Astronomers Salary by State and Metro Area (2026)
Astronomerss in the United States earn a median salary of $132,170/year ($63.54/hr). Salaries range from $70,730 to $191,880 depending on experience. Below, compare salaries across all 50 states and top metro areas.
$71K
10th percentile
$95K
25th percentile
$132K
Median
$178K
75th percentile
$192K
90th percentile
Astronomers salary by state
| State | Median | Hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $189K | $91.07/hr | 70 |
| Maryland | $158K | $75.95/hr | 570 |
| California | $142K | $68.3/hr | 170 |
| Arizona | $125K | $60.33/hr | 90 |
| Washington | $104K | $49.99/hr | 40 |
| Hawaii | $103K | $49.52/hr | 140 |
Top paying metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $189K | 60 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $158K | 440 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $83K | 40 |