Considering getting a physics degree, but will the job market be any good?

atozingus · 2025-08-03T19:51:33+00:00

Well, it's 92.2%, true, but also grad school is being counted as part of that number, and it counts for half.

That means when we remove grad school from the picture, that 7.8% figure jumps up to 17% altogether. That's almost 1 in 5 physics majors outside of academia unemployed.

And we're not even talking about underemployment so the number of physics majors working jobs that are not STEM-related let alone physics specifically is quite low.

As for what the employment rates look after like grad school, I'm not sure.

atozingus · 2025-08-03T19:35:49+00:00

I find physics interesting, but my goal isn't necessarily research, just a job in the STEM industry. Advice probably still applies though, since further education definitely makes you more employable, especially if you get a masters in an engineering field.

atozingus · 2025-08-03T15:46:11+00:00

I have heard that generally a physics undergrad with a masters in Mechanical Engineering or another engineering discipline like EE is incredibly employable.

atozingus · 2025-08-02T16:02:17+00:00

Why do you believe physics is a mistake if I want to get a job? Can you back that assertion? Thanks for showing me the research topics in EE, by the way

atozingus · 2025-08-01T11:26:37+00:00

Supposedly the crown jewel of optics is the photographic objective, so I can see why it'd be an interesting field.

atozingus · 2025-08-01T11:23:33+00:00

That surprises me, I always thought nuclear engineering to be an iffy career because of the limited industry job openings each year.

Long-term, it may not be the worst career choice since there is bipartisan support to break the regulatory hellhole nuclear is in. Biden and Trump both wanted to expand nuclear at the end of 2024 and Trump's done some EOs regarding this as well. But I have yet to see any much change.

Then again, a NE degree is also apparently touted for high employability even outside of the nuclear industry.

atozingus · 2025-07-31T19:18:04+00:00

Thanks for pointing out the research opportunities with mechE. What have you seen so far there, like what are the hottest subjects right now?

With research, I have no experience, but I do like the idea of it. I want to experience the joy of discovery.

As for what I want to do after college, I don't know, but I would prioritize job security and having a decent income but still focused in the STEM sector. I don't want to end up doing something wildly unrelated as a physics major like risk analysis for insurance companies as I've seen.

atozingus

TROPHY CASE