Animal Scientists vs Astronomers
Side-by-side salary and career comparison using Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Animal Scientists
$79,120
median annual salary
Astronomers
$132,170
median annual salary
Astronomers earns $53,050 more per year (40% higher)
Salary & Career Comparison
| Metric | Animal Scientists | Astronomers |
|---|---|---|
| Median Salary | $79,120 | $132,170 |
| Median Hourly | $38.04/hr | $63.54/hr |
| Mean Salary | $104,970 | $134,430 |
| 10th Percentile | $48,440 | $70,730 |
| 90th Percentile | $235,750 | $191,880 |
| Total Employment | 2,470 | 1,560 |
| Job Growth (2023–2033) | +5.8% | +2.2% |
| Annual Openings | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Work Experience | None | None |
Salary by State
States where both occupations have reported wage data, sorted by salary difference.
| State | Animal Scientists | Astronomers | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | $78,660 | $103,980 | $-25,320 |
| Maryland | $73,560 | $157,980 | $-84,420 |
Also Compare
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Common Questions
Which pays more, Animal Scientists or Astronomers?
Astronomers pays more, with a median annual salary of $132,170 compared to $79,120 — a difference of $53,050 per year.
Which has better job outlook?
Animal Scientists has faster projected growth at 5.8% from 2023 to 2033, compared to 2.2% for Astronomers.
Where does this data come from?
All salary data comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2024 release. Job outlook data comes from the BLS Employment Projections program covering 2023-2033.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024.