Physicsat University of California-Los Angeles
Graduates earn $60,495/yr in their first year — about 30.0% above the national Physics average. Base-case 10-year earnings $715K; scenarios range from $634K to $746K depending on AI disruption.
What this degree looks like at UCLA
Your UCLA Physics degree is a powerful credential, reflecting the university's elite research status and prime Los Angeles location. The program’s rigorous curriculum doesn’t just prepare you for academia; it hones exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills highly sought after across diverse industries. Many graduates pivot into tech, aerospace, finance, or even data science, leveraging their quantitative expertise for companies like Northrop Grumman, SpaceX, or local tech startups. This robust demand in a dynamic regional economy explains the strong career outcomes. While some advanced analytical tasks face AI risk, your deep understanding of fundamental principles and ability to develop novel solutions provides a crucial human edge. To maximize your opportunities, actively pursue internships that translate your theoretical knowledge into practical, in-demand skills in these growing sectors.
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.
10 year projection
Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UCLA's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.
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.
Peer schools offering Physics
How UCLA stacks up against other schools offering this major.
Other top programs at UCLA
Other highest-scoring programs offered at UCLA, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.
Frequently asked about Physics at UCLA
What does a 66/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Physics at University of California-Los Angeles?
At 66/100, University of California-Los Angeles'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 University of California-Los Angeles?
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.
Is University of California-Los Angeles one of the best schools for Physics?
Among 75 Physics programs, University of California-Los Angeles's #8 position reflects consistently above-average results across earnings, ROI, and employment probability.