How to become an astronomer
Official title: Astronomer
Also called: Astrophysicist, Astrometrist, Radio astronomer
Astronomers observe and study objects in space like stars, planets and galaxies using telescopes, mathematics, physics and data collection.
Main tasks
- Study stars, planets and galaxies
- Measure light, radiation and temperature
- Analyse data
- Work with scientists and specialists
- Lead projects
- Prepare reports and presentations
- Write proposals and applications
- Measure environments characteristics
How to become one
You need more than one qualification to become an astronomer and experience may be useful. You need University Entrance to do the study or training for this job. Required: a relevant tertiary qualification in physics and astronomy studies, earth sciences or similar area OR a Bachelor of Science (astronomy) or similar; a Master of Science or similar. Other requirements: experience in similar work.
Ways in
- University: Science degrees, Offered by 6 universities in New Zealand
Pay · AI and this job
- Most common pay: $90,215 to $131,853 a year (median $111,034), a TEC estimate before tax.
- Lower: $69,396 a year · Upper: $152,672 a year
- TEC's pay figures are estimates only. TEC says they must not be used to set pay, in pay negotiations or in visa applications.
- Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Who does this work
- About 21 people did this job at the 2023 Census (TEC).
- In the group Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals, 46% of workers are female (sex at birth, 2023 Census).
- Where people in the group Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals work (2023 Census): Auckland 29.7%, Wellington 21.8%, and Canterbury 13.3%.
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Questions people ask
How do I become an astronomer?
You need more than one qualification to become an astronomer and experience may be useful. You need University Entrance to do the study or training for this job. Required: a relevant tertiary qualification in physics and astronomy studies, earth sciences or similar area OR a Bachelor of Science (astronomy) or similar; a Master of Science or similar. Other requirements: experience in similar work.
How much does an astronomer earn in New Zealand?
The Tertiary Education Commission estimates median pay at $111,034 a year, before tax. Most common pay is $90,215 to $131,853 a year.
Will AI change the work of an astronomer?
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Tertiary Education Commission (Tahatu Career Navigator): Tahatu career ideas: descriptions, tasks, pay estimates, people employed, employment change 2018 to 2023, entry requirements, registration, interest scores (Site scrape 2026-10 (816 career ideas, sitemap lastmod 2026-10-01)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
- Stats NZ (via Figure.NZ): Census 2023: employed by regional council, occupation (ANZSCO V1.3 unit group) and sex at birth (2023 Census), CC BY 4.0 (Stats NZ), CC BY 3.0 NZ (Figure.NZ), retrieved 4 October 2026
- International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
This content is sourced from the Tertiary Education Commission through the Tahatū Career Navigator website (www.tahatu.govt.nz) and used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. All or some of the information has been modified by Peernovo. TEC has not approved, endorsed or tested these modifications. TEC will not be held accountable for any errors within this content.
Qualification information from NZQA, used under CC BY 3.0 NZ.
This work is based on/includes Stats NZ's data which are licensed by Stats NZ for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. Census data via Figure.NZ.
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Sources: Tertiary Education Commission, Tahatū Career Navigator (career ideas, pay estimates, entry requirements and study options, CC BY 4.0, modified by Peernovo); Stats NZ, 2023 Census (via Figure.NZ) and the National Occupation List (CC BY 4.0); NZQA qualification information (CC BY 3.0 NZ); O*NET interest scores (CC BY 4.0); ILO global generative AI exposure index (CC BY 4.0). Links between career ideas and ANZSCO groups, degree fields and broad job groups are Peernovo's.
These results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Graduate outcomes: these results are not official statistics. They have been created for research purposes from the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI), which is carefully managed by Stats NZ.
Updated 4 October 2026