Why does a field that requires such high level classes pay less than half that of the medical field. People majoring in physics have to take the hardest math courses there are and the highest and most complicated science courses. Why do they barley make a 6 figure salary?
The market speaks. If a physics major wants to make a lot of money he/she will work in the financial industry or engineering. That being said, physics majors can use what they learn to get good jobs, just not all of them will have a title that says physicist…
What @xraymancs said. The pay is low because employers don’t have to pay more. The market is glutted. This was written in 1999, but things have only gotten worse since.
http://physics.wustl.edu/katz/scientist.html
Sorry - but there isn’t always a correlation between how hard something is and the pay in that field.
This isn’t to discourage you from studying physics if that is what you love. Just that if future earnings is the most important factor in what you choose to study, then physics may not be the right field.
Someone who studies physics can do quite well in many different fields but if you want to stay in physics, then an advanced degree is needed and the eventual pay level is good but not as high as other fields. That should not discourage you as long as you have your eyes open as you take this path. That is the career i chose and I have no regrets. I make enough money and I love doing physics and teaching.
My father was a physicist. He did have to get a higher degree as @xraymancs points out. Once he had his PhD he did quite well for himself and eventually became a senior scientist for a major aerospace company. (Some of those satellites out there are thanks to him and his crew.) Our family was quite comfortable and he didn’t have to keep doctor’s hours. He had a regular 9-5 jobs with a lot of perks. Physics is a good way to go.
Are there any science majors that pay well w only an undergraduate degree?