What Can You Do With a Degree in Physics?
There are many career paths in physics, including chemists, material scientists, chemical technicians, biochemists, and research, to name a few. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for physicists are expected to have a 14 percent increase between 2016 and 2026. Most career paths within the physics field require you to have a minimum degree of a bachelor's. You develop skills and abilities that make you very marketable in a wide variety of jobs.
Brooklyn College alumni with a degree in physics work as teacher’s aids, teachers, research assistants, software developers, and many more.
Top Employers for Brooklyn College Physics Internships and Full-Time Jobs for Alumni (Based on LinkedIn)
- Amazon
- Boeing
- Brooklyn College
- Circle Bank, Inc.
- Clark University
- Data For Good
- Edeson Environmental
- IBM
- MetroPlus Health Plan
- National Diagnostic Services
- New York City College of Technology (CUNY)
- New York City Department of Education
- New York Methodist Hospital
- Princeton University
- USPTO
- Weill Cornell School of Medicine
- WiTNY
- Xaverian High School
There is a lot of information available on LinkedIn, including profiles of more than 1,000 Brooklyn College alumni who graduated with a degree in physics. Join the Brooklyn College Alumni group and see where alumni are currently working, their skill sets, and their career progression. You can filter further based on employer, class year, etc.
Keep in mind, this list isn't inclusive of all the opportunities available to physics students. Use the Magner Career Center resources to your advantage to find opportunities that align with your interests!
Selected Alumni Profiles
Career Guides and Articles
Here are some career guides and articles that share information on career options open to physics majors:
What Is the Average Salary for Those in the Physics Field?
There are several different aspects of the physics field that affect the average salary, such as education level, industry type, experience, and location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary is $119,580 a year in May 2018. The best approach to determining possible salaries is to research them on websites like Indeed.com and Salary.com.
On-Campus Resources
There are a number of resources on campus that will help you learn more about physics career options. Attend events and keep current on the resources available to you.
Magner Career Center
The Magner Career Center has a wealth of information on everything you need to get started in your career, help with résumés, an internships database, job fairs, etc.
- They host frequent career events that may be of interest to you, which include Careers in Science: Choosing Your Ideal Major: What Can You Do With It?, etc.
- You can get matched with alumni who majored in physics at Brooklyn College to learn about their experiences, get career advice, and develop a professional relationship.
- Miriam Loyd is the liaison to the School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences and someone you can meet with for career guidance. For more information or to set up appointments, visit the center's website, call 718.951.5696, or visit 1303 James Hall.
Department of Physics Resources
- The department website has a section for students that includes information about major-related information.
- Nicolas Giovambattista, the department chair, is a contact when applying for graduate school.
Student Clubs
- Brooklyn College Engineering Club
- The National Society Of Leadership and Success
- American Medical Students Association
- Minority Association of Pre-Health Students (MAPS)
To find all clubs and the latest events, search for the names of clubs and sign in to RSVP for the events you would like to attend.
Off-Campus Resources
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society website provides detailed information on licensure requirements for those interested in going into the physics field. It is important to note that licensure requirements often vary by state, so if you are interested in living in another state you will want to see their licensing requirements. They also have a membership opportunity that provides a search engine for careers in the field, internships, etc.
Vault Guides
Review the Vault Guides to learn about careers. For example, you may want to review include Vault Guide to Non-Profit Jobs, Vault Career Guide to Curating, Vault Guide to Education or Vault Guide to Government Jobs to name a few.
Occupational Network (O*NET)
Occupational Network (O*NET) offers occupational statistics such as salaries and growth potential for all occupations. Additionally, you can search occupations by name or by your own interests, skills, abilities, etc.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Occupational Outlook Handbook gives you information on the training and education needed for the job, earning potential, expected job prospects, what you would be doing on the job, and what the working conditions are like.
Organizations
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
- American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT)
- American Astronomical Society (AAS)
- American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)
- American Modeling Teachers Association (AMTA)
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Association for Women in Science (AWIS)
- Citizen Science Association (CSA)
- Latinos in Engineering and Science (MAES)
- National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Scientists and Technical Professionals (NOGLSTP)
- National Society of Black Physicists (NSBP)
- National Society of Hispanic Physicists (NSHP)
- The Optical Society (OSA)
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
- Society of Physics Students (SPS)
Meet Up
CUNY Meetups host various events throughout the semester open to all CUNY students and alumni.
