1. Employment and Career Paths
Rachel Ivie

2. Physics Bachelors One year after Degree
Recipients of bachelor’s degrees in physics typically either enter the work force or enroll in graduate school. For the classes of 2015 and 2016 combined. About half of physics bachelors entered graduate school, with the majority pursuing advanced degrees in physics or astronomy. Just under half of physics bachelors entered the workforce. Overall unemployment rate in the US in 2015 was about 5%.
About 80% of Physics BS earners will not get a PhD in physics
One third enters into graduate school in physics and astronomy - with 80% in a PhD program
Remainder enters graduate school in other fields… lets further explore graduate school
Classes of 2015 & 2016 Combined

3. field of Graduate Study for Physics Bachelors One year after Degree
Half of physics bachelors from the classes of 2015 and 2016 decided to continue on to graduate school following receipt of their degrees. About three-fifths of physics bachelors in graduate school were continuing their studies in physics or astronomy. The remaining two-fifths enrolled in graduate school were split among other fields of study, with half enrolled in graduate school studying engineering. The vast majority of those enrolled in graduate school were studying in a STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) field.
Classes of 2015 & 2016 Combined

4. Primary Types of Financial Support for Master’s degrees
Physics Bachelors enrolled in graduate school seeking master’s degrees, classes of 2015 & 2016 combined

5. Primary Types of Financial Support for PHDs
Physics Bachelors enrolled in graduate school seeking PhDs, classes of 2015 & 2016 combined

6. FINDING A PHYSICS GRAD SCHOOL

7. INITIAL EMPOYMENT SECTORS OF PHYSICS BACHELORS
Classes of 2015 and 2016 combined

8. Knowledge and Skills Used by Physics Bachelors in the Private Sector
Percentages represent the physics bachelors who choose "daily", "weekly", or
"monthly" on a four point scale that also included"never or rarely".
Classes of 2015 and 2016 combined

9. FIELD OF EMPLOYMENT FOR PHYSICS BACHELORS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Regularly solving technical problems refers to respondents who selected "Daily", "Weekly", or "Monthly" on a four-point scale that also included "Rarely or Never".
Classes of 2015 and 2016 combined

10. Starting Salaries for Physics Bachelors
Typical starting salary of a physics bachelor degree has increased nearly 10,000 since 2003
Starting salaries for physics MS is more than BS usually $10K higher than STEM jobs and $20K higher than non STEM jobs
Private sector STEM median was 51
Classes of 2015 and 2016 combined

11. TYPICAL STEM SALARIES, 2015
Physics bachelor’s ranks higher in starting salary than many other STEM fields

16. Take Aways
Earning a STEM degree opens the door to a plethora of job opportunities
Faculty positions are NOT the most typical career path
Industry is the largest employment base of physics PhDs, …and Masters, …and Bachelors
Industry typically has higher initial and mid career salaries
Research opportunities exist in industry with a chance to collaborate with lots of smart people
Often recruited for your skills, not for the name of your major
Be prepared and proactive; Network and apply!

17. Thanks to my colleagues Patrick Mulvey, Laura Merner and Roman Czujko

18. Years of physics graduate study to earn a physics PhD

19. Cit is 8% in 2016

20. Under-represented minorities earning Bachelor's degrees in physics

21. Under-represented minorities earning Bachelor's degrees in physics
Physics specific trends