Average Astronomers Salary in the United States
The national median salary for Astronomers is $128,820 per year. The middle 50% earn between $99,920 and $166,000, with 2,120 workers employed nationally.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, May 2025 estimates . Data covers 5 states and 2 metro areas.
Pay distribution
Here is how Astronomers pay is distributed across workers nationally. The 10th percentile typically reflects entry-level or early-career pay, the median is the midpoint, and the 90th percentile represents the top earners in the field.
- 10th
- $78,010
- 25th
- $99,920
- Median
- $128,820
- 75th
- $166,000
- 90th
- $195,190
All values are percentiles of annual wages.
Astronomers are among the highest-paid occupations tracked by BLS, well into the top decile of US wages.
The spread between entry-level and top-end pay is typical for US occupations. Experience and specialization matter, but the range is not unusually wide.
Job outlook
BLS projects employment for astronomers from 2024 to 2034. Growth is roughly in line with the US average of about 4% across all occupations.
- Projected growth
- +2.2%
- 0 net jobs over the projection period.
- Annual openings
- 100
- Includes growth plus replacements for workers who leave.
- Typical entry education
- Doctoral or professional degree
Entry into this field typically requires a doctoral or professional degree, which helps explain the high wage level and relatively narrow candidate pool.
Where Astronomers earn the most
Geographic variation is relatively low. Pay for astronomers is fairly consistent across the country, so moving for higher pay has limited upside. Right now, the top-paying state is Maryland at $132,620, about 2.9% above the national median. At the metro level, Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV leads with a median of $156,750.
Top-paying states
| State | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $132,620 | 980 |
| Arizona | $129,020 | 100 |
| Virginia | $128,930 | N/A |
| California | $123,540 | 110 |
| Hawaii | $102,000 | 100 |
Top-paying metros
| Metro area | Median salary | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,750 | 520 |
Compare two locations side by side
Pick two states or metros to see astronomers pay in each, along with a cost-of-living adjusted view.
Salary trend and related occupations
Between 2019 and 2025, the national median salary for Astronomers rose from $114,590 to $128,820, a gain of +12.4% in nominal dollars.
Over the same period, US consumer prices rose by +25.9%. Just to keep pace with inflation, the 2019 median of $114,590 would need to be worth $144,301 in 2025 dollars.
The actual 2025 median of $128,820 is −$15,481 below that inflation-adjusted benchmark, a real change of -10.7% in purchasing power.
Adjusted for inflation, pay has lost ground. Nominal growth of 12.4% has not kept up with rising prices.
- Nominal change
- +12.4%
- 2019–2025
- Cumulative inflation
- +25.9%
- US CPI, 2019–2025
- Real change
- -10.7%
- After adjusting for inflation
Median salary over time
Astronomers median pay by year, going back through the available BLS releases.
- 2025
- $128,820
- 2024
- $132,170
- 2023
- $127,930
- 2022
- $128,330
- 2021
- $128,160
- 2020
- $119,730
- 2019
- $114,590
BLS did not publish a median for 2000–2018, so those years are omitted.
Related occupations
Other occupations in the same field, with median pay for comparison.
- Physical Scientists, All Other
- $122,570
- Materials Scientists
- $117,790
- Atmospheric And Space Scientists
- $99,070
- Hydrologists
- $96,600
- Chemists
- $91,240
- Physicists
- $172,250
Common salary questions for Astronomers
What does the median salary mean? +
The median is the midpoint of all wages. Half of Astronomers workers earn more and half earn less. It is a better measure of typical pay than the average, which can be skewed by very high or very low earners.
Why does pay vary so much by location? +
Local labor markets, cost of living, industry concentration, and employer competition all affect wages. High-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often pay more in nominal terms, though some of that premium is offset by higher living costs.
How current is this salary data? +
This page uses the May 2025 BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics release. BLS publishes OEWS data once per year, typically in the spring for the previous May reference period.
What do the percentile ranges tell me? +
The 10th and 90th percentiles show the full pay band. The 25th to 75th percentile range, the middle 50%, is where most workers fall. A wide spread usually means experience, specialization, or location matter a lot for this occupation.