Physics Careers
What could you do with a bachelor's in physics? Here are some of the paths those who have recently preceded you are following.
graduate school
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in physics
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in other sciences
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in law
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in economics (physicists’ strong math background makes them particularly attractive candidates in this field)
industry
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physicists are highly sought for technical positions because of their analytical training
teaching high school
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earn a physics degree in combination with a degree from the School of Education
private consulting
medicine
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medical schools require physics for admission, test it on the MCATs, and find a correlation between success in physics courses and success in medical school
public service
business
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in high-tech fields especially, a physicist’s skills and technical background are tremendous assets
Some Career Facts
Students who concentrate in physics are highly employable and increase their earning potential significantly. In 2000, the median annual salary for full-time employed American Physical Society members with Ph.D.’s reached $78,000, with master's degrees, $55,000, and with bachelor's degrees, $60,000.
Physics Career Resources
The American Institute of Physics, one of the main professional societies of physicists, maintains an excellent web site with information about careers for physicists. Of special interest to students considering physics as a concentration are pages which chronicle just what the nation’s 4,000 physics bachelor degree graduates do every year. The AIP provides statistics about the paths they pursue and the salaries they earn. The main career resources are:
U-M's Career Planning and Placement Center:* a resource for students at the University of Michigan.
American Institute of Physics (AIP) Physics Success Stories:* a collection of pieces on the contributions of contemporary physicists to many fields, from medicine to pollution control to politics to business.
American Institute of Physics (AIP) Career Services page:* includes job and resume posting services and lots of career planning information for physics students, undergrad and grad.
American Institute of Physics (AIP) Education and Employment Statistics:* Who's studying physics? What are they doing after graduation? What are the trends? Get the facts here.
Physics Department, University of Michigan
Randall Laboratory
450 Church Street
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1040
Phone: (734) 764-4437
Fax: (734) 763-9694
Email: physics@umich.edu
© 2002 Regents of the University of Michigan