Career Profile: Bachelor of Science Jobs in the Private Sector

The bachelor of science jobs in the private sector at a glance

Education: A bachelor's degree in physics or in a related field

Additional training: BS level and prior research, e.g. research opportunities for undergraduates (REUs)

Salary: Bachelor's level starting at $40,000 - $65,000

Outlook: About 40% of bachelor of science (BS) graduates find initial employment in the private sector.

What they do

Examples of activities of physics bachelors working in the private sector include:

• Contributing to group or project research goals
• Collecting and analyzing data
• Maintaining, troubleshooting, and repairing manufacturing or analytical equipment
• Creating instructional documentation
• Rendering designs in formats such as CAD, Labview
• Modeling, simulating, and prototyping systems or system elements

The AIP Statistical Research Center reports that over 80% of physics bachelor’s in private sector STEM positions describe themselves as satisfied with their current position overall. Job security and level of responsibility rank as the highest contributors toward this overall satisfaction.

Education & background

In addition to a bachelor’s degree, a background in experimental research through on-campus research, summer research projects, or REUs is very helpful.

Additional training

Broad exposure to related fields, such as engineering or computer science, helps one navigate the cross-disciplinary teams that are common in private sector research. Having a firm understanding of fundamental physics principles and being familiar with other disciplines is more important than expertise in a narrowly-focused area.

Internships are a valuable way to gain experience and, often, get a foot in the door at a company. An internship provides the opportunity to hone specific skills such as programming, data acquisition, or equipment operation and maintenance. Beyond these hard skills, an internship can also help one develop verbal and written communication skills, find a mentor, and grow a dynamic network.

For a listing of current internship and research opportunities, please visit the APS Physics Job Center.

Career path

Generally, a physics bachelor begins at a company in an entry or junior level position, with opportunities for advancement with experience. Often, upon attaining a senior level position, the potential career path diverges into two distinct leadership tracks: technical or managerial.