The average salary for an astronomer in the United States is around $114,590 per year.
Avg Salary
Astronomers earn an average yearly salary of $114,590.
Wages typically start from $59,420 and go up to $185,780.
84% above national average Updated in 2019
Astronomer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$89.32 per hour
$185,780 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$77.23 per hour
$160,650 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$55.09 per hour
$114,590 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$37.99 per hour
$79,010 per year
10th percentile
Starting level astronomer earnings begin at:
$28.57 per hour
$59,420 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Astronomer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $91,620 |
| New Mexico | $73,130 |
| Maryland | $127,030 |
| District of Columbia | $126,060 |
| Massachusetts | $123,110 |
| California | $117,700 |
| Hawaii | $107,950 |
| Colorado | $107,580 |
| Texas | $103,370 |
How do astronomer salaries compare to similar careers?
Astronomers earn 8% more than similar careers in the United States. On average, they make less than physicists but more than materials scientists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Physicist salary | $123K |
| Astronomer salary | $115K |
| Mathematician salary | $105K |
| Geologist salary | $92K |
| Nanotechnology engineer salary | $99K |
| Materials scientist salary | $88K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)