Earning potential for physics graduates varies significantly by industry, position, and location. High earners often emerge as entrepreneurs who successfully commercialize lab-based ideas, though this path carries substantial risk. Financial modeling roles, particularly on Wall Street, are also lucrative but may favor PhD candidates with extensive computational physics experience. Other promising fields include medical physics and geophysics, though additional training may be required for medical physics roles. Many physics graduates find opportunities in engineering, IT, or research and development. Resources like the AIP website can provide insights into employment trends for recent graduates.
