The world of science is filled with fascinating discoveries and new findings so as a scientist you will be at the forefront of pioneering research that is well-positioned to bring real and lasting change.
This industry offers many diverse and high paying positions for graduates such as agricultural and wildlife science, biostatistics, computer science, engineering, genetics, public health, and veterinarian medicine to name a few.
A degree in a science-related field will also open many more doors since the barrier to entry is lower while others will typically require at least a master’s or doctorate degree to match this same level of competitiveness for job opportunities.
Related: Want to know what the highest-paid business, healthcare, and technology occupations are? Check out this article to learn more.
Related: Need help choosing a major and the right universities? Check out this article to learn more.
In this article, we will list high paying science positions that were highly ranked by USA Today and US News & World Report. We will also provide our top picks based on:
- Median annual salary (~$80,000+)
- Projected 10-year job growth (>6%)
- Number of job opportunities (~100,000+)
Data regarding salary, educational requirements, typical majors, projected job growth, and unemployment rates will be provided to give a comprehensive picture of the economic landscape and equip readers with the knowledge to make informed career decisions.
Note: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a projected growth rate between 4-6% over a 10-year period is considered average.
It is important to note that most positions will require at least a bachelor’s degree while managerial, supervisory, and research positions will, in most cases, require a master’s or doctorate degree.
We will explore the following topics:
- Agricultural/Wildlife Science
- Applied Mathematics, Biostatistics, Statistics
- Architecture
- Astronomer
- Bioinformatics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Computer Science
- Conservation, Environment Science
- Engineering
- Forensic Science
- Genetics
- Geology
- Physics
- Public Health
- Veterinarian Medicine
Education Requirement: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate
Median annual salary: $116,500
Number of jobs: 67,200
Projected job growth: 2% (below average)
Unemployment rate: 0.3%
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Bachelor’s
Median annual salary: $65,160
Number of jobs: 35,600
Projected job growth: 7% (above average)
Unemployment rate: 1.52%
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Bachelor’s, Master’s
Median annual salary: $80,750
Number of jobs: 133,900
Projected job growth: 8% (above average)
Unemployment rate: 1.4%
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Doctorate
Median annual salary: $94,490
Number of jobs: 30,400
Projected job growth: 6% (average)
Unemployment rate: 2.4%
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Master’s
Median annual salary: $87,590
Number of jobs: 40,100
Projected job growth: 8% (above average)
Unemployment rate: N/A
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Master’s, Doctorate
Median annual salary: $95,680
Number of jobs: 39,090
Projected job growth: 30.7% (above average)
Unemployment rate: 2.8%
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Bachelor’s
Median annual salary: $108,770
Number of jobs: 33,900
Projected job growth: 6% (average)
Unemployment rate: N/A
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate
Median annual salary: $78,790
Number of jobs: 95,800
Projected job growth: 4% (average)
Unemployment rate: 3.1%, 12.3%
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Master’s
Median annual salary: $122,840
Number of jobs: 31,700
Projected job growth: 16% (above average)
Unemployment rate: 3.8%
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Bachelor’s
Median annual salary: $103,480
Number of jobs: 185,570
Projected job growth: 2% (below average)
Unemployment rate: 3%
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate
Median annual salary: $92,040
Number of jobs: 31,000
Projected job growth: 6% (average)
Unemployment rate: 0.96%
Embed from Getty ImagesEducation Requirement: Doctorate
Median annual salary: $95,460
Number of jobs: 84,500
Projected job growth: 18% (above average)
Unemployment rate: 0.4%
