 new jobs for Physicist by 2026. There will be an estimated 1,700 positions for Physicist per year.
The states with the most job growth for Physicist are Arizona, Idaho, and Florida. Watch out if you plan on working in North Dakota, New Hampshire, or Nebraska. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Physicist Salary
The average yearly salary of a Physicist ranges between $59,300 and $193,280.
Physicists who work in Oklahoma, Wisconsin, or New Mexico, make the highest salaries.
How much do Physicists make in different U.S. states?
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $133,930 |
Arizona | $134,390 |
California | $115,970 |
Colorado | $106,490 |
District of Columbia | $144,300 |
Florida | $143,370 |
Georgia | $122,040 |
Hawaii | $126,480 |
Idaho | $114,230 |
Illinois | $114,320 |
Iowa | $123,140 |
Louisiana | $143,000 |
Maine | $121,650 |
Maryland | $120,450 |
Massachusetts | $150,170 |
Michigan | $106,650 |
Minnesota | $155,140 |
Mississippi | $101,420 |
Missouri | $114,890 |
New Hampshire | $130,150 |
New Jersey | $134,280 |
New Mexico | $149,910 |
New York | $138,920 |
North Carolina | $143,070 |
Ohio | $122,370 |
Oklahoma | $164,190 |
Oregon | $124,410 |
Pennsylvania | $137,060 |
South Carolina | $129,860 |
Tennessee | $124,950 |
Texas | $118,300 |
Utah | $129,480 |
Vermont | $111,080 |
Virginia | $108,440 |
Washington | $110,710 |
Wisconsin | $150,670 |
What Tools & Technology do Physicists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Physicists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- JavaScript
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Git
- Python
- Microsoft Access
- MySQL
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Linux
- Microsoft Visual Basic
- Extensible markup language XML
- UNIX
- National Instruments LabVIEW
- C
How do I Become a Physicist?
What kind of Physicist requirements are there?
What work experience do I need to become a Physicist?
References:
Image Credit: A. T. Service via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
More about our data sources and methodologies.