Astronomer earnings by seniority

75th percentile

Senior-level astronomer earnings begin at:

$80.04 per hour

$166,490 per year

50th percentile

Mid-level astronomer earnings begin at:

$61.61 per hour

$128,160 per year

25th percentile

Junior-level astronomer earnings begin at:

$46.23 per hour

$96,160 per year

10th percentile

Starting level astronomer earnings begin at:

$30.14 per hour

$62,690 per year

Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.

Astronomer salary by state

State Name Average Salary
New Mexico $75,380
Hawaii $181,950
California $150,530
Maryland $134,760
Colorado $128,160
District of Columbia $126,060
Massachusetts $123,110
Texas $105,110
Arizona $103,850

How do astronomer salaries compare to similar careers?

Astronomers earn 33% more than similar careers in Colorado.

Career Median Salary
Materials scientist salary $128K
Atmospheric scientist salary $101K
Chemist salary $91K
Statistician salary $80K

Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)