Astrophysicists: They're Out of This World By Trinity Bair If astrophysics seems boring to you, just remember: you get to call yourself an “astrophysicist,” which is a pretty good title by itself. So what exactly is an astrophysicist? There are two main kinds. Theoretical astrophysicists are trying to understand the physical processes while observational astrophysicists test theories to explain how our universe works (academicinvest.com). Although they have their differences, astrophysicists and astronomers are quite similar. Astrophysicists, however, tend to apply physics to their work more often than not, hence the title, “astrophysicist” (curious.astro.cornell.edu). Astrophysics isn’t a new thing. In fact, astronomy and astrophysics
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The salary for astrophysicists depends on location, experience, and how long they’ve gone to school for. In Illinois, the median wage for astrophysicists is between $102,675 and $120,675 per year, but it varies depending on location. (salary.com) The national average income for the United States is $53,657 annually, so astrophysicists typically make a pretty sufficient amount more than that. (Department of Numbers) It’s not just about the money, however; there are other benefits too. Some jobs have added benefits, which make the job more enticing and can also help you in the long run. Since they’re dealing with things we can’t always see with the naked eye, many astrophysicists get to travel a lot to different observatories. It is said that 83% of astronomers have medical insurance and astrophysicists aren’t any different. They also enjoy benefits such as sick leave and paid vacation. Depending what kind of astrophysicist you are, working conditions could be different than the next guy’s. A typical day can range anywhere from teaching college students and traveling to do research at observatories around the …show more content…
Due to radiation from the sun, some astrophysicists, depending on their job, may have to work at night in order to make their observations clearly. One astrophysicist who travels for her work said that her hours are flexible if she has to take care of her kids or be part of a special activity, she can take and make up time. The activities astrophysicists do also vary depending on position and location. All jobs have things that make them challenging or fun and astrophysicists are no different. Professors in college teach astrophysics, give lectures, give and grade homework, which is often about subjects like dark matter and the laws of energy. Some astrophysicists write computer programs to analyze data or even write proposals for new projects to be funded. The activities and overall schedule of an astrophysicist are different depending on numerous factors. Having a job that is in demand is important because it increases your job security and betters your chances of staying employed. “Astrophysicist” isn’t something you hear a lot of people wanting to be, but there is a demand nevertheless. The demand for astronomers and physicists is expected to increase by 7% in the next decade. (bls.gov) The job greatly depends on government funding and support, which is expected to stay the same, more or less.
The salary for astrophysicists depends on location, experience, and how long they’ve gone to school for. In Illinois, the median wage for astrophysicists is between $102,675 and $120,675 per year, but it varies depending on location. (salary.com) The national average income for the United States is $53,657 annually, so astrophysicists typically make a pretty sufficient amount more than that. (Department of Numbers) It’s not just about the money, however; there are other benefits too. Some jobs have added benefits, which make the job more enticing and can also help you in the long run. Since they’re dealing with things we can’t always see with the naked eye, many astrophysicists get to travel a lot to different observatories. It is said that 83% of astronomers have medical insurance and astrophysicists aren’t any different. They also enjoy benefits such as sick leave and paid vacation. Depending what kind of astrophysicist you are, working conditions could be different than the next guy’s. A typical day can range anywhere from teaching college students and traveling to do research at observatories around the …show more content…
Due to radiation from the sun, some astrophysicists, depending on their job, may have to work at night in order to make their observations clearly. One astrophysicist who travels for her work said that her hours are flexible if she has to take care of her kids or be part of a special activity, she can take and make up time. The activities astrophysicists do also vary depending on position and location. All jobs have things that make them challenging or fun and astrophysicists are no different. Professors in college teach astrophysics, give lectures, give and grade homework, which is often about subjects like dark matter and the laws of energy. Some astrophysicists write computer programs to analyze data or even write proposals for new projects to be funded. The activities and overall schedule of an astrophysicist are different depending on numerous factors. Having a job that is in demand is important because it increases your job security and betters your chances of staying employed. “Astrophysicist” isn’t something you hear a lot of people wanting to be, but there is a demand nevertheless. The demand for astronomers and physicists is expected to increase by 7% in the next decade. (bls.gov) The job greatly depends on government funding and support, which is expected to stay the same, more or less.