Tracking Money for Physics Grads: Choosing Grad School

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Tracking financial trends for physics graduates is crucial for informed grad school decisions. Key areas of interest include Bose-Einstein Condensates, Optics, and Particle Physics. Optics stands out due to its lucrative starting salaries, with some PhD graduates earning around $90,000. The University of Rochester is noted for having the oldest Optics program in the U.S., which may provide a competitive edge. Additionally, fields like solid-state physics and photonics are highlighted for their broad applications and strong funding opportunities, making them attractive options for future studies.
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Given that I already know where my interests and talents lie, how do I track where the money is going for physics grads as far as the branch of study. This will be a determining factor in my choice of grad school.

My interests lie in Bose-Einstein Condensates (mostly their interaction with light), Optics, and Particle physics.
 
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Why don't you major in Optics? I saw one study where Optics PhD make 90k starting salaries. University of Rochester has the oldest program in Optics in the US.
 
solid state physics and photonics seems to be a field with many applications and funding.
 

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