Careers & Outcomes
Career Outlook
A master’s degree in physics is a versatile degree that can take you in many career directions.
With their strong technical and analytical skills, graduates with a master’s degree in physics find work in the tech industry, engaged in R&D in the private or public sector and doing scientific and engineering work in a wide range of fields. Some provide technical expertise to law firms, biomedical labs, software companies, and government agencies or military services. Others teach physics or other STEM subjects at the high school or college level.
For select statistics about careers for physicists with master's degrees, see:
- American Institute of Physics Data on Graduate Education
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for Physicists and Astronomers
Growing Demand for Physicists
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*Net predict faster-than-average job growth for physicists in Washington state and average job growth in the U.S. in the coming decade.
| Job Title | Projected U.S. Growth (2024-34) | Projected Growth in Washington (2022–32) |
|---|---|---|
| Physicists | 4% | 31% |
Strong Earning Potential
Below are average U.S. and Washington state salaries for physicists, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET.
| Job Title | U.S. Average Salary (2024) | Washington Average Salary (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Physicists | $166,290 | $120,080 |
Alumni Success
The Master of Science in Physics prepares students for a wide range of careers in industry, research and academics.
Alumni Job Titles
Our alumni are prepared for a variety of different roles, including:
- Physicist
- Research engineer
- Principle engineer
- Design engineer
- Science & math teacher
- Physics teacher
- Data scientist
Alumni Employers
Our alumni work at a variety of companies and organizations in Seattle and around the world, including:
Industry
- Boeing Commercial Aircraft
- Boeing Research & Technology
- DNV
- F5
- Microsoft
- Novanta (Formerly Synrad)
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Philips
- Spaceflight Industries
- Williamson & Associates (geophysical consulting)
Education
- Bellevue College
- Charles Wright Academy
- Everett Community College
- Raisbeck Aviation High School
Alumni Success Stories
Read interviews with some of our program alumni to learn about the range of career opportunities available in physics and related fields.