Also called: Near-Earth Object Observer, Sky Survey Astronomer
Runs telescopes that scan the night sky to discover new asteroids and comets heading near Earth.
You run a night of survey images, check the software's list of moving dots, confirm the real ones, and report new discoveries to the Minor Planet Center.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Bachelor's degree (4-year), about 4 years after high school. Bachelor's in astronomy or physics.
Ways in: 4-year college, On-the-job training. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Astronomy, Physics.
Growing about average. Few dozen positions nationwide.
Medium risk in 5 years, high in 10. Automated surveys like the Rubin Observatory find asteroids with little human observing; follow-up still needs some people.
Classes: Physics, Astronomy, Computer science, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2011.
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.