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Role hub · Astronomers

Astronomer: what the job is, what it pays, and how to get hired.

The work, the skills that matter, the tools in demand and the pay range, from U.S. government data, plus every TryHired page for the role.

Maid DizdarevicCareer coach · 8x LinkedIn Top Voice
Updated Oct 24, 2026 · Data: BLS OEWS May 2025 · O*NET 31.0
Pay ladder · select a percentile
Median percentile pay

Half of astronomers earn more than this and half earn less.

Annual
$128,820
Hourly
$61.94
Source
BLS May 2025
Quick answer

Astronomers observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems. The median pay is $128,820 a year ($61.94 an hour) (BLS, May 2025). The most commonly reported education requirement is a doctoral degree (65% of workers surveyed by O*NET).

Median pay
$128,820
BLS May 2025
Employed in the U.S.
2,120
BLS May 2025
Preparation
Job Zone 5 of 5
extensive preparation
Most common education
Doctoral Degree
65% of workers
Explore the role

Every page for Astronomers

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The work

What astronomers do day to day

Data Core tasks rated most important by workers in the role (O*NET).

  1. Analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers.
  2. Present research findings at scientific conferences and in papers written for scientific journals.
  3. Study celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments.
  4. Collaborate with other astronomers to carry out research projects.
  5. Mentor graduate students and junior colleagues.
  6. Supervise students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena.
  7. Teach astronomy or astrophysics.
  8. Develop theories based on personal observations or on observations and theories of other astronomers.
Skills that matter

Ranked by importance to the job

Data O*NET importance ratings. The first three are core.

Reading ComprehensioncoreSciencecoreWritingcoreMathematicsCritical ThinkingActive ListeningSpeakingActive LearningLearning Strategies

Knowledge areas: Physics, Mathematics, Computers and Electronics, English Language, Education and Training, Engineering and Technology.

Tools and technology

Software astronomers use

Data Examples reported for the role; employer demand flags from O*NET.

  • The MathWorks MATLABAnalytical or scientific softwareIn demand
  • Apache HadoopData base management system softwareHot technology
  • IBM SPSS StatisticsAnalytical or scientific softwareHot technology
  • SASAnalytical or scientific softwareHot technology
  • Adaptive optics AO simulation softwareAnalytical or scientific software
  • AnalyzeAnalytical or scientific software
  • Astronomical Image Processing System AIPSAnalytical or scientific software
  • Astronomical Image Processing for Windows AIP4WINAnalytical or scientific software
  • Astronomical information processing system AIPS++Analytical or scientific software
  • Avis Fits ViewerGraphics or photo imaging software
  • Data reduction softwareAnalytical or scientific software
  • Diffraction Limited MaxIm DLAnalytical or scientific software

Also called: Astronomy Outreach Coordinator, Astrophysicist, Research Astrophysicist.

Method

How this page is built

Tasks, skills, tools, education and related roles come from O*NET 31.0. Pay and employment come from the BLS OEWS May 2025 national estimates. The skill-match score is our calculation: Skill match is the correlation between the two occupations' skill profiles: for each of 35 O*NET skills (10 essential, 25 transferable) we multiply importance by level, subtract the average across all occupations, and correlate the two profiles. 100 means identical shape; 0 or below means unrelated. Only occupations that O*NET itself lists as related are compared.

What this page can't tell you
  • How a specific employer defines the job.
  • Pay for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
  • Your own chances: data describes the occupation, not you.
Sources
  1. O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
  2. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).