by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 3 U.S. colleges awarded 12 degrees and certificates in Elementary Particle Physics. Master’s degrees are the most popular award, at 92% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $50,584 one year after completing, rising to $85,749 after four years.
A degree in Elementary Particle Physics explores Elementary Particle Physics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Basic Constituents Of Sub-Atomic Matter And Energy, And The Forces Governing Fundamental Processes. Includes Instruction In Quantum Theory, Field Theory, Single-Particle Systems, Perturbation And Scattering Theory, Matter-Radiation Interaction, Symmetry, Quarks, Capture, Schroedinger Mechanics, Methods For Detecting Particle Emission And Absorption, And Research Equipment Operation And Maintenance.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, elementary particle physics draws strong interest, with 12 degrees awarded annually. 3 colleges award elementary particle physics degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 7.
By level, the 12 awards include 11 master’s degrees and 1 doctorates.
Women earned 33% of elementary particle physics degrees and certificates in the latest year (4 of 12). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (5) and Hispanic or Latino (2), and international students earned 3.
The most common elementary particle physics credential is the master’s degree: 11 of the 12 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to elementary particle physics call most for Reading Comprehension, Active Listening and Writing, and for knowledge of English Language, Mathematics and Computers and Electronics, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Oral Expression, Written Comprehension and Oral Comprehension.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long an elementary particle physics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 11 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 1 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to elementary particle physics, at 32.9%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 32.9% |
| Doctoral degree | 23.0% |
| Master’s degree | 14.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 13.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 4.7% |
| Some college courses | 3.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
Source: O*NET Online.
5 occupations are related to Elementary Particle Physics, with an average median salary of $123,067; the strongest outlook belongs to Physics Teachers, Postsecondary, at 14.3% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Clinical Trials Manager, Clinical Project Manager, Research Coordinator and Postdoctoral Researcher.
The occupation related to elementary particle physics with the most projected jobs is Clinical Research Coordinators, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | 415,392 | 14.3% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Physicists | 118,738 | 8.5% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
Elementary Particle Physics graduates earn a median $50,584 one year after completing their program, $85,749 after four years and $87,663 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,584 |
| 4 years | $85,749 |
| 5 years | $87,663 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to elementary particle physics is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Physicists | $111,776 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Physics Teachers, Postsecondary | $80,685 |
Elementary Particle Physics has 8 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 13,917 degrees a year; the largest are Physics, General (12,923), Physics, Other (480) and Optics/Optical Sciences (267). Browse all Physical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physics, General | 12,923 |
| Physics, Other | 480 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 267 |
| Acoustics | 189 |
| Theoretical and Mathematical Physics | 37 |
| Atomic/Molecular Physics | 12 |
| Condensed Matter and Materials Physics | 5 |
| Nuclear Physics | 4 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.