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Physicists
conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
Table of Contents
Job description
Physicists conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
- Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- Direct testing and monitoring of contamination of radioactive equipment, and recording of personnel and plant area radiation exposure data.
- Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
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Salary
Physicists with little to no experience tend to make between $59300 and $85090 while the more experienced ones can earn over $158350 per year.
| Top 5 paying states | Hourly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| OK | $79 | $164,190 |
| MN | $75 | $155,140 |
| WI | $72 | $150,670 |
| MA | $72 | $150,170 |
| NM | $72 | $149,910 |
One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Physicist is to move to a higher paying state like OK. Right now, the highest paying states for Physicists are OK, MN, WI, MA and NM.
However, a higher pay at OK doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at OK might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.
Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Physicist is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.
Requirements
We asked other Physicists what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Post-Doctoral Training followed by a PhD.
Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.
| Engineering Physics/Applied Physics |
| Astrophysics |
| Physics, General |
| Atomic/Molecular Physics |
| Elementary Particle Physics |
Pros and Cons
Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Physicist.
| PROS |
|---|
| Suitable for people who likes to solve problems mentally |
| Suitable for people who wants recognition and wants career advancement and a prestigious career |
| This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors. |
| One of the highest paid careers in the world |
| CONS |
|---|
| Not suitable for people who likes to help and teach others |
| It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience is required for this career. |
| Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week) |
What is the job like
77% of Physicists said they were satisfied with their job and 79% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.
Is this right for me
You can read more about these career personality types here.
People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..
They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.
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Related career information
Physicists job description, Physicists salary, Physicists information, what is the job of a Physicist like, pros and cons about Physicists, colleges and universities for Physicists, is Physicists the right career for me, careers in Social Science and Humanities
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