Also called: Heliophysicist (Solar)
Studies the sun, including sunspots and the giant explosions that can knock out power grids.
You analyze images from solar telescopes like the Inouye Solar Telescope on Maui or the Parker Solar Probe, which flies through the sun's outer atmosphere. Your research helps forecast solar storms.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in physics or astronomy.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Physics, Astronomy, Space Physics.
Growing faster than average (about 7% over 10 years). Growth figure is for physicists and astronomers combined; astronomy alone is a small field with about 2,000 US jobs.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI forecasts solar storms from images; studying sun physics and new probe data stay human.
Classes: AP Physics C, AP Calculus, AP Computer Science.
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.