The average salary for an astronomer in California is around $117,700 per year.
Avg Salary
Astronomers earn an average yearly salary of $117,700.
Wages typically start from $54,990 and go up to $165,080.
51% above national average Updated in 2018
Astronomer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$79.36 per hour
$165,080 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$76.21 per hour
$158,510 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$56.59 per hour
$117,700 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$32.41 per hour
$67,420 per year
10th percentile
Starting level astronomer earnings begin at:
$26.44 per hour
$54,990 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Astronomer salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $91,620 |
| New Mexico | $73,130 |
| Maryland | $127,030 |
| District of Columbia | $126,060 |
| Massachusetts | $123,110 |
| California | $117,700 |
| Hawaii | $107,950 |
| Colorado | $107,580 |
| Texas | $103,370 |
How do astronomer salaries compare to similar careers?
Astronomers earn about the same as related careers in California. On average, they make less than materials scientists but more than biochemists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Materials scientist salary | $106K |
| Physicist salary | $113K |
| Astronomer salary | $118K |
| Nanotechnology engineer salary | $107K |
| Geospatial information scientist salary | $98K |
| Atmospheric scientist salary | $101K |
| Biochemist salary | $90K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)