Physicists
Median $172,250
Occupation · SOC 19-2011
Astronomers: pay and where the jobs are
What astronomers earn in the U.S., how pay varies across workers and states, and tools to plan around it.
National pay, May 2025
$128,820 median annual wage
- Mean (average) annual wage
- $132,920
- Median hourly wage
- $61.94
- Mean hourly wage
- $63.91
- Employment
- 2,120
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 19-2011.
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See where your pay falls among astronomers nationally and in your state. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
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Use these numbers
How much do astronomers make?
The median annual wage for astronomers was $128,820 in May 2025, so half of workers earned more and half earned less. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $78,010 and the highest-paid 10% more than $195,190. As an hourly rate, the median is $61.94. About 2,120 people work in this occupation nationwide. The highest state medians are in Maryland ($132,620), Arizona ($129,020) and Virginia ($128,930). After taxes and local prices, though, a median paycheck goes furthest in Arizona.
Pay ladder
What each step of the pay range for astronomers looks like per month. Take-home here includes federal tax, Social Security and Medicare for a single filer; add your state in the paycheck calculator.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Monthly gross | Monthly after federal tax & FICA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $78,010 | $37.50 | $6,501 | $5,309 |
| 25th percentile | $99,920 | $48.04 | $8,327 | $6,594 |
| Median | $128,820 | $61.94 | $10,735 | $8,276 |
| 75th percentile | $166,000 | $79.81 | $13,833 | $10,394 |
| 90th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 | $16,266 | $12,057 |
Astronomers: pay by state
5 states and territories have a published median, sorted from highest to lowest. The last two columns are our estimates: the median after 2026 federal and state taxes, and that take-home restated in national-average prices.
1
$95,970 take-home in national prices
2
$91,777 take-home in national prices
3
$91,259 take-home in national prices
Where a median astronomer paycheck goes furthest after 2026 taxes and BEA price levels.
| State | Employment | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Median after tax* | In national prices† |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 980 | $132,620 | $83,200 | $214,450 | $95,785 | $91,259 |
| Arizona | 100 | $129,020 | $75,600 | $177,020 | $96,619 | $95,970 |
| Virginia | Not published | $128,930 | $94,710 | $175,560 | $92,790 | $91,777 |
| California | 110 | $123,540 | $76,020 | $195,190 | $86,855 | $78,446 |
| Hawaii | 100 | $102,000 | $71,590 | $139,720 | $74,249 | $67,529 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (released 2026-05-15), SOC 19-2011. *Our estimate for a single filer paid biweekly with no pre-tax deductions or local tax, 2026 federal and state rules. †Take-home ÷ BEA Regional Price Parity × 100 (2024 price levels).
Sources
- OEWS May 2025 (oesm25nat.zip) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-09.
- OEWS May 2025 (oesm25st.zip) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed 2026-10-09.