by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1 U.S. colleges awarded 4 degrees and certificates in Nuclear Physics. Graduates earn a median $50,584 one year after completing, rising to $85,749 after four years.
Studying Nuclear Physics covers Nuclear Physics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of The Properties And Behavior Of Atomic Nuclei. Includes Instruction In Nuclear Reaction Theory, Quantum Mechanics, Energy Conservation, Nuclear Fission And Fusion, Strong And Weak Forces, Nuclear Modeling, Nuclear Decay, Nucleon Scattering, Pairing, Photon And Electron Reactions, The Physics Of Nuclear Effects, Statistical Methods, And Research Equipment Operation And Maintenance. Examples: [Nuclear Effects].
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Nationwide, nuclear physics is a popular field of study, with 4 degrees awarded annually. 1 colleges award nuclear physics degrees, an average of 4 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 4.
All 4 of the awards are doctorates, the only level colleges reported.
O*NET rates Reading Comprehension the most important skill for jobs related to nuclear physics, at 4.1 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are English Language, Mathematics and Computers and Electronics. 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 a nuclear physics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 4 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to nuclear 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 Nuclear 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, Research Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager and Clinical Research Manager.
The occupation related to nuclear 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% |
Nuclear 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 nuclear 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 |
Nuclear Physics has 8 similar majors in the Physical Sciences field, which together award 13,925 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 |
| Elementary Particle Physics | 12 |
| Condensed Matter and Materials Physics | 5 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.