What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Physicists in the U.S. earn more than $172,250 a year — the middle 80% land between $82,110 and $274,110. About 20,430 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Physicists”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$172,250typical pay / year
20,430people in this work
$274,110+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Analysing4
Study physical phenomena
+Measure the plasma discharge parameters from yesterday's run, clean and time-align the sensor waveforms,…
Study physical phenomena
+Measure the plasma discharge parameters from yesterday's run, clean and time-align the sensor waveforms, calculate mean and variance for density and temperature, flag anomalous pulses and write a one-page summary of observed phenomena for the group meeting Tuesday.
The tools that do the workLinuxESCOjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Develop and analyze experiments to test hypotheses
+Design three controlled experiments to test whether edge-localized modes respond to varying magnetic shear,…
Develop and analyze experiments to test hypotheses
+Design three controlled experiments to test whether edge-localized modes respond to varying magnetic shear, specify diagnostics and required magnet and gas-fill settings, generate the run sequence and risk notes, then schedule the first trial for next Thursday with the diagnostics team.
The tools that do the workGitjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Create mathematical models of physical systems
+Build a reduced-order model of the plasma column capturing resistive and inertial terms, derive linear…
Create mathematical models of physical systems
+Build a reduced-order model of the plasma column capturing resistive and inertial terms, derive linear stability conditions, run parameter sweeps to match the experiment, and produce plots comparing model predictions to Tuesday's measurements for the theory group.
The tools that do the workEclipse IDEjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Use instruments and computational models for experiments
+Set up the next experiment combining the magnetic coil waveforms with the gyrotron timing, verify sensor…
Use instruments and computational models for experiments
+Set up the next experiment combining the magnetic coil waveforms with the gyrotron timing, verify sensor calibrations and the computational boundary conditions, start the simulation to predict expected signals, then log the instrument checklist and notify operations for a midday run on Wednesday.
The tools that do the workAutodesk AutoCADLinuxjob descriptionsO*NET
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Keeping the record1
Publish research findings in scientific journals
+Draft the manuscript of our confinement scaling results using the latest processed datasets, include…
Publish research findings in scientific journals
+Draft the manuscript of our confinement scaling results using the latest processed datasets, include uncertainty analysis, prepare figures with clear captions and a methods section that lists diagnostics and calibration procedures, then send the draft to Elena and Martin for internal review by Friday.
The tools that do the workC++job descriptionsO*NET
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Care1
Teach physics to students.
+Prepare a two-hour lecture on basic plasma diagnostics for the second-year course, assemble lab exercises…
Teach physics to students.
+Prepare a two-hour lecture on basic plasma diagnostics for the second-year course, assemble lab exercises using the Langmuir probe and spectrometer, create a one-sheet experimental safety brief, and upload slides and exercise data to the course page before Monday's class.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Write research proposals and seek funding
+Draft a two-page funding pitch that explains our tokamak experiment goals, the specific measurements we need,…
Write research proposals and seek funding
+Draft a two-page funding pitch that explains our tokamak experiment goals, the specific measurements we need, the budget breakdown to buy a new spectrometer and vacuum components, and a timeline to secure seed funding by September 15.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Azurejob descriptionsO*NET
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Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
+Turn the lab notes from yesterday into concise mathematical statements: define variables for measured density…
Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
+Turn the lab notes from yesterday into concise mathematical statements: define variables for measured density and temperature, write the governing differential equations, non-dimensionalise them, and produce parameter values and uncertainty estimates for the manuscript due next Wednesday.
The tools that do the workC++LinuxO*NET
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Mentor and supervise graduate students and researchers
+Prepare an agenda for next Tuesday's meeting with Mei and Javier: review graduate progress, assign…
Mentor and supervise graduate students and researchers
+Prepare an agenda for next Tuesday's meeting with Mei and Javier: review graduate progress, assign experiments for thesis chapters, set deliverables and weekly checkpoints, and list training needs so I can allocate hands-on instrument time.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptions
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Maintain and calibrate laboratory instruments and equipment
+Create a step-by-step checklist to recalibrate the Langmuir probe and high-voltage supply this week: safety…
Maintain and calibrate laboratory instruments and equipment
+Create a step-by-step checklist to recalibrate the Langmuir probe and high-voltage supply this week: safety lockout, reference standards to use, tolerance limits, gating procedures, and a log template to record pre- and post-calibration readings.
