Jobs Similar to Astronomers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to astronomers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Atmospheric and Space Scientists, Physicists and Mathematicians.
Astronomers: $128,820 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Astronomers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atmospheric and Space ScientistsSame group | 83% | $99,070−23% | Bachelor's degree |
| 2 | PhysicistsSame group | 83% | $172,250+34% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Mathematicians | 82% | $126,710−2% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and GeographersSame group | 81% | $101,920−21% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Industrial EcologistsSame group | 79% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Bioinformatics Scientists | 79% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | HydrologistsSame group | 78% | $96,600−25% | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Materials ScientistsSame group | 78% | $117,790−9% | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | 77% | $127,410−1% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Remote Sensing Scientists and TechnologistsSame group | 76% | $122,570Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Computer and Information Research Scientists | 76% | $140,300+9% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 75% | $81,490Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Soil and Plant Scientists | 75% | $78,850−39% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Nanosystems Engineers | 75% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary | 75% | $109,270−15% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Geneticists | 74% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Data Scientists | 74% | $120,230−7% | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Statisticians | 74% | $105,650−18% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Materials Engineers | 74% | $112,860−12% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $100,310−22% | Graduate degree |
- 1Atmospheric and Space Scientists
83% similar · $99,070 (−23%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 2Physicists
83% similar · $172,250 (+34%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Mathematicians
82% similar · $126,710 (−2%) · Graduate degree
- 4Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
81% similar · $101,920 (−21%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Industrial Ecologists
79% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Bioinformatics Scientists
79% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 7Hydrologists
78% similar · $96,600 (−25%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 8Materials Scientists
78% similar · $117,790 (−9%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 9Biochemists and Biophysicists
77% similar · $127,410 (−1%) · Graduate degree
- 10Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists
76% similar · $122,570 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 11Computer and Information Research Scientists
76% similar · $140,300 (+9%) · Graduate degree
- 12Bioinformatics Technicians
75% similar · $81,490 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 13Soil and Plant Scientists
75% similar · $78,850 (−39%) · Graduate degree
- 14Nanosystems Engineers
75% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 15Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $109,270 (−15%) · Graduate degree
- 16Geneticists
74% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 17Data Scientists
74% similar · $120,230 (−7%) · Bachelor's degree
- 18Statisticians
74% similar · $105,650 (−18%) · Graduate degree
- 19Materials Engineers
74% similar · $112,860 (−12%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Physics Teachers, Postsecondary
74% similar · $100,310 (−22%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than astronomers.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Atmospheric and Space Scientists83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers81% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Hydrologists78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Materials Scientists78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Bioinformatics Technicians75% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for astronomers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where astronomers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like astronomers
What jobs are most similar to astronomers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Atmospheric and Space Scientists (83% similar), Physicists (83% similar), Mathematicians (82% similar), Geoscientists (Except Hydrologists and Geographers) (81% similar) and Industrial Ecologists (79% similar).
Which jobs like astronomers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physicists ($172,250, +34%; usually a graduate degree) and Computer and Information Research Scientists ($140,300, +9%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with astronomers ($128,820). Without more preparation than astronomers usually need: Physicists and Computer and Information Research Scientists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.