Physics Theoretical Physicist: A Normal Day & Salary

[Drops of Fire]

I've recently been getting interested in physics and astronomy and have even thought about going to school and starting a career in physics. Of course, this is just consideration and I'm going to learn more about it and different jobs before I even think about taking any kind of step further. Of the physics jobs I know of, theoretical physics kind of stuck out and I was wondering what exactly would be a normal day on the job for one? How do they get paid?

 

[HallsofIvy]

Well, there are not a whole lot of companies that pay people to do theoretical physics so the great majority of theoretical physicists are professors of physics at a university or college. Some of them do relatively little or no teaching but work at a "research lab" at a university.

 

[lisab]

Here's a website by a well-known theoretical physicist on what you'll need to know to, erm, take his job

http://www.phys.uu.nl/~thooft/theorist.html