What the work involves, what it pays, and grounded tasks, skills, tools, and experience you can choose from.
Also called extragalactic astronomer, galactic astronomer, optical astronomer and planetary astronomer.
$128,820
Median pay a year
2,120
People do this work
6
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An Astronomer resume, filled in
Common skills that can help you remember what you used on the job.
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
Every line 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
Measuring radiation levels, Applying math and statistics, Analyzing operational or research data, Developing scientific software, Developing physical theories, Reviewing professional literature
Tools and software
C, C++, Python, The MathWorks MATLAB, IBM SPSS Statistics, Oracle Java
Open to
On site, Remote
Education
Doctorate (PhD) Your university, Year
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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
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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
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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
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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.
What you can already claim
What you can already claim as an Astronomer
Below are the tasks an Astronomer job is made of. Choose the ones you have really done. There is no wrong answer here, and you can change any of it later.
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4 chosen. Rung never adds a task you did not choose.
You can already claim 4 of the 9 tasks this job is made of.
What you have not done yet. Applying math and statistics, Analyzing operational or research data, Developing scientific software
Your resume, already started
Astronomer
Measuring environmental characteristics
Providing technical information
Directing scientific activities
Measuring radiation levels
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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. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.