Astronomers


Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics > Astronomers > Wages & Trends
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Astronomers

Astronomers - Wages & Trends

Wages vary by employer and area of the country. The level of education also makes a difference. Those who have a doctoral degree (PhD) earn the highest wages, followed by those who have a master's degree. Physicists who have only a bachelor's degree have the lowest wages.

Most physicists can expect benefits such as paid vacation, sick leave, health insurance, and a retirement plan.

Physicists (SOC 19-2012)
Location
Pay Period
25%
Median
75%
Illinois Hourly $54.45 $69.21 $85.63
Yearly $113,245 $143,951 $178,101
    Champaign Area Hourly $34.28 $41.85 $67.12
Yearly $71,295 $87,048 $139,614
    Cook County Hourly $54.45 $69.50 $85.76
Yearly $113,246 $144,572 $178,379
    Dekalb-Elgin-Aurora Area Hourly $54.53 $69.02 $85.40
Yearly $113,424 $143,568 $177,629
    Rock Island-Moline Area Hourly $47.85 $52.44 $75.38
Yearly $99,539 $109,077 $156,790
    Rockford Area Hourly $64.27 $79.31 $110.89
Yearly $133,687 $164,948 $230,661
    Springfield Area Hourly $70.43 $70.58 $75.95
Yearly $146,488 $146,812 $157,970
    Will County Hourly $54.45 $69.50 $85.75
Yearly $113,240 $144,568 $178,373
United States Hourly $51.95 $68.68 $84.75
Yearly $108,050 $142,850 $176,280

Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security.