How to become a physical scientist

Official title: Physical scientists

Also called: Scientist, Research scientist, Mud logger, Gas examiner, Research worker, Research officer, Geological mapper, Seismic navigator, Geological adviser, Research assistant, Research associate, Scientific officer

Physical scientists study relationships between matter, energy and other physical phenomena, the nature, composition and structure of the Earth and other planetary bodies and forecast weather conditions and electrical, magnetic, seismic and thermal activity.

Main tasks

• Conducts experiments and tests and uses mathematical models and theories to investigate the structure and properties of matter, transformations and propagations of energy, the behaviour of particles and their interaction with various forms of energy
• Uses surveys, seismology and other methods to determine the earth’s mantle, crust, rock structure and type, and to analyse and predict the occurrence of seismological activity
• Observes, records and collates data on atmospheric conditions from weather stations, satellites, and observation vessels to plot and forecast weather conditions
• Applies mathematical models and techniques to assist in the solution of scientific problems in industry and commerce and seeks out new applications of mathematical analysis

How to become one

Entrants usually possess a degree, although entry may also be possible with an appropriate BTEC/SQA award. Further specialist training is provided on the job. Higher degrees and professional qualifications are available, and some employers may require a postgraduate qualification.

Ways in

• Apprenticeship (England): Ordnance munitions and explosives (OME) professional (integrated degree) (level 6). England. Typically 60 months. Skills England standard ST0574.
• University: Science degrees, Offered by 27 universities in the UK

Pay · Outlook

• Median full-time pay: £55,518 a year The middle half earn £44,414 to null.
• About 30,700 people work in this job now, and about 34,100 are projected by 2035. (+11.1%)

Related jobs

• Chemical scientists
• Biological scientists
• Biochemists and biomedical scientists
• Social and humanities scientists

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Questions people ask

How do I become a physical scientist?

Entrants usually possess a degree, although entry may also be possible with an appropriate BTEC/SQA award. Further specialist training is provided on the job. Higher degrees and professional qualifications are available, and some employers may require a postgraduate qualification.

How much does a physical scientist earn in the UK?

Median full-time pay is £55,518 a year (Office for National Statistics).

Is a physical scientist a growing career in the UK?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 11% by 2035, from about 30,700 to about 34,100 people (Department for Education).

Do you need a degree to become a physical scientist?

Usually. 96% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Sources

• Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

Graduate outcomes: Discover Uni dataset, HESA (www.hesa.ac.uk), licensed under CC BY 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0). Aggregated by subject and adapted by Peernovo.