A Few Questions - Thinking about going into physics

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around career prospects for students considering a future in physics or engineering, particularly focusing on job opportunities, salary expectations, and the feasibility of transitioning from a physics undergraduate degree to a graduate program in engineering. The scope includes theoretical considerations, practical job market insights, and personal experiences related to academic paths in STEM fields.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express concern about the job market for physics PhDs, questioning whether it is saturated or open.
  • There are inquiries about potential earnings for physics PhDs and engineers, with no definitive figures provided.
  • One participant confirms that it is possible to transition from an undergraduate physics major to graduate school in engineering.
  • Questions arise regarding the availability of jobs for PhD engineers, with a participant seeking clarification on what types of jobs are being compared.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of location in determining job opportunities and salary, suggesting that statistics may vary significantly based on geographic context.
  • A participant shares their personal experience of considering both physics and engineering, expressing uncertainty about the best academic path to take.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the job market conditions for physics and engineering graduates, with multiple competing views and uncertainties expressed regarding job availability and salary expectations.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the lack of specific data on job markets in different regions, the variability of employment opportunities based on personal circumstances, and the absence of concrete salary figures. The discussion also reflects differing personal experiences and aspirations related to academic and career choices.

Who May Find This Useful

High school seniors or undergraduates considering a major in physics or engineering, as well as those interested in understanding the job market and career paths associated with these fields.

Solace
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Hey! I'm a high school senior about to graduate and I'm trying to decide what to do with my future.

I really love physics. What kind of job could I get with a Phd in physics? Is the job market saturated or is it open? How much could I expect to earn?

If I majored in undergrad physics could I go to grad school for engineering? Are there more jobs available for Phd engineers? How much could I expect to earn?

Thanks!
 
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We get so many of these questions that I'm going to make a FAQ thread for this forum. In the mean time, please look at this statistics collection from the AIP that should answer almost all, if not all, of your question.

http://www.aip.org/statistics/

Please note, and this is not just for the OP, that your employment chances, how much you can make, and what is open to you depends very much on where you are. So if you intend to post questions such as this, you should also clearly state where you are located. It is of little use if someone points to you the statistics at the AIP webpage while you're somewhere in Africa, for instance.

Zz.
 
Solace said:
If I majored in undergrad physics could I go to grad school for engineering?

Yes.

Are there more jobs available for Phd engineers?

What kind of jobs, and more than what?
 
ZapperZ said:
Please note, and this is not just for the OP, that your employment chances, how much you can make, and what is open to you depends very much on where you are. So if you intend to post questions such as this, you should also clearly state where you are located. It is of little use if someone points to you the statistics at the AIP webpage while you're somewhere in Africa, for instance.

Zz.

I am in a similar situation as the OP. I am entering college as a physics major next year at the Univ. of California, Riverside (UCR). I have always aimed for a physics PhD, but now I'm starting to open up to engineering a bit too. I'd like to stay in Southern California, and I know there is an abundance of engineering opportunities but I'm not as sure about what I'll be able to find in physics outside of university jobs. (I've considered doing both physics(solid state) and EE, but I'm not sure that would be a good use of time to double major when I could use that extra time in research, so I'll stick with only physics for now).
 

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