A person who works as a physicist has a definite interest in matter. Their area of expertise concerns the laws of motion, as well as the structure, energy, and ways in which matter interacts with other substances.

Some physicists focus on theories, while others use their knowledge in practical ways to develop new technologies.

A physicist will develop experiments that use lasers, particle accelerators, electron microscopes, and mass spectrometers. The work of a physicist is very involved with trying to explore and ultimately explain the laws that govern gravity, electromagnetism, and nuclear interaction.

The ideal candidate for work as a physicist is someone who is a logical thinker with good math skills. A natural curiosity about how things work is also required. Someone who has the perseverance will do well in this field, and you will also need to be able to work well with others.

Physicists usually find work in small laboratories, although some of them are employed by large facilities. If you are interested in this type of work and want to have a schedule that includes regular hours, then finding work in a lab is probably your best bet. Research physicists tend to work long and irregular hours, depending on the stage of the projects they are involved with.

Education Required

If you are interested in working as a physicist, the first step is to complete a four-year undergraduate degree in Physics at university. After the undergrad work is completed, you will need to complete at least a Master's Degree. Most physicists have a doctorate in this subject area, although you may be able to find work in the manufacturing or applied research and development sectors after completing a Master's Degree in Physics.

Physicist Salary Information

The average salary for a fully-trained physicist is $107,000. This figure doesn't include benefits and bonuses.

Employment Trends for Physicists

This is a field that has been affected in recent years by cutbacks to research funding. Job growth for physicists is projected to grow at about the same rate as the national average in the U.S.

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