Career Paths for Physics Majors
A physics degree develops strong quantitative, analytical, computational, and problem-solving skills that are valued across many industries. While some students pursue graduate study in physics or related fields, many others begin careers directly after graduation in technology, engineering, data science, finance, consulting, energy, government, education, and other sectors.
Common Career Paths
Physics alumni pursue a wide range of careers, including:
Research & Graduate School
- Physics PhD programs
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Engineering graduate programs
- Applied Physics
- Materials Science
- Quantum Science & Technology
Data, Computing & Technology
- Data Analyst
- Data Scientist
- Machine Learning Engineer
- Software Engineer
- Research Scientist
- Computational Scientist
Engineering
- Test Engineer
- Systems Engineer
- Optical Engineer
- Manufacturing Engineer
- Aerospace Engineer
- Hardware Engineer
Finance & Quantitative Careers
- Quantitative Researcher
- Quantitative Analyst
- Risk Analyst
- Financial Analyst
Energy, Semiconductors & Emerging Technologies
- Semiconductor Process Engineer
- Semiconductor Manufacturing Engineer
- Energy Analyst
- Nuclear Energy Researcher
- Quantum Computing and Quantum Technology Roles
Education, Government & Other Fields
- Teaching
- Science Communication
- National Laboratories
- Government Research
- Consulting
How to Explore Career Paths
Not sure which path interests you? Start here:
Explore Jobs and Internships
Use Handshake to:
- Search for internships and jobs
- Explore employers hiring Berkeley students
- Research common job titles and qualifications
- Learn about recruiting timelines
Connect with Alumni
Physics alumni work in hundreds of organizations and industries.
We encourage students to:
- Use My Berkeley to connect with alumni for informational interviews.
- Use LinkedIn to identify Berkeley Physics alumni working in careers of interest.
- Ask alumni about their career path, day-to-day responsibilities, and recommendations for gaining relevant experience.
Try a Career Simulation
Forage offers free virtual job simulations that allow students to explore careers and gain experience in fields such as:
- Technology
- Data Analytics
- Finance
- Consulting
- Engineering
These simulations can help students evaluate whether a field matches their interests before pursuing internships or jobs.
Build Experience While at Berkeley
Students interested in industry careers are encouraged to:
- Participate in undergraduate research.
- Pursue internships.
- Attend STEM Career Fairs.
- Join student organizations and project teams.
- Build programming, data analysis, laboratory, and technical communication skills.
- Develop a resume and LinkedIn profile early.
STEM Career Fairs
The Career Center hosts STEM-focused career fairs each fall and spring that feature employers recruiting for engineering, technology, data, science, and quantitative roles.
Physics majors are encouraged to attend even if an employer is not specifically recruiting physics majors. Many organizations seek students with strong analytical, computational, and problem-solving skills.
Before attending a career fair:
- Review participating employers.
- Identify organizations of interest.
- Prepare a resume.
- Practice a brief introduction about your interests and experiences.
Career Resources
Career Exploration
- Berkeley Career Center - to explore resources and career advising
- Handshake - find jobs
- My Berkeley - connect with alumni
- Berkeley First Destination Survey - search current jobs of alumni by major
- What Can I Do With A Major In Physics?
- Physics Career & Grad School archived templates and recorded events
- LinkedIn Resources
- Networking resources
- Berkeley Career Network
Questions?
Students are encouraged to meet with both their Physics Major Advisor and the Berkeley Career Center to discuss career exploration, graduate school, internships, and professional development opportunities.