A student of physics will develop analytical skills (logical reasoning and problem solving) that are crucial throughout science and are valuable for life in general. Upon graduation, some students will seek employment in industrial research and development or in high school teaching. Other students will pursue graduate study in physics or in related fields such as engineering, mathematics, computer science or chemistry, or in professional areas such as medicine or even law.

Positions as a research physicist in an industrial or government laboratory usually require at least a master's degree. Research and teaching positions at universities and colleges usually require a Ph.D. degree. At the present time, traditional, narrowly focused research jobs in all areas of science and mathematics are scarce.

A student beginning a Ph.D. program in physics should be motivated primarily by love of the subject and should consciously plan to develop skills in breadth, especially with regard to the overlap of physics with other areas of science. Information compiled by the American Institute of Physics indicates that, over the past decade, between one-third and one-half of physics majors receiving bachelor's degrees began employment, approximately one-third began graduate study in physics and about one-quarter began graduate study in other fields.