How much do astronomers get paid?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the average astronomer makes around $102,740 a year, which is almost $50 per hour. Astronomers' salaries range from around $45,000 per year on the low end to over $150,000 per year on the high end.

Astronomers are generally employed in one of three main industries: education, scientific research and development and the federal government. Astronomers employed at colleges and universities are paid the lowest, making around $76,000 annually. Those employed in scientific research and development make quite a bit more, at around $107,000 annually. Astronomers employed by the federal government are paid the highest rate, at around $130,000 per year on average.