Also called: Postdoc
A newly minted PhD who spends 2-6 years doing full-time research before landing a permanent job.
You run your own research project, publish papers, and apply to dozens of permanent jobs. It's a crucial but uncertain stage of a scientist's career.
Fellowships like NASA Hubble Fellowship pay at the high end.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 9 years after high school. PhD in physics, astronomy, or planetary science.
Ways in: Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Physics, Astronomy, Planetary Science.
Growing about average. A temporary training stage, not a long-term job.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI speeds analysis, so fewer helpers per lab; permanent research jobs stay very competitive.
Classes: AP Physics, AP Calculus, Computer science, English composition.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-2012.
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.