What Degree Do I Need to Become an Astronomer?

When it comes to careers, it doesn’t get any more exciting than astronomy. Who wouldn’t want to spend the bulk of their professional life studying the birth of stars and planets? Not to mention uncovering the mysteries of the universe such as the absorption of material by black holes and the evolution of galaxies!

Did you know the study of astronomy is the oldest of natural sciences? It also happens to be the only science in which you can observe physics at work throughout the universe and yet not physically be able to touch anything you are studying.

Those students who obtain a degree in astronomy will often go on to fulfilling careers as educators and researchers, or a combination of the two. Many professional astronomers will decide to work for the government, industry, observatories, museums, and more.

If you like the idea of having your head in the stars and getting paid to unravel the universe’s greatest mysteries, then a career in astronomy is calling!

What is An Astronomer?

Astronomers are scientists that study the planets, stars and galaxies above us. Much time is devoted to understanding how our sun and solar system were created and what will happen to them as they age. Many astronomers also focus on “time-domain” events—things that change quickly, like supernovae, variable stars, and near-Earth objects—because modern surveys can now monitor the sky repeatedly and at huge scale.

On any given day an astronomer will analyze data, write research papers, or create computer programs that allow a more effective search for the data they have collected. Astronomers also get to use a lot of fun, technical equipment such as telescopes, spectrographs, cameras and yes, even spacecraft. Because datasets are exploding in size, programming and data skills have become even more central: the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time is designed to generate about 20 terabytes of data per night and roughly 60 petabytes over its ten-year survey—meaning many discoveries will come from analyzing public datasets rather than personally visiting a telescope.

As with other scientific careers, there are different fields of astronomy and most students will decide to focus on only one. Some examples of specialized areas of study are solar astronomy, planetary astronomy, stellar astronomy, galactic astronomy, extragalactic astronomy, and cosmology. Within those areas, people often specialize further in methods—like observational astronomy, instrumentation, or computational modeling—depending on whether they prefer building tools, collecting data, or interpreting it.

Since astronomy can also be linked to other branches of science, as it can be applied to biology, geology and physics, it can then also be divided into the subfields of astrophysics, astrometry, astrogeology, and astrobiology. Astrobiology in particular often overlaps with chemistry and planetary science, while astrogeology connects directly to missions that map and sample planetary surfaces.

3 Reasons to Study Astronomy

It’s an Incredibly Diverse Field

As I already mentioned, astronomers can choose to work in a variety of settings and industries such as the government, museums, observatories, energy, medicine and more. In addition, there are many different fields within astronomy and astronomers also typically have different skills and specialties. It’s an incredibly diverse field. That variety also shows up in employers: many astronomers work in research and development or the federal government, while others work at state colleges and universities.

The Work is Fulfilling

One of the neatest things about astronomy is learning how our universe works. Sharing that information with others and blowing their minds, is simply an awesome way to spend your days! Public engagement is a real part of the job for many astronomers—through museum work, planetarium shows, citizen-science projects, and explaining discoveries in ways non-scientists can connect with.

Your Skills Will be Transferable

A degree in astronomy offers graduates a remarkably broad set of problem-solving skills, just the skills employers in numerous industries are looking for! Those skills—statistics, coding, visualization, and rigorous reasoning—map well to data science, software, finance, engineering, and analytics roles (especially for graduates who add internships or applied projects).

Demand for Astronomers and Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median wage for astronomers in May 2024 was $132,170. The lowest 10% earned less than $70,730, and the highest 10% earned more than $191,880. Annual salary is dependent on location, hours worked, and degrees obtained.

The BLS also projects 2% growth of employment for astronomers between 2024 and 2034, which is slower than the average for all other occupations. BLS estimates about 1,800 astronomer jobs in 2024, and notes that federal spending is a primary source of astronomy-related basic research funding—so budget constraints can directly affect hiring and the pace of new openings.

Competition for certain positions, especially permanent research appointments at colleges and universities, is expected to be strong. The higher degree obtained, the more likely candidates will be able to land a lucrative job. In practice, building a strong research portfolio (publications, conference presentations, and collaborative projects) can matter as much as the degree itself when applying for competitive research roles.

Read more about what a career in astronomy can offer you.

How to Become an Astronomer

If you’re ready to get started on one of the most exciting careers, here are the steps you’ll need to take:

Step 1. Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree

You’ll need to start your journey by earning a bachelor’s of science degree with a focus on astronomy or physics. You may also be interested in a degree specialization in astrophysics, which is a combination of astronomy and physics.

Step 2. (optional) Earn Your Master’s Degree

Depending on which specialty you want to go into, some employers may require you obtain a Master’s Degree in the physics/astronomy field. In these additional two years you will focus on specialized courses, research opportunities and will write your master’s thesis that explores your preferred topic.

Step 3. (optional) Earn Your Doctorate Degree & Ph.D. Dissertation

If you believe you will eventually want to teach astronomy at a college or university, then you will need to complete a Ph.D. in a specific area of astronomy such as radio, solar, cosmos, or galactic astronomy. Your studies will include internships and fellowships that will give you invaluable experience in the field.

Step 4. (optional) Your Postdoctoral Fellowship

If you really want to be a competitive job candidate, then you need to see your higher education all the way through. Once you’ve earned your Ph.D. you will be able to qualify for university research positions. Now’s the time to gain experience in the profession and focus on your area of expertise. Sometimes these fellowships can lead to fulltime positions, often in academia as a professor of astronomy.

Getting Started on Your Astronomy Career

With the first step being obtaining a bachelor’s degree, here are a few additional resources to check out to get started on your path to becoming an astronomer:

• Why Online Education Might Be Best- If you’re like a lot of working adults, you don’t have a lot of free time or extra money to put toward your higher education. An online degree offers flexible scheduling for adult students who have other work/life commitments. This means, even if you’re a parent that also works full-time, an online program can work around your schedule to help you reach your dream career.
• Salary and Other Career Data for Astronomers-
  • Astronomers
• How OnlineDegree.com Can Help-To make college a reality for everyone, we provide free courses that could apply toward your degree, tuition discounts at universities across the country, and much needed guidance.  All free.

If you’re ready to get started toward becoming an astronomer, enroll with us today!