Using spacecraft, telescopes, and returned samples to answer the big questions: how stars live and die, what the Sun does, and how the universe began.
Top pay: highest pay, longest training
Space Mission Astrophysicist: Uses space telescopes and probes to study stars, galaxies, black holes, and the history of the universe. Typical pay $130k.
Heliophysicist (Sun Scientist): Studies the Sun and how its blasts of particles and magnetic storms affect space and Earth. Typical pay $125k.
Space Instrument Scientist: Designs and calibrates the cameras, spectrometers, and sensors that fly on science missions. Typical pay $135k.
Mission Principal Investigator: Leads the science team for an entire space mission, from proposal to final discoveries. Typical pay $175k.
NASA Program Scientist: Works at NASA headquarters choosing which science missions and research projects get funded. Typical pay $165k.
Space Science Data Scientist: Builds the software and machine-learning pipelines that turn raw spacecraft data into maps, images, and discoveries. Typical pay $112k.
Mid pay: solid pay, degree or apprenticeship
Science Operations Planner: Plans exactly what a telescope or probe will look at, minute by minute. Typical pay $88k.
Telescope Operator: Runs a giant ground-based telescope through the night for visiting astronomers. Typical pay $68k.
Astromaterials Curator: Protects and studies moon rocks, meteorites, and asteroid dust brought back to Earth. Typical pay $95k.
Space Image Processing Specialist: Turns raw black-and-white space data into the stunning color images that appear in the news. Typical pay $85k.
Scientific Balloon Launch Specialist: Launches stadium-sized helium balloons that lift telescopes and experiments to the edge of space. Typical pay $65k.
Gravitational-Wave Observatory Operator: Keeps a miles-long laser detector running through the night so it can catch ripples in space from colliding black holes. Typical pay $70k.
Sounding Rocket Payload Technician: Builds and launches the science packages on small rockets that zip into space for a few minutes to study auroras and the upper atmosphere. Typical pay $66k.
Starter: fastest way in
Observatory Technician: Maintains telescopes, mirrors, and instruments at observatories. Typical pay $54k.
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.