UCSD Physics -- Prospective Majors: Salary Information for Physicists

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Starting Salaries for Physicists

Starting Salary Bachelor's Degree 1999

Starting Salary 1999 Advanced Degree

Median 1998 Salary - By Profession

Starting Salaries in 1999 by Bachelor's Degree^*

The unemployment rate for Physics grads is very low (e.g. 3%, American Institute of Physics Survey, 1995).

`Chemical Engineering`	`46929`
`Computer Engineering`	`45666`
`Electrical Engineering`	`45180`
`Computer Science`	`44649`
`Mechanical Engineering`	`43275`
`Physics`	`40025`	(breakdown by type of employer)
	--->	Computers	43807 (23%)
	--->	Engineering	42460 (11%)
	--->	Other*	40622 (19%)
	--->	Research/Consulting/Technical	40295 (36%)
	--->	Education	26300 (11%)
`Information Science`	`38902`
`Mathematics`	`37253`
`Environmental Engineering`	`36827`
`Architectural Engineering`	`36360`
`Civil Engineering`	`36076`
`Geology`	`34892`
`Accounting`	`34644`
`Chemistry`	`34111`
`Political Science`	`29651`
`Biology`	`29047`
`History`	`28278`
`Sociology`	`28040`
`Communications`	`27504`
`English`	`27062`
`Psychology`	`26652`
`Environmental Science`	`26536`
`Education`	`26291`

* In the Physics Bachelor breakdown above, ``Other" includes accounting, sales, design, quality control, management trainee, etc. Also shown is the fraction of offers to Physics majors in each employment subfield. Information is from ``Salary Survey", published Sept. 1999 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Starting Salary Bachelor's Degree 1999

Starting Salary 1999 Advanced Degree

Median 1998 Salary - By Profession

Starting Salaries in 1999 for PhD and Masters Degrees*

PhD DEGREE

Electrical Engineering	70848
Chemical Engineering	67333
Mechanical Engineering	64283
Physics	60288
Civil Engineering	58571
Chemistry	56885
Economics	56615
Mathematics	52908
Psychology	45884
Biology	45679
English	41777

MASTERS DEGREE

Electrical Engineering	57162
Mechanical Engineering	51879
Computer Science	51438
Physics	50552
MBA	50095
Material Science	48980
Civil Engineering	42265
Mathematics	41964
Chemistry	38779
Accounting	38152
Biology	34453
Education	33959
Humanities	36020
Psychology	27653

*From ``Salary Survey", published September 1999 by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Starting Salary Bachelor's Degree 1999

Starting Salary 1999 Advanced Degree

Median 1998 Salary - By Profession

Median 1998 Salaries by Profession^*

Physician	164000
Dentist	110000
Pilot	91750
Lawyer	78170
Physicist	73240
Optometrist	68500
Aerospace Engineer	66950
Actuary	65560
Chiropractor	63930
Civil Engineer	62660
Computer Engineer	61910
Financial Manager	55070
Physicist (Bachelors only)	54000
Geologist	53890
Systems Analyst	52180
Mathematician	49120
Police	48700
Economist	48330
Psychologist	48050
Architect	47710
College Instructor	46630
Chemist	46220
Biologist	46140
Nurse	40690
Insurance Underwriter	38710
Accountant	37860
Building Inspector	37540
K-12 Teacher	35000
Mail Carrier	34840
Social Worker	30590
Musician	30020
Fire Fighter	31170
Designer	29200
Actor	27400
Travel Agent	23010
Dancer	21430

*From ``Occupational Outlook Handbook 2000-2001", U.S. Department of Labor. All median salaries listed include all educational levels, except for "Physicists (Bachelor's only)" which excludes Masters and Ph.D.s. Other professions have lower salaries (not listed) when such exclusions are made.

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