How much does an astronomer make?
Typical yearly pay for astronomers in the United States.
median pay per year, about $10,735 a month or $61.93 an hour.
That's more than 84% of the 100 jobs in our salary guide, ranking #17 of 100.
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| Veterinarian | $130,100 |
| Actuary | $130,000 |
| Cybersecurity analyst | $129,180 |
| Astronomer | $128,820 |
| Hospital administrator | $123,860 |
| Nuclear reactor operator | $122,890 |
| Elevator mechanic | $109,910 |
Similar jobs
- Meteorologist$99,070
- Zoologist$76,780
How much does an astronomer make per hour?
About $61.93 an hour, if you spread the median yearly pay over a standard 40-hour week, 52 weeks a year. Actual hourly pay varies with overtime, shift work and location.
Becoming an astronomer
The U.S. Department of Labor's career profile covers the training, licenses and day-to-day tasks for this job.
About this number
This is the national median wage for the occupation “Astronomers” (code 19-2011.00) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025 release, as published on O*NET OnLine. The median is the middle value: half of workers earn more, half earn less.