Job Prospects for Theoretical Condensed Matter

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bjnartowt
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Hi, I was wondering if the job-market for a theoretical condensed matter physicist is any better than the other branches of theoretical physics (e.g., particle and astro-physics). At first glance: it seems so, given how applied a branch of physics it is.
 
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Do you mean in academia or in industry?
There are certainly relatively speaking a large numbers of positions available in condensed matter and related fields in academia simply because condensed matter is by far the biggest field in physics. However, there are of course also more applicants. But yes, it is probably easier to find a job in condensed matter than in e.g string theory; but "easy" is a relative term.

I don't think there is a job market for theoretical physics at all in industry, simply because there is virtually no fundamental research being done in the private sector anymore. Even large companies like Intel and IBM tends to "oursource" that kind of work to universities.
A background in theoretical physics will certainly make it possible to find a job in industry, but not as a theoretical physicist...
 
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