DETAILED OCCUPATION DATA

Observe, research, and interpret astronomical phenomena to increase basic knowledge or apply such information to practical problems.

Occupational Employment Statistics(OES) Wage Data
Wages Updated to First Quarter, 2020

					Percentiles
Geography	Employment	Emp SE*	Mean	Mean SE*	10th	25th	Median	75th	90th
Minnesota	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
U S	2,070	230	$59.40/hr	$2.02/hr	$28.87/hr	$38.38/hr	$55.66/hr	$78.03/hr	$90.24/hr
*SE = Standard error, a measure of the statistical reliability of the estimate.

Related Occupations

Occupation (click title for details)	OES		Projections
	Employment	Median Wage	% Change 2022 - 2032
Mechanical Engineers	600	$36.71/hr	17.8%
Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians	190	$27.03/hr	3.7%
Architectural and Civil Drafters	130	$27.73/hr	7.9%
Surveyors	70	$33.13/hr	14.5%
Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians	N/A	N/A	N/A
Physicists	N/A	N/A	N/A
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	N/A	N/A	N/A
Hydrologists	N/A	N/A	N/A

• Studies celestial phenomena from ground or above atmosphere, using various optical devices, such as telescopes situated on ground or attached to satellites.
• Studies history, structure, extent, and evolution of stars, stellar systems, and universe.
• Calculates orbits and determines sizes, shapes, brightness, and motions of different celestial bodies.
• Develops mathematical tables giving positions of sun, moon, planets, and stars at given times for use by air and sea navigators.
• Designs optical, mechanical and electronic instruments for astronomical research.
• Analyzes wave lengths of radiation from celestial bodies, as observed in all ranges of spectrum.
• Determines exact time by celestial observations and conducts research into relationships between time and space.
• Computes positions of sun, moon, planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies.