• Question: How much do quantum mechanics earn a year?

    Asked by deshfix123 on 27 Apr 2020.
    • Photo: Ollie Otter

      Ollie Otter answered on 27 Apr 2020:

      Good pun, I like it 😉

      Quantum mechanics is a theory in physics describing the properties of nature on an atomic scale.
      So it’s not a bunch of mechanics trying to fix quantum as the term might suggest…
      Having said that, there are a lot of very smart people working on the development of the quantum computer for example, I’m guessing they earn a very decent wage.

    • Photo: James Sullivan

      James Sullivan answered on 27 Apr 2020:

      Hi deshfix123,
      nice one..
      this really depends on what they want to do after they have qualified.
      I know if they stay as academics they get paid whatever the academics in that institution get, but I know a lot of them go into things like quantum computing, business or financial services modelling (using the maths behind their degree) and they would be paid the going rates in those industries.

    • Photo: Brian Murray

      Brian Murray answered on 27 Apr 2020: last edited 27 Apr 2020 3:05 pm

      Hi deshfix123,

      That’s a really good question – some people think it’s rude to talk about money, but I think it’s important to know how much different jobs give you, so you can make good decisions. 🙂

      I didn’t actually know the answer for this, so I searched online for you. On one website (https://www.simplyhired.com/salaries-k-quantum-physics-jobs.html), it said that people with jobs relating to quantum physics make between $46,000 and $165,000 per year. Most of them (the average) make about $87,000, but it really depends on where you work.

      Hope that helps!

      Brian

    • Photo: Aisling Ryan

      Aisling Ryan answered on 28 Apr 2020:

      Quantum mechanics is a section of science and is mostly applied to physics. I am a chemist, but I did some quantum mechanics as one of my projects when I was in college. Science is so diverse. There are lots of subjects and sometimes a subject like quantum mechanics that is mostly related to physics, can be used to explain certain things in chemistry too. In the same way, there are lots of jobs that relate to science and these jobs are mainly split between academia and industry. Academia means working in a university e.g. as a researcher, or a lecturer, or a professor. Industry means working in a company and usually involves less teaching. The amount of money you earn will depend on how junior/senior you are. For example I am researcher and am at the very beginning of my career so I earn a small amount of money, but a professor will be very advanced in their career and would earn a large amount of money! If you are interested in a science subject there are lots of different jobs to apply for and far as I am aware they would all be above average wages, so a good income. The amount you earn will depend on lots of factors like where you are working (what country) and what sector (academia vs. industry) to name just two, so I don’t have any exact numbers for you but I really hope this is helpful!

    • Photo: Michael Nolan

      Michael Nolan answered on 1 May 2020:

      I am a user of QM and I get paid quite well as a researcher at Tyndall Institute in Cork. However, the pay in that sector varies widely by seniority and country.
      If you move away into industry and can show you can develop quantum technologies (quantum technologist?) then the pay will be easily 6 figures.
      Moving to financial services which is even spookier than quantum physics, you can earn even more, but they’ll make you do quantum mechanics for 20 hours a day every day.

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