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What is an experimental physicist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
3 min read
Quoted expert
Gustav Borstad Ph.D.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an experimental physicist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $31.15 an hour? That's $64,791 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 8% and produce 2,000 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to an experimental physicist?

Gustav Borstad Ph.D.Gustav Borstad Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Assistant Professor of Teaching | Coordinator, Website

I apologize for the delay; I am not sure if this is what you are looking for. As it turns out, physics ends up being a highly individualized field of study, so it was difficult to address a typical case.
ScoreExperimental PhysicistUS Average
Salary
5.1

Avg. Salary $64,791

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.5

Growth rate 8%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.6
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.66%

Asian 7.90%

Black or African American 0.83%

Hispanic or Latino 6.65%

Unknown 3.33%

White 80.64%

Gender

female 0.00%

male 100.00%

Age - 47.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47.5
Stress level
4.5

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.8

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become an experimental physicist

  1. Explore experimental physicist education requirements

    Most common experimental physicist degrees

    Bachelor's

    58.3 %

    Doctorate

    16.7 %

    Master's

    16.7 %
  2. Start to develop specific experimental physicist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Image Analysis91.00%
    LabVIEW9.00%
  3. Complete relevant experimental physicist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New experimental physicists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an experimental physicist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real experimental physicist resumes.
  4. Research experimental physicist duties and responsibilities

    • Conduct simulation and modeling using ALEGRA-MHD and CTH computational codes to study non-ideal plasma and penetration.
    • Produce detailed solid models of components and systems that are used for both parametric analysis (FEA).
    • Hire as part of a team of physicists and engineers testing specific theories relating to IEC fusion energy.
    • Specialize in performing and evaluating radiation shielding calculations for radiation oncology facilities under the guidance of a qualify health physicist.
  5. Apply for experimental physicist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for an experimental physicist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first experimental physicist job

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Average experimental physicist salary

The average experimental physicist salary in the United States is $64,791 per year or $31 per hour. Experimental physicist salaries range between $29,000 and $142,000 per year.

Average experimental physicist salary
$64,791 Yearly
$31.15 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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