OSCA occupation

OSCA 244933: Physicist

Studies matter, space, time, energy, forces and fields, and the interrelationship between these physical phenomena to further understand the laws governing the behaviour of the universe, and seeks to apply these laws to solve practical problems and discover new information about the Earth, the universe and space weather. This record sits in Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals. Related ANZSIC industry links are included for faster classification cross-checking. Skill level 1 is attached to this occupation record.

Should you use OSCA or ANZSCO?

OSCA 2024 is the current Australian occupation classification for storing, organising and reporting occupation information. Use this OSCA record for current Australian statistical and analytical classification work.

Some migration and administrative programs still specify ANZSCO 2022. Check the exact system named by the agency or form rather than replacing the code automatically.

Check the current ABS guidance on OSCA and ANZSCO use

Official ANZSCO correspondence

Role overview

Studies matter, space, time, energy, forces and fields, and the interrelationship between these physical phenomena to further understand the laws governing the behaviour of the universe, and seeks to apply these laws to solve practical problems and discover new information about the Earth, the universe and space weather.

Use this page to confirm the official title, the parent unit group, the task list and the related ANZSIC industry context before using the occupation in classification, reporting or migration-adjacent workflows.

Occupation facts

Skill level
1
Major group
2 Professionals
Sub-major group
24 Design, Engineering and Science Professionals
Minor group
244 Natural and Physical Science Professionals
Unit group
2449 Other Natural and Physical Science Professionals

Tasks

  • Conducts research to develop and improve theories and laws related to physics
  • Develops methods and procedures to study, identify or characterise physical phenomena
  • Studies the relationship between place and time related to celestial bodies
  • Applies physics theories and techniques in the development and improvement of scientific, industrial and military applications
  • Calculates, models and analyses physical and astronomical data
  • Develops scientific models or theories to explain properties exhibited by the natural world
  • Predicts and monitors solar flares, solar wind conditions, ionospheric irregularities, or geomagnetic and ionospheric storms

Skill level guidance

Skill level helps place the occupation inside the ABS hierarchy. Use it as a classification cue, then check the actual task list and occupational context before making a decision for HR, visa or reporting work.

How to use this occupation page

Start with the official OSCA title and task list. Then confirm the parent unit group and compare the related occupations on this page if the job title is broad, overlapping or used differently across employers.

The ANZSIC links are there to help when the same occupation appears across several industries and you need the business-side classification as well.

Compare before choosing

Compare OSCA 244933 with related occupations

Compare roles in the same OSCA unit group by their official definition, skill level, tasks and recognised alternative titles.

Comparison pointCurrent code244933 Physicist244931 Conservator244932 Meteorologist
Official role definitionStudies matter, space, time, energy, forces and fields, and the interrelationship between these physical phenomena to further understand the laws governing the behaviour of the universe, and seeks to apply these laws to solve practical problems and discover new information about the Earth, the universe and space weather.Investigates, documents, treats and prevents damage to material culture to facilitate access for people to whom they hold significance.Studies the physics and dynamics of the atmosphere to increase understanding of weather and climate, and to forecast changes in the weather and long-term climatic trends.
Skill levelSkill Level 1Skill Level 1Skill Level 1
Key tasks
  • Conducts research to develop and improve theories and laws related to physics
  • Develops methods and procedures to study, identify or characterise physical phenomena
  • Studies the relationship between place and time related to celestial bodies
  • Applies physics theories and techniques in the development and improvement of scientific, industrial and military applications
  • Examines and documents objects, including condition surveys and reports
  • Recommends appropriate materials and environments for storage, display and other contexts
  • Researches, tests and applies treatments to stabilise, clean, repair, restore or activate objects
  • Assesses and manages physical risks to cultural heritage objects and collections
  • Analyses and interprets weather data gathered from different sources such as meteorological stations, radars and satellite imagery
  • Studies and analyses historical weather patterns to understand long-term trends and predict future climate scenarios
  • Provides short to medium-term weather forecasts to the general public
  • Studies the impact of weather on the environment and effects of human activity on the climate

Comparison uses occupation definitions, skill levels, tasks and title variants from the ABS OSCA data files.

Compliance risk score

4 of 4 factors passing

10 / 10
Verified official source
- ABS OSCA occupation record present
Previous edition migration
- OSCA to ANZSCO correspondence attached
Complete hierarchy
- Major, sub-major, minor and unit group links are present
Legacy crosswalk
- Legacy ANZSCO correspondence attached

How we calculate this score →

In this section

Frequently asked questions

What does OSCA 244933 do?

Physicist is the current ABS occupation record used to describe a specific occupation. It sits in the OSCA hierarchy and carries skill-level context plus related titles and tasks.

How should I read the skill level?

The skill level tells you the educational or training depth that the ABS associates with the occupation. It is a classification signal, not a salary band or a qualification checklist on its own.

Why is industry context shown on an occupation page?

Industry context helps when the title is common or ambiguous. It shows where the occupation is typically employed so you can compare it with the right ANZSIC family.

Source and trust

Official source
ABS OSCA 2024 release and correspondence tables
Last reviewed
2026-04-17

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