Cosmologist
Also called cosmology scientist, theoretical cosmologist, evolutionary cosmologist
Cosmologists focus on the study of the universe as a whole, which is made up by its origin, evolution and ultimate fate. They use tools and scientific instruments to observe and study other galaxies and astronomical objects such as stars, black holes, planets and other celestial bodies.
What you'd do
Physicists and astronomers · ILO- Conducting research and improving or developing concepts, theories, instrumentation, software and operational methods related to physics and astronomy
- Conducting experiments, tests and analyses on the structure and properties of matter in fields such as mechanics, thermodynamics, electronics, communications, power generation and distribution, aerodynamics, optics and lasers, remote sensing, medicine, sonics, magnetism, and nuclear physics
- Evaluating results of investigations and experiments and expressing conclusions, mainly using mathematical techniques and models
- Applying principles, techniques and processes to develop or improve industrial, medical, military and other practical applications of the principles and techniques of physics or astronomy
- Ensuring the safe and effective delivery of radiation (ionising and non-ionising) to patients to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic result as prescribed by a medical practitioner
- Ensuring the accurate measurement and characterization of physical quantities used in medical applications
- Testing, commissioning and evaluating equipment used in applications such as imaging, medical treatment and dosimetry
- Advising and consulting with medical practitioners and other health care professionals in optimizing the balance between the beneficial and deleterious effects of radiation
- Observing, analysing and interpreting celestial phenomena and developing methods, numerical models and techniques to extend knowledge of fields such as navigation, satellite communication, space exploration, celestial bodies and cosmic radiation
- Developing, implementing and maintaining standards and protocols for the measurement of physical phenomena and for the use of nuclear technology in industrial and medical applications
- Preparing scientific papers and reports
Design scientific equipmentApply scientific methodsOperate scientific measuring equipmentConduct research across disciplinesManage findable accessible interoperable and reusable data+ 35 more essential skills
What the work is like
- Indoors
- Sitting most of the day
- Lots of contact with people
- Good freedom to decide
- Often more than 40 hours a week
- Deadlines now and then
- Varied tasks, little repetition
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Astronomers"
Will there be jobs?
Yes, good prospectsMany jobs will need filling by 2035.
Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.
948,000 new jobs
2,300,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of physicists and astronomers, 4 a surplus.
Physicists and astronomers · EURESWhat does it pay?
Above averagePay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Denmark), before tax.
Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.
Among professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat
What do I need to study?
Usually a degreeA degree in physics is the usual route.
Highest qualification of science and engineering professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 90%Vocational 6%General secondary 3%Basic schooling 1%
Field that teaches it
Physics
Vocational route, EU
Fewer than 1 in 10 trainees in this field
Science and maths graduates in a matching job
63% in the EU
697 institutions in the EU offer science and maths bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.
Will AI change it?
In some tasksAI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.
How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High
Average task score 0.38 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).
See the score for each of the 11 tasks
Evaluating results of investigations and experiments and expressing conclusions, mainly using mathematical techniques and models0.56
Observing, analysing and interpreting celestial phenomena and developing methods, numerical models and techniques to extend knowledge of fields such as navigation, satellite communication, space exploration, celestial bodies and cosmic radiation0.54
Conducting research and improving or developing concepts, theories, instrumentation, software and operational methods related to physics and astronomy0.51
Preparing scientific papers and reports0.51
Applying principles, techniques and processes to develop or improve industrial, medical, military and other practical applications of the principles and techniques of physics or astronomy0.46
Developing, implementing and maintaining standards and protocols for the measurement of physical phenomena and for the use of nuclear technology in industrial and medical applications0.35
Conducting experiments, tests and analyses on the structure and properties of matter in fields such as mechanics, thermodynamics, electronics, communications, power generation and distribution, aerodynamics, optics and lasers, remote sensing, medicine, sonics, magnetism, and nuclear physics0.29
Ensuring the accurate measurement and characterization of physical quantities used in medical applications0.26
Advising and consulting with medical practitioners and other health care professionals in optimizing the balance between the beneficial and deleterious effects of radiation0.26
Testing, commissioning and evaluating equipment used in applications such as imaging, medical treatment and dosimetry0.25
Ensuring the safe and effective delivery of radiation (ionising and non-ionising) to patients to achieve a diagnostic or therapeutic result as prescribed by a medical practitioner0.18
Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for physicists and astronomers. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).