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How much do astronomy observatory jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for astronomy observatory in the United States is $20.96, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $16.35 and $30.53 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an astronomy observatory?

An astronomy observatory is a facility equipped with telescopes and other instruments designed for observing celestial objects such as stars, planets, and galaxies. These observatories can be located on the ground or in space, and they provide astronomers with the data needed to study the universe. Observatories often play a key role in scientific research, education, and sometimes public outreach through events and tours. The size and technology of observatories can vary widely, from large research centers to small, community-run facilities.

What are some common challenges faced when working at an astronomy observatory?

Professionals at astronomy observatories often encounter challenges such as working irregular hours, especially during nighttime observations when conditions are optimal for data collection. Weather and atmospheric conditions can also impact the ability to collect high-quality data, requiring flexibility and adaptability. Additionally, much of the work is highly collaborative, requiring effective communication with other scientists, engineers, and support staff to ensure successful research outcomes. Despite these challenges, observatory roles offer unique opportunities for hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology and contribute significantly to scientific discovery.

What is the difference between Astronomy Observatory vs Astronomer?

AspectAstronomy ObservatoryAstronomer
CredentialsTypically requires a degree in astronomy, physics, or related field; may involve technical certifications for equipmentRequires advanced degrees (Master's or Ph.D.) in astronomy or astrophysics
Work EnvironmentFacilities such as telescopes, research labs, and public outreach spacesResearch institutions, universities, observatories, or field sites
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, universities, government agencies, planetariumsAcademic, research, government agencies, space agencies

While an astronomy observatory is a facility used for astronomical research and public education, an astronomer is a professional scientist who conducts research, analyzes data, and publishes findings in the field of astronomy. The observatory provides the tools and environment for astronomers to perform their work.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in an Astronomy Observatory role, and why are they important?

To thrive in an Astronomy Observatory role, you need a strong background in physics, astronomy, and mathematics, often supported by at least a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field. Proficiency with telescopes, CCD imaging systems, data analysis software like IRAF, and programming languages such as Python or MATLAB is typically required. Strong analytical thinking, attention to detail, teamwork, and effective communication skills help professionals excel in collaborative research environments. These skills and qualities are crucial for conducting accurate observations, processing data efficiently, and contributing meaningful results to scientific projects.
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What cities are hiring for Astronomy Observatory jobs? Cities with the most Astronomy Observatory job openings:
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Astronomy Observatory jobs near you
Infographic showing various Astronomy Observatory job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% Locum Tenens, 1% As Needed, 43% Full Time, 50% Part Time, 2% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 58% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 41% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $43,587 per year, or $21 per hour.
Systems Administrator III-IV - UPDATED

Systems Administrator III-IV - UPDATED

National Radio Astronomy Observatory

Albuquerque, NM • On-site

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.

Job description


National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Title: Systems Administrator III-IV - UPDATED
Location: 1011 Lopezville Rd, Socorro, NM 87801, USA• 800 Bradbury Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA• 155 Observatory Rd, Green Bank, WV 24944, USA
Requisition Number: 139
Job Family: Systems Administration
Pay Type: Salary
Required Education: CPP

Position Description:

Position Summary

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO) is a prestigious research and development organization that plays a vital role in the study of the universe. The Observatory is a hub for technological and scientific collaboration, operating state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. The NRAO also host conferences and workshops, providing opportunities to exchange ideas and expertise as well as build partnerships.

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory seeks an experienced Systems Administrator (Level III or IV, based on qualifications) to maintain the Red Hat Enterprise Linux infrastructure supporting the end-to-end science data pipeline for NRAO’s flagship observatories. This senior role combines deep systems expertise with operational ownership, mentoring, and direct contribution to mission-critical science delivery.

The position is based in Charlottesville, VA; Greenbank, WV; Albuquerque or Socorro, NM.

