Results of the American Institute of Physics' 1981-1982 survey of physics and astronomy bachelor's degree recipients are examined. The information was obtained from individual degree recipients and focuses on their postbaccalaureate plans. The 1982 graduating class included 4,558 physics and 181 astronomy students from U.S. institutions. Major findings include the following: a further increase occurred in the proportion of physics bachelors who entered the military; a very large proportion of physics bachelors who enter graduate physics programs were offered assistantships, and fewer than 10 percent of the students needed to resort to part-time employment or support from their families; and the median salary for women physics bachelors rose by 12 percent. Data are included on the following: trends in postbaccalaureate plans of physics bachelors, 1973-1982; characteristics of new physics bachelors, 1981-1982; postbaccalaureate plans of U.S. and foreign minorities among the physics bachelors of the class of 1982; selected characteristics of minority physics bachelors; changes in employment for new physics bachelors, 1973-1982; postbaccalaureate plans of graduating classes of astronomy bachelors, 1975-1982; and characteristics of astronomy bachelors. (SW)