Astronomer demographics and statistics in the US
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Astronomer demographics by:
Astronomer gender statistics
27.3% of astronomers are women and 72.7% of astronomers are men.
- Male, 72.7%
- Female, 27.3%
Astronomer gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 72.7% |
| Female | 27.3% |
Astronomer gender pay gap
Women earn 93¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$48,809
Female income
$45,272
Astronomer gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in astronomer positions over time. Currently, 27.3% of astronomers are female.
Astronomer gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.77% | 26.23% |
| 2011 | 77.97% | 22.03% |
| 2012 | 70.51% | 29.49% |
| 2013 | 65.31% | 34.69% |
| 2014 | 74.38% | 25.62% |
| 2015 | 83.67% | 16.33% |
| 2016 | 72.24% | 27.76% |
| 2017 | 73.04% | 26.96% |
| 2018 | 65.31% | 34.69% |
| 2019 | 80.43% | 19.57% |
| 2020 | 69.04% | 30.96% |
| 2021 | 72.73% | 27.27% |
Astronomer related jobs gender ratio
We compared astronomers with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, seismologist and optical scientist have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Aerologist | 11% | 89% |
| Senior Advocate | 33% | 67% |
| Astronomer | 73% | 27% |
| Remote Sensing Engineer | 91% | 9% |
| Optical Scientist | 91% | 9% |
| Seismologist | 94% | 6% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Astronomer demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among astronomers is White, which makes up 80.6% of all astronomers. Comparatively, 7.9% of astronomers are Asian and 6.7% of astronomers are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 80.6%
- Asian, 7.9%
- Hispanic or Latino, 6.7%
- Unknown, 3.3%
- Black or African American, 0.8%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
Astronomer race
| Astronomer race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 80.6% |
| Asian | 7.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 6.7% |
| Unknown | 3.3% |
| Black or African American | 0.8% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.7% |
Astronomer race and ethnicity over time
See how astronomer racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Astronomer race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 83.75% | 1.88% | 9.38% | 3.13% |
| 2011 | 72.12% | 4.76% | 15.65% | 4.08% |
| 2012 | 82.31% | 1.42% | 9.93% | 3.55% |
| 2013 | 76.86% | 2.90% | 15.23% | 2.90% |
| 2014 | 80.60% | 4.48% | 9.70% | 3.73% |
| 2015 | 79.51% | 1.64% | 9.84% | 4.92% |
| 2016 | 79.34% | 0.65% | 15.48% | 2.58% |
| 2017 | 81.68% | 3.68% | 8.83% | 4.42% |
| 2018 | 82.90% | 3.57% | 7.86% | 3.57% |
| 2019 | 85.14% | 1.35% | 8.56% | 3.60% |
| 2020 | 77.48% | 0.95% | 9.98% | 5.23% |
| 2021 | 80.64% | 0.83% | 7.90% | 6.65% |
Astronomer wage gap by race
According to our data, asian astronomers have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black or african american astronomers have the lowest average salary at $45,197.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $49,762 |
| White | $50,627 |
| Black or African American | $45,197 |
| Asian | $50,690 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $47,994 |
Astronomer age breakdown
The average age of astronomers is 40+ years years old, representing 68% of the astronomer population.
Astronomer age breakdown
| Astronomer Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 68% |
| 30-40 years | 28% |
| 20-30 years | 4% |
Astronomer educational attainment
The most common degree for astronomers is bachelor's degree, with 57% of astronomers earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 18% and master's degree degree at 18%.
- Bachelor's, 57%
- Master's, 18%
- Doctorate, 18%
- Diploma, 4%
- Other Degrees, 3%
Astronomers by degree level
| Astronomer degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 57% |
| Master's | 18% |
| Doctorate | 18% |
| Diploma | 4% |
| Other Degrees | 3% |
Astronomer jobs you might like
Astronomer wage gap by degree level
According to the data, astronomers with a Doctorate degree earn more than those without, at $68,736 annually. With a Master's degree, astronomers earn a median annual income of $54,969 compared to $43,562 for astronomers with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $54,969 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $43,562 |
| Doctorate Degree | $68,736 |
Astronomer employment statistics
Company size where astronomers work
Below, you can see the size of companies where astronomers work.
Astronomer jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 4% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 4% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 22% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 9% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 30% |
| > 10,000 employees | 30% |
Astronomer turnover and employment statistics
Astronomer unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for astronomers between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Astronomer unemployment rate by year
| Year | Astronomer unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 0.75% |
| 2011 | 3.97% |
| 2012 | 4.03% |
| 2013 | 1.65% |
| 2014 | 2.56% |
| 2015 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | 1.54% |
| 2017 | 0.85% |
| 2018 | 1.75% |
| 2019 | 0.57% |
| 2020 | 2.81% |
| 2021 | 0.52% |
Average astronomer tenure
The average astronomer stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 35 astronomers resumes in Zippia's database.
Astronomer tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 18% |
| 1-2 years | 18% |
| 3-4 years | 29% |
| 5-7 years | 12% |
| 8-10 years | 9% |
| 11+ years | 15% |
Astronomer LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of astronomers that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Groundwater Engineer | 4.45% | 7,615 |
| Chemist Assistant | 5.26% | 6,144 |
| Weather Algorithm Scientist | 8.32% | 41,471 |
| Environmental Change Analyst | 15.61% | 18,412 |
| Astronomer | 24.12% | - |
Similar astronomer jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Assistant Groundwater Engineer | 4.45% | 7,615 |
| Chemist Assistant | 5.26% | 6,144 |
| Weather Algorithm Scientist | 8.32% | 41,471 |
| Environmental Change Analyst | 15.61% | 18,412 |
Foreign languages spoken by astronomers
The most common foreign language among astronomers is Spanish at 33.3%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Russian at 16.7% and Polish is the third-most popular at 16.7%.
- Spanish, 33.3%
- Russian, 16.7%
- Polish, 16.7%
- Finnish, 16.7%
- Ukrainian, 16.7%
Astronomer languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 33.3% |
| Russian | 16.7% |
| Polish | 16.7% |
| Finnish | 16.7% |
| Ukrainian | 16.7% |