I started college in an engineering degree because I also was interested in applied physics. However, I really disliked my engineering courses because I felt like so much of it was memorizing equations or referencing lookup tables from textbooks. (Admittedly the later courses would have likely improved) But after 2 years I switched to an engineering physics degree and then by the time I graduated 2 years after that I came out with a pure physics degree. Now I am working as an engineer while also going to school for my PhD in physics. It turns out that I really like the physics approach to solving problems and I have found that perspective to be helpful working as an engineer. The engineering mentality is let’s get something that works and then iterate to improve. I’m the physicist who wants to slow things down and optimize from the start. (I like to understand how every piece works, and how it all works together). Usually though, I’m working with an existing model/code/tool and trying to figure out where it breaks and how to improve it. I’m doing this in both my roles as a PhD candidate (improving on a model for particle heating in plasmas) and as an engineer (improving on models for measuring component degradation in response to space plasma environments). I work for an aerospace company that supports both commercial and defense efforts. My salary is about 3x my fellow grad students but my guess is it will take me about twice as long to complete the degree.

I am biased, but you can get a job as an engineer with just a bachelors degree in Physics. It helps if you also take some engineering classes, maybe a minor. But the most important thing is experience. If you want a job with just a bachelors or masters degree, internships are key, research assistantships and unpaid-personal projects are good backups. Many engineering and physics students struggle to get jobs after graduation because they do not have any experience that makes them stand out. Internships for freshman are extremely competitive so this is one case where you use your network when you can and apply to as many opportunities as you can find. There are also usually clubs on campus that are building things like fighting robots or cars or rockets (and if there are none, you can start one!). My friend started a biomedical engineering club while he was in college and they build a robotic arm. It was a project he could talk about in interviews and on his resume.

I will likely continue working in industry after finishing my PhD for a few reasons. A big one for me is the real world application of my work. I’m doing real science, conducting experiments and presenting original research while supporting projects that are getting built and sent to space. Really I stumbled into a job where I get paid to do what I love. My 2 cents, find something you are passionate about, if it makes money great do that but if it doesn’t, still pursue it while also pursing a job that gives you money and time. A physicist in academia has neither, but if you are passionate about it then it may be worth it.