Also called: X-ray Beamline Scientist
Runs one 'station' at a giant ring that makes X-rays a billion times brighter than a hospital's.
At places like Argonne's Advanced Photon Source, you help visiting scientists blast samples with X-rays to study batteries, viruses, or fossils, often working shifts through the night.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in physics, chemistry, or materials science.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science & Engineering.
Growing about average. BLS does not project this specialty separately; rating estimated from related occupations.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI automates more sample changes and data reduction; helping users and running beamlines around the clock stay human.
Classes: AP Physics C, AP Chemistry, AP Calculus.
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.