Physicist
Physicists study the behaviour of matter and energy and form theories to explain how everything fits together.
Typical Salary
£28,000 – £61,000
per year
Working Hours
37–40
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
As a physicist, you could:
- design and conduct experiments, and supervise research
- solve problems, make new discoveries and develop products
- analyse data and build computer simulations, using mathematical modelling
- develop theories to explain observations and predict natural phenomena
- publish and present research findings
Skills needed
- knowledge of physics
- maths knowledge
- knowledge of engineering science and technology
- the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
- to be flexible and open to change
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- the ability to use your initiative
- persistence and determination
- to have a thorough understanding of computer systems and applications
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- an apprenticeship
- a graduate trainee scheme
Career progression
With experience, you can lead and manage the work of a research team. This could be in one of many different areas, for example:
- education, teaching the scientists of tomorrow
- materials science, investigating the properties of superconductors
- energy engineering, developing alternative fuels
- medical research, building more sensitive scanners
- aerospace, designing instruments for satellite systems
Physicists play an important role in the economy. You can learn more about the different career options from the Institute of Physics.