Careers Guide
A guide to careers in physics, produced in partnership with Physics World
Jan. 1, 2024
As a physicist, you possess a tremendous variety of technical, scientific, and problem-solving skills. You can tackle complex tasks in a systematic way, solve problems from first principles, and help bridge knowledge gaps by bringing your understanding of the laws that span many disciplines. And employers know it, too-which is why physics graduates are keenly sought after by employers based in a wide range of industries.
The most rewarding careers take into account not only the physics knowledge or technical skills you possess, but also what's important to you as an individual — whether that's helping tackle a difficult problem facing humanity, or changing the culture of science to make it more inclusive, diverse, and equitable. There are so many ways to let your unique talents shine while helping to make the world a better place, and it is our hope that this guide can help you discover new pathways that you may not have encountered before.
A major component of APS's mission is to serve the broader physics community by being a welcoming and supportive professional home for physicists. No matter where your career interests lie, we hope that you will see APS as your professional home and source of guidance to help you along your path.