The average salary for an astronomer in the United States is around $128,820 per year.
Avg Salary
Astronomers earn an average yearly salary of $128,820.
Wages typically start from $78,010 and go up to $195,190.
90% above national average Updated in 2025
Astronomer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$93.84 per hour
$195,190 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$79.81 per hour
$166,000 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$61.94 per hour
$128,820 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$48.04 per hour
$99,920 per year
10th percentile
Starting level astronomer earnings begin at:
$37.50 per hour
$78,010 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Astronomer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| New Mexico | $73,130 |
| Maryland | $132,620 |
| Arizona | $129,020 |
| Virginia | $128,930 |
| District of Columbia | $126,060 |
| California | $123,540 |
| Massachusetts | $123,110 |
| Colorado | $107,580 |
| Texas | $103,370 |
| Hawaii | $102,000 |
How do astronomer salaries compare to similar careers?
Astronomers earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than physicists but more than nanotechnology engineers.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Physicist salary | $172K |
| Astronomer salary | $129K |
| Biochemist salary | $127K |
| Mathematician salary | $127K |
| Materials scientist salary | $118K |
| Nanotechnology engineer salary | $123K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)