Want more information like this? Visit the Careers Toolbox for a more detailed exploration of what you can do with a physics bachelor’s degree.
A physics degree is a passport into a broad range of science, engineering, and technology careers. These options vary by degree level. Statistical data collected by the American Institute of Physics offers a detailed look at the physicist employment at all degree levels.
Many people think that the most common career for a physics major is a physics professor, but the statistics show a different story. In reality, about one out of six physics bachelor’s degree recipients in the United States earn a physics or astronomy PhD, and only about 30% of those that do work in academia. The others have fulfilling careers in the private sector, in government agencies or national laboratories, and in other sectors.