I hear it all the time: physics students have only the haziest idea of what they can do with a physics degree. Staying in academia is the obvious option but they’re often not sure what else is out there. With hefty student debts to pay off, getting a well-paid job in finance seems to top many physicists’ wish lists these days. But there are lots of other options, from healthcare, green energy and computing to education, aviation and construction.
Some of the many things you can do with a physics degree are covered in the latest edition of Physics World Careers, which is out now. This bumper, 96-page digital guide contains profiles of physicists working across a variety of fields, along with career-development advice and a directory of employers looking to hire physicists. Now in its 10th year, the guide has become an indispensable source of careers information for physicists setting out in the world of work.
The 2026 edition of Physics World Careers includes, for example, an article featuring two leaders from the UK’s intelligence agency GCHQ, a spotlight on the many jobs in nuclear energy, as well as careers tips from a recent Physics World Live panel. Remember that if you’re ready to start your job search, you can find all the latest opportunities on the Physics World Jobs portal, which has vacancies in physics and engineering for people at all career stages.
A great example of where a physics degree can take you is Rob Farr, a theoretical physicist who’s spent more than 25 years in the food industry. He’s a wonderful illustration of a physicist doing something you might not expect, in his case going from the chilly depths of ice cream science to the dark arts of coffee production and brewing. But that’s the beauty of a physics degree – it provides skills, knowledge and insight that can be applied to very different areas.
- Read the latest edition of Physics World Careers by clicking this link.
