Astrophysicists

The outlook for astrophysics, because it is so closely related to astronomy and physics, mirrors the outlook for those fields. Employment in these fields will grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2032, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The need for scientists, especially those employed by the government, is affected by factors outside the field, such as budgetary cuts and political issues that draw attention (and funding) away from expensive research programs. While growth is expected at management, scientific, and technical consulting firms; educational services; and healthcare and social assistance organizations, federal spending for physics and astronomy research is expected to be relatively flat.

Aspiring astrophysicists should be prepared for a tight job market, especially in research positions. Within private industry, many companies are reducing their amount of basic research (which includes physics-related research) in favor of applied research and software development. Job openings for engineers and computer scientists will far outnumber those for physicists and astrophysicists.