Jobs Similar to Physics Teachers
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to physics teachers, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Chemistry Teachers, Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary and Environmental Science Teachers.
Physics Teachers: $100,310 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. Physics Teachers) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemistry Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 82% | $93,250−7% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 81% | $103,170+3% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Environmental Science Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 80% | $94,980−5% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Mathematical Science Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 80% | $79,940−20% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Engineering Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 80% | $109,270+9% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Biological Science Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 79% | $84,620−16% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Computer Science Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 75% | $96,980−3% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 75% | $63,820−36% | Training or associate |
| 9 | Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 75% | $101,420+1% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Astronomers | 74% | $128,820+28% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Health Specialties Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 73% | $107,310+7% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 72% | $77,270−23% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Geography Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 72% | $97,590−3% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Library Science Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 72% | $80,340−20% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Mathematicians | 71% | $126,710+26% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Tutors | 71% | $43,350−57% | Training or associate |
| 17 | Biochemists and Biophysicists | 70% | $127,410+27% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Agricultural Sciences Teachers, PostsecondarySame group | 70% | $98,700−2% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Physicists | 69% | $172,250+72% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School | 69% | $65,030−35% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
82% similar · $93,250 (−7%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $103,170 (+3%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $94,980 (−5%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $79,940 (−20%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $109,270 (+9%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $84,620 (−16%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Computer Science Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $96,980 (−3%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $63,820 (−36%) · Training or associate · Same group
- 9Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $101,420 (+1%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Astronomers
74% similar · $128,820 (+28%) · Graduate degree
- 11Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary
73% similar · $107,310 (+7%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 12Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
72% similar · $77,270 (−23%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 13Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
72% similar · $97,590 (−3%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
72% similar · $80,340 (−20%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Mathematicians
71% similar · $126,710 (+26%) · Graduate degree
- 16Tutors
71% similar · $43,350 (−57%) · Training or associate
- 17Biochemists and Biophysicists
70% similar · $127,410 (+27%) · Graduate degree
- 18Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary
70% similar · $98,700 (−2%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 19Physicists
69% similar · $172,250 (+72%) · Graduate degree
- 20Career/Technical Education Teachers, Middle School
69% similar · $65,030 (−35%) · Bachelor's 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 physics teachers.
- Physicists69% similar · $172,250 (+72%)
- Astronomers74% similar · $128,820 (+28%)
- Biochemists and Biophysicists70% similar · $127,410 (+27%)
- Mathematicians71% similar · $126,710 (+26%)
- Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary80% similar · $109,270 (+9%)
- Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary73% similar · $107,310 (+7%)
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for physics teachers also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where physics teachers is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
Questions about jobs like physics teachers
What jobs are most similar to physics teachers?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Chemistry Teachers (82% similar), Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary (81% similar), Environmental Science Teachers (80% similar), Mathematical Science Teachers (80% similar) and Engineering Teachers (80% similar).
Which jobs like physics teachers pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Physicists ($172,250, +72%; usually a graduate degree), Astronomers ($128,820, +28%; usually a graduate degree) and Biochemists and Biophysicists ($127,410, +27%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with physics teachers ($100,310). Without more preparation than physics teachers usually need: Physicists, Astronomers and Biochemists and Biophysicists.
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.