Why choose physics?

Physics is so basic a subject that there is scarcely a single area of modern life that is not affected by physics.  Their theories explain gravitation, nuclear reactions, chemical reactions, energy transfers, light and radiation, the forms of matter, and all the processes and interactions that we witness every day.  Moreover, physics plays a major role in chemistry, biology, astronomy, geology, and in the applied fields of engineering and economics.  Physical theories are the basis of present scientific knowledge, and physicists are the scientists that develop physical theory.  Students make a major contribution to this progress.  If you want to be a part of this, physics is for you!

Salary and Employment Opportunities

But there are also compelling practical reasons for choosing physics as major.  Owing to their training, physicists excel at solving complex problems; this allows them to seek employment in a surprisingly wide range of academic and industrial settings, well beyond the boundaries of their own discipline.  In fact, the unemployment rate among physicists has been consistently below the national average, and one of the lowest among science majors. In the U. S., the unemployment rate six months after graduation for Physics degree recipients is currently a mere 3%. About half of Physics bachelor's degree recipients go on to graduate school, the other half entering the workforce; of these, 70% find employment in industry, earning an average annual salary of about $41,000.  Also, physicists rank among the highest-paid mid-career professionals among bachelor-degree holders (NSF data), and are the highest paid scientists.  Try these sources for more salary and employment data:  American Institute of Physics, UCSD (using AIP and NACE data), Physics Today, March 2000)

A degree in physics leaves one poised to enter many professions including (but are not limited to) astrophysics, biophysics, lasers, nuclear and particle physics, optics, plasma physics, solid state physics, chemistry, computer science, all fields of engineering (electrical, mechanical, computer, aerospace, nuclear, biomedical, and others), geophysics, materials science, medical physics.  In fact, physicists even find employment in fields such as business, law, medicine, and education.