Nearly 800 people exit US physics programs each year with a master’s degree. The Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics surveyed the exiting master’s recipients from the classes of 2009, 2010, and 2011 to find out what they were doing a year later.
Among US citizens, 20% pursued further graduate studies in physics at another university and 12% entered graduate programs in other fields. About 42% found new employment, and 17% returned to a former employer. By contrast, 43% of noncitizens entered PhD programs in physics, 17% pursued a higher degree in another area, and 12% joined the workforce. Leaving the country were 22% of noncitizens and 3% of citizens. And for both groups, about 6% were unemployed.
The largest fraction (44%) of master’s recipients found work in the private sector, with a median starting salary of $60 000. Another 23% went to work at colleges and...
