by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Plasma & High-Temperature Physics explores Plasma And High-Temperature Physics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Properties And Behavior Of Matter At High Temperatures, Such That Molecular And Atomic Structures Are In A Disassociated Ionic Or Electronic State. Includes Instruction In Magnetohydrodynamics, Free Electron Phenomena, Fusion Theory, Electromagnetic Fields And Dynamics, Plasma And Non-Linear Wave Theory, Instability Theory, Plasma Shock Phenomena, Quantitative Modeling, And Research Equipment Operation And Maintenance. Continue reading for the important information every plasma & high-temperature physics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering plasma & high-temperature physics programs.
Coursework for Plasma & High-Temperature Physics emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations plasma & high-temperature physics graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a plasma & high-temperature physics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a plasma & high-temperature physics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
People currently working in careers related to plasma & high-temperature physics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in plasma & high-temperature physics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying plasma & high-temperature physics can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to plasma & high-temperature physics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to plasma & high-temperature physics.
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of plasma & high-temperature physics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $50,456 |
| 4 years | $75,002 |
| 5 years | $86,291 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for plasma & high-temperature physics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers plasma & high-temperature physics grads often go into.
| 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 |
Use our unbiased plasma & high-temperature physics school rankings to find the best fit for you.
Students interested in plasma & high-temperature physics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physics, General | 11,944 |
| Physics, Other | 482 |
| Optics/Optical Sciences | 249 |
| Acoustics | 175 |
| Theoretical and Mathematical Physics | 37 |
| Condensed Matter and Materials Physics | 8 |
| Atomic/Molecular Physics | 6 |
| Elementary Particle Physics | 6 |
| Nuclear Physics | 3 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
