How to Become a Physicist

Meeting the Educational Requirements

Get good grades in all your subjects in high school. Getting good grades in all your subjects in high school, not just physics and math, will help you get into the best colleges. Be sure to take AP courses such as AP Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science. Make sure you attend all of your classes and turn in all of your homework. Good attendance and making sure you turn in all of your homework will help you get better grades. If you’re struggling with any of your subjects, ask your teacher for extra help.

Earn a bachelor’s degree in physics. If you’re sure that you want to be a physicist, major in physics as an undergraduate, and focus on your studies to maintain a high GPA in both your physics major and in all your college courses. Students usually have to declare their majors in their sophomore (second) year of college. Having a high GPA, not only in just your physics major but in all your classes, makes you a stronger candidate when either applying for graduate schools or going directly into the workforce after college.

Consider getting a master’s degree in physics. While nearly 50% of physics majors go directly into the workforce after getting a bachelor’s degree, often the best and highest paying career options in physics require a graduate degree. While you sometimes might be able to teach physics at the high school level with just a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree is necessary to teach at the junior college level. Some high schools even require a master’s degree to teach physics at their schools. In addition to greater work opportunities in the educational sector, those with master’s degrees in physics have more career opportunities open to them in the private sector and government as well.

Get a PhD in physics to obtain the most prestigious positions. A PhD is required for those who want to be a physics professor at a 4-year college or university or for those who wish to obtain the most illustrious physics research positions. While there are job opportunities in both the government and private sectors for physicists with bachelor’s degrees and master’s degrees, the most respected and well-paying physics research positions in the government or private sectors often require a PhD. It's often free to obtain a PhD in physics for graduate students who teach or do research. In addition to free tuition, graduate students in physics who teach or do research also receive a modest stipend of around $12,000 per year or more to cover their living expenses.

Developing the Necessary Skills

Conduct research in physics. Having research experience in your field helps improve the skills necessary to becoming a successful physicist and makes you a more attractive candidate when either applying for graduate schools or going directly into the workforce after college. To obtain research experience, ask your physics professors if they have any research projects on which you can assist them. Contact physicists who work in private industry or in the government and ask them if you can volunteer to help them with any projects they’re working on. Also consider applying for the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program. More information about applying can be found at https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5517&from=fund.

Develop strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Your analytical and problem-solving skills will be developed in both your physics coursework and in your physics research, but seek out other opportunities to further develop these important skills whenever you can. Take other science classes besides just physics. Exposing yourself to other sciences will open your mind to new ways of analyzing and solving problems. If your college has a Physics Club, join it. There, you'll enjoy the benefits of expanding your analytical and problem-solving skills outside the classroom, while also socializing with others who are interested in physics, too.

Hone your communications skills. While you’ll be taking many physics, math, and science courses in college, also take classes and explore other opportunities that will improve your speaking, writing, and interpersonal skills. As a physicist, not only do you need strong science and math skills, but you also need solid speaking and writing skills in order to teach physics to others, present your research at conferences, and publish your research in scientific journals. Some classes that you might want to consider taking include English literature, business management, oral communication, and scientific writing.

Finding a Job and Working as a Physicist

Search for open positions in physics. Search general job sites like Indeed, Monster, and LinkedIn as well as physics-specific sites like https://jobs.physicstoday.org/ to find positions that interest you and that you are qualified for. To find job openings for physicists in the federal government, visit https://www.usajobs.gov/. Sometimes physics conferences also sponsor job fairs that can connect physics job seekers and hiring managers on the spot. Check out https://www.aps.org/careers/employment/jobfairs/index.cfm for the latest physics job fair information.

Apply for physics jobs in the private sector, government, or academia. Jobs in physics are typically in one of these three areas. And on any given day, you can find physicists in these sectors working on exciting projects involving robotics, climate forecasting, space exploration, inventing new medical instruments and treatments, and exploring novel ways to generate power. Physics jobs in the private sector consist of industrial jobs in private labs. Private sector industrial jobs often consist of physics research on lasers, semiconductors, and computers. Physicists who go into government jobs often find themselves working in a national laboratory, and they're either research scientists or technicians/engineers for a variety of projects having national interest. Academic jobs consist of teaching and/or research at the high school, college, or university level. If you enjoy teaching physics, you should consider a career in academia, but be aware that jobs at the college and university level are very scarce and difficult to obtain. There are many more job openings for teaching physics at the high school level.

Continue your professional development. Scientific knowledge is always changing, so as a physicist, it’s important to stay up to date on the latest news and trends in physics. Join a professional association to help keep your knowledge and skills fresh. Some professional associations that you may want to consider becoming involved in, depending on your specific interests, include the American Physical Society (APS), the American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPS), and the American Institute of Physics (AIP). Professional associations provide you with access to key publications in physics and opportunities to network with other physicists.