Studies plasma, the glowing fourth state of matter found in lightning, stars, neon signs, and chip factories.
You might study how solar storms hit Earth's magnetic field, design plasma thrusters for spacecraft, or improve the plasma etching machines that carve computer chips.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. A bachelor's in physics or engineering, then a PhD in plasma physics, often followed by a postdoc at a university or national lab.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Physics, Electrical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering.
Growing faster than average (about 7% over 10 years). Growth figure is for physicists and astronomers combined.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI models plasma behavior faster; experiments on thrusters, chip-etch tools and space plasma stay human.
Classes: AP Physics C, AP Calculus BC, AP Computer Science.
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.