What do astrophysicists do outside of academia?

[AerospaceKid]

I am wondering what astrophysicists do outside of academia. also what would their salary be with a PHD?

 

[bpatrick]

work for a bank as a quantitative analyst?

find work as a computer programmer?

data mining?

become an actuary?

starbucks manager?

all of these are educated guesses, I'd imagine there are loads and loads of options available, but some of these may be more common than others.

 

[hadsed]

A couple of useful links:

https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=491468
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=391553
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=354287
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=376191
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=404234
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=532100

Also look around for twofish-quant's posts, he's an astrophysicist who worked in oil and financial industries with some insightful posts.

Might also be helpful to look in the academic advice forum as well.

 

[DrummingAtom]

Lol. hadsed you should be in charge of the sticky's.

 

[Matrix0]

Astrophysicists have various career options outside of academia, including working in research and development for private companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations. They can also work as consultants for businesses that use space technology or data analysis. Some astrophysicists may also pursue careers in science communication, using their expertise to educate the public through media outlets or museums.

The salary for an astrophysicist with a PhD can vary depending on their specific job and location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for physicists and astronomers, which includes astrophysicists, was $122,220 in May 2020. However, salaries can range from around $60,000 for entry-level positions to over $200,000 for senior-level roles. Factors such as experience, location, and industry can also impact an astrophysicist's salary outside of academia.