How to earn the most money with a master in physics?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the potential career paths and earning opportunities available to individuals with a master's degree in physics. Participants explore various branches, positions, and geographical considerations related to maximizing income.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the timing of considering earning potential after completing a master's degree.
  • Another suggests that entrepreneurship, particularly in transforming lab ideas into commercial ventures, may lead to high earnings but carries significant risks.
  • Financial modeling roles, particularly on Wall Street, are mentioned as potential high-earning opportunities, though the relevance of a master's degree in securing such positions is questioned.
  • Professional physics careers such as medical physics and geophysics are noted, with the caveat that additional training may be required for medical physics roles.
  • Many physics graduates may find opportunities in engineering, IT, or commercial research and development.
  • A humorous suggestion is made about card counting in casinos as a way to earn money.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the best paths to high earnings, with no consensus on a single optimal career route for master's degree holders in physics.

Contextual Notes

Some responses indicate uncertainty about the specific qualifications sought by employers in high-earning sectors, particularly in finance.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals with a master's degree in physics considering their career options, particularly those interested in high-earning potential fields.

veni
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Hello, i just finished my study in physics with a master degree and want to know where i can earn the most money with it. In which branch, position and country should i go?
 
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Shouldn't you have considered this before you decided to get a masters?
 
Maybe you are right. But now i am where i am so i need some knowledge how to make the best out of my position.
 
wall street
 
That's an extremely broad question that I doubt anyone can satisfactorily answer.

The people with physics backgrounds who earn the most money are arguably the entrepreneurs who manage to transform an idea born in the lab into a commercial venture. Of course, they also stand to lose their shirts.

After that you're looking at financial modeling-type work... hence the "Wall Street" reply. I don't know how common MSc graduates get involved in that kind of work. My impression is that they're generally looking for the PhD theorist types who have a lot of computational physics on their CVs.

Something else to look into are the "professional physics" careers such as medical physics or geophysics. In medical physics you will certainly need more training (unless your MSc is from an accredited med phys program).

Many people with physics backgrounds will go on to work in engineering, IT or commercial research and development-type positions. You could go to the AIP website to look at their stats on what fields recent grads are getting into.
 
Learn card counting and hit the casinos. :devil:
 

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