<p>I am a second year undergraduate student, most interested in quantum computing.
My dad says that he doesn't want me to be a professor because it is a dead end job, and I also read a lot of things echoing that online. </p>
<p>So I wanted to know what other jobs you can do with physics, I'm most interested in science, so even though you can work on wall street or work with finances, I'm not too interested in that. What are the good stable jobs I can obtain with physics?</p>
<p>Note: I am planning on getting a phD in physics, so that might help with job opportunites</p>
<p>Well, if you’re only interested in quantum computing then you need to decide which part of that field you’re most interested in. Do you want to work on the algorithms? Or the technology related to it? Or the experiments of actually trapping ions, etc? That’s what you need to decide first. </p>
<p>All in all, physics is a decent degree but you pretty much have to get a PhD to do much physics with it. Realistically the percentage of actually doing physics as a job is very very small. Even PhD physicists in industry usually work under the title engineer. In my opinion, if you must do physics then at least take some engineering or CS classes along the way or even double major. Grad school would be fun but it eventually ends and from what I hear the postdoc ratrace gets old very quickly so it’s best to have a backup plan. </p>
<p>To answer your question of a “good stable job” in physics, it’s next to none if you go the traditional route. Postdocs are the ultimate research jobs (not in terms of pay but within the field type research) after doing grad school. Imagine moving around from job to job with no guarantee of a permanent position every 2-3 years. And that’s not just job to job, that means city to city <em>anywhere</em> in the country.</p>
<p>I would look into a more applied or engineering physics track because those physics programs allows one to specialize in one or two technical areas like computational electromagnetics, computer science and other areas.</p>
<p>Quantum computing is not a necessary requirement, it is just one of the jobs I can see myself doing. As the field in quantum computing I’d say its a bit early for me to make judgments of what I want to do because I really don’t know all too much, but as of now I’d probably want to work with the technology/materials related to it.</p>
<p>I just want to get a job which uses my E&M or quantum knowledge. Also open to computational physics. I just want to be a part of some great projects and/or invent stuff.</p>
<p>As of now it’s too late to get into the Engineering physics program without taking 5 years, which is something I really don’t want to do. So my plan as of now is to take as many general classes in the EE department(Linear Electron Systems, Linear Systems Fundamentals, Intro Active Circuit Design, Fundamentals of Devices and Materials, Electromagnetism, Digital Circuits, Probability & Stats)</p>
<p>I might have to skip E&M and Probability and Stats (should get some exposure from the physics program) and another class, but I think that should be enough to get me into EE grad school if I decide to do that.</p>
<p>I can take more EE classes if I don’t take as many Upper division math classes, do you think I should switch EE for some of these math classes?</p>
<p>in taking these classes I will not have enough for an EE minor, but I’m not concerned about a title, I’m concerned about learning stuff. But do you guys think I should take some CS classes instead of EE classes?</p>
<p>You absolutely want to take at least a few classes in CS. Everything. Everything in physics, and EE revolves around computation nowadays. As someone working on Quantum computing, CS will be immensely useful.</p>