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Physical Sciences · Physics Rank #6 of 75

Physicsat Salisbury University

Graduates earn $54,548/yr in their first year — about 17.0% above the national Physics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $786K; scenarios range from $687K to $827K depending on AI disruption.

Salisbury, MD Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
69 SOLID
70
Optimistic
67
Pessimistic
Earnings
$54,548
1-year post-graduation
ROI
19.3x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$786K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
Very High
56% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at Salisbury University

Salisbury's Physics program consistently delivers strong financial outcomes, reflecting the high demand for rigorous analytical and problem-solving skills that a physics degree cultivates. Located within reasonable proximity to the Baltimore-Washington corridor, graduates benefit from a robust regional job market that includes federal research institutions, defense contractors, and a growing tech sector. These employers often value your interdisciplinary problem-solving abilities, even for roles beyond traditional "physicist" titles, explaining the strong earnings potential. While AI risk appears high for some specialized tasks, your foundational understanding of complex systems makes you highly adaptable for evolving roles in data analysis, modeling, and R&D management. Prioritizing internships with regional employers, perhaps even those in engineering or finance that value analytical rigor, can significantly shape your career trajectory and mitigate future AI disruption.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$687K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score67/100
Earnings Multiple16.1x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$786K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score69/100
Earnings Multiple18.5x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$827K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score70/100
Earnings Multiple19.4x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to Salisbury University's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Physics graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Physicists
+4.0% 10-yr growth · 1,700 openings/yr
$166,290/yr
Very High
2
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
3
Physics teachers, postsecondary
+2.5% 10-yr growth · 1,300 openings/yr
$97,360/yr
Moderate
4
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
-1.6% 10-yr growth · 66,200 openings/yr
$64,580/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Physics

How Salisbury University stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
NC · Public
62
DW Score
$70K
1-yr earn
23.3x
ROI
Top score
Brigham Young University
UT · Private nonprofit
74
DW Score
$69K
1-yr earn
36.5x
ROI
University of Pennsylvania
PA · Private nonprofit
47
DW Score
$68K
1-yr earn
1.6x
ROI
Whitworth University
WA · Private nonprofit
48
DW Score
$65K
1-yr earn
2.2x
ROI
California State Polytechnic University-Pomona
CA · Public
70
DW Score
$64K
1-yr earn
24.0x
ROI
Also at Salisbury University

Other top programs at Salisbury University

Other highest-scoring programs offered at Salisbury University, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

FAQ

Frequently asked about Physics at Salisbury University

What does a 69/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Physics at Salisbury University?

At 69/100, Salisbury University's Physics program delivers middling returns. School cost and personal fit become important decision factors.

Should I worry about AI if I study Physics at Salisbury University?

The 50% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.