Optical Scientist Career

*A job as an Optical Scientist falls under the broader career category of Physicists. The information on this page will generally apply to all careers in this category but may not specifically apply to this career title.

Job Description for Physicists : Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.


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Physicist Career

Salary Info

Median Annual Wage

$166,000

Median Hourly Wage

$79.81*

Total Employed Nationally

21,340


Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2025 wage data and 2024-2034 employment projections. "Projected growth" represents the estimated change in total employment over the projections period (2024-2034). "Projected job openings" represent openings due to growth and replacement.