Also called: Commercial Space Researcher, Suborbital Researcher
A scientist who flies to space (or on suborbital rockets) to run their own experiments.
You train for a short flight, then float in microgravity carefully running an experiment you've spent years designing. Universities and companies now buy seats on suborbital flights for researchers.
Pay is a scientist's salary; the flight is usually funded by a grant or company.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD or MD in a science field.
Ways in: Graduate school, Professional school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Physics, Medicine.
Growing slowly. Very few opportunities.
Low risk for 10 years. Robots run many space experiments, but scientists who fly with their own work remain prized; very few jobs.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Calculus.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1042.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.