19
Astronomers is a notable career in the 19 category. This page provides verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0 (2024), helping you compare Astronomers against similar careers and make data-driven decisions.
Education Administrators, All Other
11
Personal Service Managers, All Other
11
Managers, All Other
11
Buyers and Purchasing Agents
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Business Operations Specialists, All Other
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| soc | 19-2011 |
| title | Astronomers |
| onet code | 19-2011.00 |
| description | Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems. |
| job zone | 5 |
| major group | 19 |
| tot emp | 1,560 |
| a mean | 134,430 |
| a median | 132,170 |
| a pct10 | 70,730 |
| a pct25 | 94,990 |
| a pct75 | 177,690 |
| a pct90 | 191,880 |
| h mean | 64 |
| h median | 63 |
The day-to-day work of a astronomers typically centers on analyze research data to determine its significance, using computers. Every task listed below is classified as Core in O*NET — they collectively define the role. Task descriptions below are quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor's O*NET 29.0 occupation profile.
Workers in this occupation rely most on Reading Comprehension, Science, and Writing. Across the top 10 skills, the average O*NET importance score is 4.02 out of 5 — critical for this role. Importance reflects how essential each skill is for adequate job performance.
Among working astronomers, the most common entry qualification is a Doctoral Degree (65.2%). Bachelor's-degree-or-higher credentials are reported by 100% of incumbents. This is a degree-heavy profession — most incumbents hold a four-year degree or beyond.
Median annual pay is highest in Massachusetts at $189,430 and lowest in Hawaii at $103,000 — a 1.8× spread. The top five states (Massachusetts, Maryland, California, Arizona, Washington) average $143,786. Figures reflect BLS OEWS May 2024 state-level wage estimates; percentiles shown are for full-time wage-earners in each state.
| State | Median | Mean | 10th % | 90th % | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $189,430 | $156,870 | $75,740 | $205,630 | 70 |
| Maryland | $157,980 | $153,000 | $79,630 | $191,880 | 570 |
| California | $142,060 | $141,660 | $77,940 | $198,520 | 170 |
| Arizona | $125,480 | $131,990 | $79,670 | $170,220 | 90 |
| Washington | $103,980 | $117,600 | $70,400 | $184,370 | 40 |
| Hawaii | $103,000 | $98,800 | $73,260 | $132,350 | 140 |
Recruiters and job boards use several alternate titles for astronomers. Knowing these variants widens your job search — listings for Astronomer or Astronomy Outreach Coordinator frequently describe the same role. The list below is a sample of the most common industry variants.
This data helps you understand how Astronomers compares to others in the 19 category. Use it to make informed decisions based on verified data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0.
careers with the closest data values to Astronomers
The CertifyWize editorial team aggregates and verifies careers data from BLS OEWS 2024 + O*NET 29.0. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.
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