The tools that do the workLinuxjob descriptions
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Provide consultancy for industry and government projects
+Write a concise consultancy brief for the energy ministry explaining our plasma modelling capabilities,…
Provide consultancy for industry and government projects
+Write a concise consultancy brief for the energy ministry explaining our plasma modelling capabilities, proposed deliverables, estimated hours and rates, and a phased schedule to deliver feasibility results by December 1.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Azurejob descriptions
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Research alternative energy sources like solar and wind
+Outline a six-month research plan comparing plasma-enhanced photovoltaics and wind-driven charging systems:…
Research alternative energy sources like solar and wind
+Outline a six-month research plan comparing plasma-enhanced photovoltaics and wind-driven charging systems: key experiments, measurement requirements, personnel costs, expected milestones, and what success looks like for a proof-of-concept by March.
The tools that do the workGitjob descriptions
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Use measurement instruments
+Run the Langmuir probe sweep sequence on Chamber B, record floating potential, electron temperature and…
Use measurement instruments
+Run the Langmuir probe sweep sequence on Chamber B, record floating potential, electron temperature and density across five radial positions, verify instrument calibration with the reference resistor first, and attach the raw waveforms and a 30‑line methods note.
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Perform laboratory tests
+Execute the argon discharge diagnostic protocol on Vessel 3 at 200 mA, collect optical emission spectra,…
Perform laboratory tests
+Execute the argon discharge diagnostic protocol on Vessel 3 at 200 mA, collect optical emission spectra, Langmuir probe traces and calorimeter readings, run the standard uncertainty analysis, and save the processed results with the experiment log.
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Design and develop new electronic and communication technologies
+Design and prototype a compact RF communication module for the tokamak control racks, produce detailed…
Design and develop new electronic and communication technologies
+Design and prototype a compact RF communication module for the tokamak control racks, produce detailed circuit schematics, simulate signal integrity across 10 kHz–1 GHz, and prepare measurement procedures for bench tests next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workC++Gitjob descriptions
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Identify and analyze scientific problems
+Survey last month’s Langmuir probe datasets, identify anomalous electron temperature spikes, run statistical…
Identify and analyze scientific problems
+Survey last month’s Langmuir probe datasets, identify anomalous electron temperature spikes, run statistical tests to confirm significance, and draft three hypotheses explaining the spikes for the Monday group meeting.
The tools that do the workLinuxGitjob descriptions
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Explain natural phenomena using theoretical frameworks
+Develop a clear theoretical account linking observed sheath oscillations to ion-acoustic instability, derive…
Explain natural phenomena using theoretical frameworks
+Develop a clear theoretical account linking observed sheath oscillations to ion-acoustic instability, derive the dispersion relation with boundary conditions from our chamber geometry, and write a one-page explanation for the journal referee.
The tools that do the workExtensible markup language XMLWikipedia
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Predict outcomes of physical systems through modeling
+Build a reduced fluid-kinetic model to predict plasma edge behaviour during gas puffing, run parameter sweeps…
Predict outcomes of physical systems through modeling
+Build a reduced fluid-kinetic model to predict plasma edge behaviour during gas puffing, run parameter sweeps over density and temperature for the next grant report, and export summary plots for collaborators.
The tools that do the workEclipse IDEC++Wikipedia
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Focus their research depending on their specialisation
+Choose whether to prioritise diagnostics, confinement physics, or materials interactions for the next…
Focus their research depending on their specialisation
+Choose whether to prioritise diagnostics, confinement physics, or materials interactions for the next two-year plan, list expected deliverables and risks for each path, and recommend the best option to the principal investigator by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AccessESCO
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Apply their findings for the improvement of society
+Translate the recent confinement improvement into a practical proposal: quantify expected energy savings,…
Apply their findings for the improvement of society
+Translate the recent confinement improvement into a practical proposal: quantify expected energy savings, outline necessary engineering steps for a pilot reactor, and prepare a two-page brief for the technology transfer office by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft AzureESCO
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses