A physics degree is a passport into a broad range of science, engineering, and technology careers. These options vary by degree level. Statistical data collected by the American Institute of Physics offers a detailed look at the physicist employment at all degree levels. Many people think that the most common career for a physics major is a physics professor, but the statistics show a different story. In reality, about one out of six physics bachelor’s degree recipients in the United States earn a physics or astronomy PhD, and only about 30% of those that do work in academia. The others have fulfilling careers in the private sector, in government agencies or national laboratories, and in other sectors. -SPS National

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