What the work involves, what it pays, and real lines you can start from. Answer a few small questions and leave with a resume.
Also called extragalactic astronomer, galactic astronomer, optical astronomer and planetary astronomer.
$128,820
Median pay a year
2,120
People do this work
6
Resume lines ready for you
Pay and headcount are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lines are written from what the US Department of Labor records about this work.
An example
A Astronomer resume, filled in
Every line below comes from the same public record as the rest of this page. The greyed parts are the ones only you can answer.
Astronomer
Summary
Astronomer observing and researching celestial phenomena using ground-based and space-borne telescopes, analyzing data, presenting findings, and mentoring students in astronomical research projects
Experience
Astronomer
Where you worked
Month Year to Month Year
Analyzed research data to determine its significance, using computers
Presented research findings at scientific conferences and in papers for scientific journals
Studied celestial phenomena, using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes and scientific instruments
Collaborated with other astronomers to carry out research projects
Mentored graduate students and junior colleagues in astronomical research
Supervised students' research on celestial and astronomical phenomena
Skills
Core Skills
Measuring environmental characteristics, Providing technical information, Measuring radiation levels, Applying math and statistics, Analyzing operational or research data, Developing scientific software, Developing physical theories, Preparing scientific reports, The MathWorks MATLAB, IBM SPSS Statistics, Directing scientific activities, Reviewing professional literature
Tools and software
C, C++, Python, Oracle Java
Open to
On site, Remote
Education
Doctorate (PhD) Your university, Year
Yours will not say this. It will say what you did, in your own words, and Rung writes it with you one question at a time.
Nothing to write from scratch
What to put on an Astronomer resume
Real duties for this job, already written the way a resume reads. Inside Rung you choose the ones that were yours.
What did you do each day?
Choose what fits, or say your own.
Analyzed research data for significancePresented research findings at conferencesStudied celestial phenomena with telescopesCollaborated with astronomers on research projectsMentored graduate students and junior colleaguesSupervised students' research on astronomy
becomes
On your resume
Analyzed research data to determine significance, contributing to a deeper understanding of celestial phenomena
Studied celestial phenomena using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes, enhancing observational techniques
These are written the way a resume line reads. Rung asks which ones are actually yours, keeps your own words, and never claims work you did not do.
Then it asks for one more thing
The line that could show more, and the fact that lands it.
Make it stronger
A few lines could show more. Each one is asked, and answered by choosing.
Show what insights or discoveries came from your analysis
The line
Analyzed research data to reveal new patterns in star formation, enhancing understanding of celestial phenomena
Show what insights or discoveries came from your analysis
Pick one that fits
Revealed new patterns in star formationIdentified anomalies in cosmic background radiationContributed to a major discovery in dark matter
Or add your own.
In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
Added to your resume
Mention what improvements came from your enhanced techniques
The line
Studied celestial phenomena using a variety of ground-based and space-borne telescopes, enhancing observational techniques
Mention what improvements came from your enhanced techniques
Pick one that fits
Increased accuracy of celestial measurementsImproved data collection efficiencyStreamlined the observation process
Or add your own.
In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
Added to your resume
Every ready answer is in plain words, never a figure. Nothing is invented to fill a gap.
What it is made of
Skills for an Astronomer resume
What this work is made of. Rung offers these and keeps the ones you claim.
What are you good at?
Measuring environmental characteristics
Providing technical information
Directing scientific activities
Measuring radiation levels
Applying math and statistics
Analyzing operational or research data
Developing scientific software
Developing physical theories
Reviewing professional literature
Preparing scientific reports
Preparing proposals or applications
Supporting others' development
The work itself
What an Astronomer does
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.
What it pays
How much does an Astronomer make?
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
25th percentile
$99,920
Median
$128,820
75th percentile
$166,000
About 2,120 people do this work in the United States.
What it pays in each state
State
25th percentile
Median
75th percentile
AZ
$98,430
$129,020
$163,020
CA
$76,020
$123,540
$182,780
HI
$78,090
$102,000
$122,490
MD
$102,910
$132,620
$175,720
VA
$110,170
$128,930
$150,160
Other names
Other names for this job
extragalactic astronomer, galactic astronomer, optical astronomer, planetary astronomer, radio astronomer, solar astronomer, stellar astronomer, theoretical astronomer, astronomy outreach coordinator, astrophysicist, cosmologist, high energy astrophysicist.
More names for this work
institute scientist, postdoc associate, postdoc research associate, postdoc scholar, postdoc scientist, postdoctoral associate, postdoctoral research associate, postdoctoral scholar, postdoctoral scientist, research astrophysicist.
Free resume help
Start with this job
Answer a few small questions and leave with a resume. Your answers stay on your own device.
A truly free resume that is yours to keep
You leave with a PDF and a Word file, and a cover letter if you want one.
Nothing to pay when you download, no account, and the resume saves to your own device.
Every question can be read aloud, and answered out loud.
Nothing to write from scratch: the lines are ready, and you choose the ones that were yours.
This page is about the occupation Astronomers. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. Rung is an independent service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by either agency. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.