What You Will be Doing:

  • Contribute to the design, implementation, and lifecycle management of RHEL-based systems supporting processing and archival science data flows across global observatories.
  • Lead the transition to GitOps-driven infrastructure and application deployment, striving for consistency, auditability, and reproducibility.
  • Migrate legacy science services from Docker Swarm to future environments based in kubernetes.
  • Develop and maintain automation tools in Python and SQL to monitor data pipeline health, generate operational metrics, and trigger reliable alerts.
  • Serve as Level-3 escalation for production incidents; conduct root-cause analysis, author post-mortem reports, and implement preventive measures.
  • Triage and resolve escalated support tickets, providing timely, astronomer-facing status communications during incidents.
  • Participate in agile development cycles (2-week sprints, daily stand-ups, Jira/Confluence) to deliver measurable improvements in stakeholder projects.
  • Validate software releases, prepare deployment packages, and produce comprehensive user documentation and training materials.
  • Contribute to the NRAO Common Computing Environment (CCE) initiative for cross-site standardization and knowledge transfer.
  • Mentor junior and peer administrators in infrastructure-as-code, automation, and operational best practices.
  • Travel occasionally to NRAO sites, including the Very Large Array (VLA), Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) in Chile, and international operations centers.

Work Environment

Work is typically performed in an office environment. The successful candidate Must be able to lift 25 lbs, climb stairs, and occasionally work at moderate altitudes (up to 7,000 ft / 2,134 m at the VLA site).

Who You Are:

  • You have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Astronomy, Physics, or equivalent professional experience.
  • You are a seasoned Linux systems administrator with at least four years of progressive responsibility in mission-critical or scientific computing environments
  • While not required you may have; Direct experience with high-data-rate scientific pipelines (radio astronomy, genomics, earth observation, or similar). Working knowledge of VictoriaMetrics, Ceph, SLURM, Prometheus/Grafana/Loki stacks. Familiarity with both agile (Scrum/Kanban) and traditional waterfall project methodologies.

Competency Summary

  • strong communication skills (written and verbal); ability to remain calm while supporting demanding clients; analytical thinker; ability to learn new systems quickly.
  • Expert in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8/9; RHCE or RHCA certification strongly preferred.
    • Proficient in modern infrastructure automation and orchestration:
    • Ansible Automation Platform (playbooks, collections, Execution Environments)
    • GitOps workflows using ArgoCD or Flux
    • Production container platforms (Kubernetes/OpenShift and Docker Swarm)
    • Skilled in Python 3 automation and SQL (PostgreSQL, Oracle, MySQL) for monitoring, reporting, and system health.
  • Experienced with Telegraf, Prometheus, and alerting systems in operational settings.
  • A clear communicator capable of translating complex technical conditions into concise updates for astronomers, project leads, and senior management.

Observatory employees must be authorized to work in the United States. The Observatory presently cannot sponsor H-1B Visas for this position

Total Rewards:

Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI) offers a comprehensive total rewards package for this position, subject to eligibility requirements. We are committed to serving our employees and their families with an extensive and competitive compensation and benefits package that supports our employees’ overall well-being and career growth.

Compensation

AUI strives to attract and retain dedicated, highly qualified, competent, and motivated employees by offering competitive compensation and recognition for performance.

Salary range $74,000-$106,000 per year.

Factors which may affect starting pay within this range may include; education, experience, skills, competencies, other qualifications of the successful candidate, as well as internal equity and labor market conditions.

Benefits:

AUI’s benefits package addresses the needs of employees and their families with most benefits beginning on the first day of employment. AUI provides excellent paid time off (13 holidays, annual accrual of up to 24 vacation days and 15 sick days, additional time off for doctor/dentist visits, and 8 weeks of paid parental leave). Medical, dental and vision plans are effective on the first day of employment. AUI’s retirement benefit contributes an amount equal to 10 percent of a qualified participant’s base pay with no required employee contribution; we also offer an optional supplemental, tax-deferred plan for employee retirement contributions.

Application Instructions:

Select the “Apply Now” button. Please be prepared to upload your current CV/Resume and a cover letter describing interest and suitability for the position

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

AUI is an equal opportunity employer. To view our complete statement, please visit https://public.nrao.edu/careers/. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may submit your request by sending an email to resumes@nrao.edu. PM20


Compensation details: 74000-106000 Yearly Salary


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