Physicists build complex problem solving, instructing and judgment and decision making skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Mathematicians (81%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mathematicians | 81% | $126,710 | −26% | None |
| 2 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | 79% | $127,410 | −26% | None |
| 3 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | 79% | $140,300 | −19% | None |
| 4 | Nanosystems Engineers | 74% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Computer Hardware Engineers | 74% | $161,740 | −6% | None |
| 6 | Data Scientists | 71% | $120,230 | −30% | None |
| 7 | Microsystems Engineers | 70% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 8 | Water Resource Specialists | 69% | $167,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Natural Sciences Managers” | Not compared | None |
| 9 | Aerospace Engineers | 69% | $134,960 | −22% | None |
| 10 | Nuclear Engineers | 68% | $133,970 | −22% | None |
Compared with Physicists, median $172,250. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as physicists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
81% skill match · $126,710 · −26% pay
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
79% skill match · $127,410 · −26% pay
Equipment Maintenance · Quality Control Analysis · Judgment and Decision Making
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
79% skill match · $140,300 · −19% pay
Time Management · Troubleshooting · Management of Financial Resources
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Mathematicians (81% skill match, median $126,710), Biochemists and Biophysicists (79% skill match, median $127,410) and Computer and Information Research Scientists (79% skill match, median $140,300), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
None of the 25 closest matches pays more than physicists at the national median (BLS May 2025). Higher-paying moves usually need more training.
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.