Anonymous

NO.

Anonymous

You can only get a job in a University (with a PHD) or an observatory---Make lots of money, but there are VERY FEW positions open--and you need a PhD

Anonymous

Degreed astronomers with teaching and/or research positions can make decent pay, no better or no worse than other academic positions. If you are looking to get rich, however, astronomy is not the way to go.

Anonymous

astronomers are usually state paid and money unto them augmented by grants from outside sources with money to burn if you get plugged into some media company as a video narrator/egghead consultant,they often pay nicely,few get admitted into star status

Anonymous

Well, the ones I know also teach; while they call themselves astronomers, they’re *usually* professors...

Anonymous

Those at the top do

Anonymous

The majority of astronomers are amateurs who spend their own money and not get paid.

Anonymous

No they don't. There are also very few positions compared to other jobs. Merchant bankers, stockbrokers, and real estate agents make a lot more.

Anonymous

Nope. They only go after the bad money. Or print their own.

Anonymous

Typically, no. They can support themselves, but very few people get rich doing astronomy.

Anonymous

Yes, but we squander most of it on computer games and Star Wars figures.

Anonymous

According to the American Institute of Physics the average salary for a Physics PhD. was about $78,000 in 2000. A post-doc right out of graduate school is about $36,000 a year in physics. Salaries for astronomers are comparable.

Anonymous

Yes- they work for the federal government.

Anonymous

their salaries are said to be out of this world

Anonymous

Sure. Why not? Maybe. Ask an astronomer. I'm just an astronaut.

Anonymous

Compared to whom?

Anonymous

Yes. I bought a Bugatti with my first paycheck. I would've bought two of them but my wife wanted a Lamborghini.

Anonymous

You get a royalty on every star you find.