How to become a physicist in Australia
Physicists (including Astronomers) study matter, space, time, energy, forces and fields and the interrelationship between these physical phenomena to further understand the laws governing the behaviour of the universe, and seek to apply these laws to solve practical problems and discover new information about the earth and the universe.
Pay and growth are for the wider other natural and physical science professionals group, which is as fine as the data goes. The all-jobs median is $1,852 a week. Jobs in the other natural and physical science professionals group are projected to grow 24.7% between May 2025 and May 2035, faster than the 13.3% projected for all jobs. Projections are indicative, not forecasts, and JSA says they don't yet reflect generative AI.
What the job involves
- Develops analytical methodologies and techniques to investigate the structure and properties of matter, the relationships between matter and energy, and other physical phenomena.
- Tests the reliability of these methodologies and techniques by performing tests and experiments under various conditions.
- Prepares scientific papers and reports, or supervises their preparation.
- Supervises and co-ordinates the work of technicians and technologists.
- May specialise in one or more branches of physics such as electrical, luminescent, mechanical, magnetic, radioactive, molecular, nuclear, ionospheric, atmospheric physics and signal analysis.
How to get there
What it usually takes. A bachelor degree or higher. This is the skill level Jobs and Skills Australia gives the other natural and physical science professionals group, and some roles differ.
What people in the job have. Highest qualification held: 95% a degree or higher, 1% a diploma, 1% a Certificate III or IV.
Many jobs also need registration, a licence or a specific accredited course. Check the professional body or regulator before you choose.
Courses that can lead here
Estimate your ATAR and this page shows the gap to each course. Your marks stay on your device.
Victoria2 matches
VTAC lowest selection ranks, December 2025 offer round.
Science (Physics major) · La Trobe, Melbourne73.70Showing 1 of 2 matches. Search every course.
NSW and ACT8 matches
UAC lowest selection ranks, December Round 2, 2025-26 admissions.
Bachelor of Science Advanced Honours (Physics) · Wollongong96.90 Bachelor of Science Advanced (Honours) (Medical and Radiation Physics) · Wollongong96.90 Bachelor of Science (Physics) · Wollongong76.45 Bachelor of Science (Medical and Radiation Physics) · Wollongong76.45 Bachelor of Secondary Education (Physics) · Wollongong73.15 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)/Bachelor of Science (Physics) · Wollongong80.20 Bachelor of Mathematics/Bachelor of Science (Physics) · Wollongong75.65Queensland1 match
QTAC course pages, ATAR/Selection Rank profile for semester 1, 2026.
Bachelor of Science Advanced (Honours) - Physics · QUT, Gardens Point89.85Western Australia10 matches
TISC Course Search: lowest ATAR offered for 2026 entry and guaranteed offer ATARs.
Bachelor of Science (Frontier Physics) and Master of Physics - Medical Physics · UWA, Perth95.75 Bachelor of Science (Frontier Physics) and Master of Physics · UWA, Perth95.00 guaranteed Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) in Physics · Curtin, Perth82.05 Bachelor of Education (Secondary Education) - Science Education in Physics · Curtin, Perth63.20 Bachelor of Science (Science) in Physics · Curtin, Perth61.05 Bachelor of Science (Physical Sciences) in Physics · Murdoch, Perth60.05 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Electrical and Electronic Engineering), Bachelor of Science (Science) in Physics (double degree) · Curtin, Perth70.75 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) (Energy Engineering), Bachelor of Science (Science) in Physics (double degree) · Curtin, Perth70.75Showing 8 of 10 matches. Search every course.
Matched on course names, 21 across four admissions centres. A lowest selection rank includes adjustment points and moves every year. Check prerequisites and whether the course is accredited for this job.
Graduate outcomes, national
Undergraduates surveyed about four to six months after finishing, in 2025, across all providers. Full-time work is among those available for it. All graduates: 75.4% and $77,000. These are national figures for the study area, not for this course or uni, and a first-year salary says little about later pay. Source: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025.
Does it fit your interests?
Strongest interest areas for this kind of work: Investigative, Realistic, Conventional.
From O*NET ratings for "Physicists", the closest US occupation in JSA's correspondence (a good match). US ratings are a guide to Australian jobs, not a measurement of them.
Careers with similar interests
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Share your storyJob data: © Commonwealth of Australia, Jobs and Skills Australia occupation profiles, February 2026 and Employment Projections, May 2025 to May 2035 (Victoria University), CC BY 4.0. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO 2013 Version 1.2 to O*NET-SOC 2019 Taxonomy correspondence.
Graduate outcomes: QILT Graduate Outcomes Survey 2025, National Report Tables (Social Research Centre, for the Australian Government).
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Curve ATAR has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.