What can I do with a physics and mathematics degree?

You would do much better in either of those fields with an advanced degree.

@marinelife Thanks. I’ve heard a lot of mixed answers with my advanced degree question. Some say the amount of time spent on a graduate degree is not worth the “slight increase of salary”, while others say it’s the only way to go.

You will either need a Masters’ or w/just a bachelor’s you could get a teaching certificate for Math ( I think ).

I have never heard a Masters’ earns you a “slight increase” in salary but a lot more salary and a huge increase in options for employment.

Both of those degrees are well-suited for engineering. Is that something that interests you? You could work for companies like SpaceX or Blue Origin—or more terrestrial options like Tesla. I would highly recommend getting hands on experience while in school. Join a Formula SAE or solar car team (or anything that actually builds and does stuff). It helps on the resume and is a great way to learn. I would say advanced degrees are good but salary isn’t nearly as important as finding what you love and being able to do that daily. Make the advanced degree decision later when you have more knowledge about what you want to do. Focus on trying out things now, do internships and take any opportunity you can get for experiential learning.

Fluther in the General section.

I agree with @timtrueman. You may want to look at engineering programs before you decide.

If you have to ask, probably nothing.
And don’t take that as a smart ass answer. I’m serious.

@Vortico As this chart clearly shows, there is a significant difference in earnign power between a Masters degree and a bachelor’s degree.

@timtrueman Engineering doesn’t appeal to me as much as theoretical physics does; however, this is always an option. The SpaceX company is very interesting.

You mentioned experimental learning. I am actually involved in a robotics project with a few of my friends, so this may be my ticket into engineering if I choose to do so.

@plethora Yes, this is the other half of what I hear. I will take it seriously, but do you have any backing sources?

@marinelife You’re right, it clearly shows the difference. Wow!

Robotics, robotic, robotics!

There are many positions open for advanced degrees in those fields. (I am one of them.) So many companies are working on research either self funded or grants they cnnot get enough good help.
You are in demand right now and will be needed even more in the coming years. The alternative energy field and oil situation is growing exponentially.
This is a very exciting time to be a technocrat.

@worriedguy This is great! What is your field, specifically?

@marinelife I see that chart but honestly it depends. That chart doesn’t match up at all with most of my friends. Sure statistically on average that chart is true. But there is one scenario where that chart would really screw you: if you’re really fucking great.

A smart graduate with a BS in computer science can push almost into the six figures straight out of school at Google (the lowest software engineering salary at Facebook is $86k I’ve read) so by the time you can complete a PhD you’ll have more debt and you may or may not make as much as if you hadn’t done the PhD. I guess what I’m saying is if you’re talented it might hurt you to do a PhD and you could easily make more than that. For me that certainly would have been the case. That said I am considering going back for grad school eventually but for different reasons (not salary related).

I’m not disagreeing, just pointing out there is at least one exception.

If theoretical physics interests you more than applied, definitely master’s degree. Engineering is all about applied physics.

And I don’t agree that a master’s degree always means higher earning power than a bachelor’s degree. It really depends on what field you are in and what you are doing in that field and frankly how good you are at what you do. Someone with a master’s degree that goes into teaching is going to top out around where you might start with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. And if you’re good at the business side of things, it is possible that you will make more managing PhDs than working as one for someone else.

@timtrueman Good point, but I thought he was talking about theoretical physics and math not computer programming.

@marinelife The same is true for all those fields. If you’re great at physics you can get a very high paying job. I just know programming so that’s the example I used.

Get it framed and hang it on the wall

Um .. I am a government contractor. Working on projects.
I’ll PM you later.

I know there is a demand for people trained as chemists or statisticians, but I do not know of any jobs for people with general knowledge of physics and math. My guess would be that it would be best to eventually specialize in one particular area, like geophysics.