Jobs for theoretical physicist outside academia

cestyx

Hello,

I would like to know what can do theoretical physicist who don't get a job in academia, after a phd in theoretical physics or after a postdoc for example.
I am thinking about people working in theoretical high energy physics, cosmology or things like that. If we compare the number of phd and of permanent positions, it seems a lot of people have to do something else. What jobs do these people find?

I read a lot of threads about finance. Now are there any opportunities outside of finance?
What about people who have not done any programming or computer work during their phd?

Thanks.

ParticleGrl

In my experience, if you didn't do any programming for your phd, you'd better learn somewhere. Most of the phds I know, including strictly pen-and-paper theorists (myself included), had to know some programming to land their current jobs.