The average salary for an astronomer in Virginia is around $128,930 per year.
Avg Salary
Astronomers earn an average yearly salary of $128,930.
Wages typically start from $94,710 and go up to $175,560.
75% above national average Updated in 2025
Astronomer earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$84.40 per hour
$175,560 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$72.19 per hour
$150,160 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$61.99 per hour
$128,930 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level astronomer earnings begin at:
$52.97 per hour
$110,170 per year
10th percentile
Starting level astronomer earnings begin at:
$45.53 per hour
$94,710 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 Virginia. On average, they make less than natural sciences managers but more than statisticians.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Natural sciences manager salary | $151K |
| Mathematician salary | $148K |
| Nanotechnology engineer salary | $148K |
| Astronomer salary | $129K |
| Biochemist salary | $106K |
| Materials scientist salary | $124K |
| Biostatistician salary | $115K |
| Statistician salary | $115K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)