As we noted in last month’s column, half of the astronomy bachelor’s degree recipients were in the workforce one year after earning their degrees. Among those accepting employment, about one in eight (13%) were continuing in positions they held prior to receiving their degrees. About one in seven (14%) indicated that they planned to enroll in graduate school starting the next academic year, with an additional 12% enrolling in two or more years.

New astronomy bachelors secured employment in many sectors of the economy, with over half (58%) working in the private sector. More than two-thirds of those employed in the private sector indicated they were working in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) field. Most of these positions were in either engineering or computer science, with the remainder split between physics, astronomy, and other technical fields. Common job titles included “software developer” and “research analyst.” Astronomy bachelors in...

AAPT members receive access to The Physics Teacher and the American Journal of Physics as a member benefit. To learn more about this member benefit and becoming an AAPT member, visit the Joining AAPT page.