Jobs / Science and research / 19-2012.00
Physicists
Conduct research into physical phenomena, develop theories on the basis of observation and experiments, and devise methods to apply physical laws and theories.
- US jobs
- 20,430
- Median wage
- $172,250 a year
- Job family
- Science and research
Can agents do the work of physicists?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Science and research: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: CORE-Bench, declared solved.
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 20%Present research or technical informationNot measured
- 14%Develop scientific or mathematical theories or modelsNot measured
- 9%Analyze environmental or geospatial dataNot measured
- 9%Analyze scientific or applied data using mathematical principlesNot measured
- 8%Assist scientists, scholars, or technical specialists with projects or researchNot measured
- 8%Prepare proposals or grant applicationsNot measured
- 8%Operate laboratory or field equipmentNot measured
- 7%Teach academic or vocational subjectsNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in science and research, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
- 95.5%Claude Code + Claude Opus 4.5 (after manual regrading) · 3 Dec 2025Solved
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
- 64.8%Claude Code + Opus 5.5 (max) · 6 Oct 2026Strong
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Analyze data from research conducted to detect and measure physical phenomena.
- Report experimental results by writing papers for scientific journals or by presenting information at scientific conferences.
- Perform complex calculations as part of the analysis and evaluation of data, using computers.
- Describe and express observations and conclusions in mathematical terms.
- Collaborate with other scientists in the design, development, and testing of experimental, industrial, or medical equipment, instrumentation, and procedures.
- Observe the structure and properties of matter, and the transformation and propagation of energy, using equipment such as masers, lasers, and telescopes, to explore and identify the basic principles governing these phenomena.
- Write research proposals to receive funding.
- Design computer simulations to model physical data so that it can be better understood.
- Teach physics to students.
- Develop theories and laws on the basis of observation and experiments, and apply these theories and laws to problems in areas such as nuclear energy, optics, and aerospace technology.
- Perform peer reviews of scientific papers.
- Conduct application evaluations and analyze results to determine commercial, industrial, scientific, medical, military, or other uses for electro-optical devices.
Other job titles for this occupation (26)
Astrophysicist · Biophysics Scientist · Health Physicist · Medical Physicist · Research Physicist · Scientist · Aerophysicist · Atmospheric Physicist · Cloud Physicist · Computational Physicist · Condensed Matter Physicist · Diagnostic Medical Physicist · Electrodynamicist · Experimental Physicist · Fluid Dynamicist · Mathematical Physicist · Molecular Physicist · Nuclear Physicist · Plasma Physicist · Quantum Physicist · Radiation Control Health Physicist · Radiation Physicist · Space Physicist · Theoretical Physicist · Thermodynamic Physicist · Thermodynamicist