If you're looking for an interesting, exciting, and demanding profession, a career in science is a terrific choice. A job in science enables you to better the lives of others while expanding your knowledge and comprehension of people, nature, and our surrounding environment. It can take some time and investigation to choose the best science profession. To help you locate the ideal employment, we look at several science occupations in this post, the main duties of each position, and the typical compensation.
What to Consider When Choosing a Career in Science?
Science degrees include physics, chemistry, biology, zoology, genetics, biomedical science, and many more. Alternative science degrees include science journalism, technical sales, patent law, or even teaching science courses. Choosing a career in science may not be easy, as there are so many options staring at your face. If you do not want to go into broad science degrees, plenty of alternative routes will open up to you in science.
When considering science as an option, you must note the following:
1. Science is evolving; over the years, research has been happening in science, and man has been enjoying the benefits of education, health, construction, and technology. Science will never be boring to you if you choose a career in multiple fields. The advances in science will propel us into more exciting times of discovery.
2. Science benefits all aspects of life; science links our daily lives. Some diseases in the past that were deemed incurable or ‘curse from ours now have solutions to them. This technological advancement is improving the quality of life. Choosing a career in science will place you at the forefront of change and progress beneficial to man.
3. Science is global: its global and integrative nature makes it an exciting career that requires traveling. You might need to attend conferences with like-minded scientists. You will also be opportune to seek expertise in other scientific fields and collaborate with them for the betterment of the industry.
Exciting Careers to Pursue in Science
There are numerous high-paying jobs in these science fields. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) speculates that employment in these career fields will grow at least by an average by 2026, and many will grow much faster than the average. Below are some of the exciting careers you can build your career around as a scientist, depending on your field of study:
1. Laboratory technician: A laboratory technician helps physicians diagnose and treat diseases. Some of their primary responsibilities include performing tests on blood, tissue, and other body fluids, designing and executing lab testing according to procedures, and conducting experiments using scientific methods.
Average salary: $18.47 per hour
2. Forensic specialist: A forensic scientist helps to investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing evidence. Forensic scientists usually specialize in laboratory analysis or crime scene investigation. Their primary duties include documenting and preserving evidence, performing tests, analyzing the evidence, and reporting their findings in a written report for investigators and prosecutors.
Average salary: $44,901 per year
3. Archaeologist: An archaeologist is a person who studies, analyzes, and recovers recent and prehistoric human past by excavating, dating, and interpreting objects and historical sites. Their primary responsibilities include performing archival research, making presentations to the public, conducting excavation with shovels and other tools, washing, bagging, and labeling artifacts, completing field forms, preparing profile and plan view field drawings, and consulting with the team about laws and regulations concerning cultural resources.
Average salary: $62,023 per year
4. Chemist: Chemistry is a field of science that focuses on chemical substances and how they interact, and a chemist is a scientist who studies chemistry. Their primary responsibilities include preparing test solutions, compounds, and reagents; analyzing organic and inorganic compounds; developing and customizing products, formulas, and analytical methods; and writing technical papers and reports.
Average salary: $62,228 per year
5. Geologist: A geologist studies the earth’s processes, such as landslides, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, to survey the land and create safe building plans. They investigate metals and minerals and look for natural gas, water, oil, and methods for extracting them. Their primary responsibilities include investigating the structure and evolution of the earth, surveying and mapping sites, collecting and recording samples, analyzing data, preparing reports, and advising managerial and technical staff.
Average salary: $65,272 per year
6. Environmental scientist: Environmental scientists research environmental and health problems to identify the causes and develop solutions. They research to increase our understanding of the world and make recommendations for managing problems. Their primary responsibilities include gathering and analyzing environmental data, including air, water, and soil; performing environmental experiments; developing ways to control or reduce human impact on the environment; and developing and enforcing environmental standards and practices.
Average salary: $68,629 per year
7. Biologist: Biologists can take their career in various directions depending on their interests. They generally study animals, humans, plants, or even bacteria to develop knowledge and understanding of living processes. They use this information for various purposes, including sustaining natural environments or treating diseases. While their specific responsibilities can vary depending on their field of study, some primary duties include conducting research, performing tests and experiments, collecting samples and measurements, and reporting their findings.
Average salary: $72,448 per year
8. Research scientist: Research scientists design and analyze information collected from controlled laboratory investigations, trials, and experiments. Their primary responsibilities include planning and conducting experiments, conducting fieldwork, recording and analyzing data, presenting results to key stakeholders, and writing papers and reports. Many also teach.
Average salary: $80,887 per year
9. Epidemiologist: An epidemiologist is a health professional who investigates the causes of human disease and injury. Their primary responsibilities include overseeing public health programs, investigating diseases and parasites, planning and directing studies, and evaluating health safety standards and programs.
Average salary: $86,393 per year
10. Senior scientist: A senior scientist designs and conducts studies to investigate human diseases and prepares and analyzes medical samples and data. Some of their primary responsibilities include preparing and analyzing samples and data to investigate the causes and treatment of diseases, standardizing drug potency and doses, developing programs to improve health, and writing research grant proposals.
Average salary: $92,002 per year
11. Software Designer: If you enjoy technology and innovation, consider going into software design. This field requires advanced knowledge of computer programs and languages. A computer science or related science degree can qualify you for the job role. You can take some courses in software development, even as an undergraduate, but specializing in the field will give you a competitive advantage. A software designer must be highly creative so that his imagination will be let out freely to create relevant software and apps for companies and clients.
Average salary: $86,523 per year
12. Space Technician: Interests are gradually shifting away from medicine, engineering, pharmacy, biology, and some conservative science courses, and the spotlights are beaming on the sciences of space and tech-related courses. With the rise in technology in almost every sector, space technology is gaining momentum. Space technology primarily consists of applying digitization and technology to develop tools and machines that use set-ups connected to outer space and the solar system. A space technician creates tools and machines that help scientists carry out scientific research in outer space.
Average salary: $73,527 per year
13. Astrophysicist: If you are an astronomy, stargazing, and The Big Bang Theory enthusiast, you might enjoy this exciting career. Astrophysicists employ the principles of chemistry and physics while studying elements in outer space. These wonderful scientists study the birth and death of stars and other celestial elements while basing their research on the outcome.
Becoming an astrophysicist requires a doctorate because it entails more research than theory.
Average salary: $89,270 per year
14. Forensic Pathologist: Forensic pathologists simply carry out autopsies on dead bodies. They are specialist doctors who conduct tests on dead bodies to discover secrets like the causes of their deaths, the type of sickness they suffered, the presence of poison, and so on. They work with lawmakers in discovering criminals by carrying out post-mortem of the dead body and identifying the causes of their death and any other clues. You might need an MBBS in forensic pathology to become a specialist in this field. Forensic pathologists work with government agencies and are paid handsomely.
Average salary: $103,423 per year
15. Blockchain Developer: This came into the limelight after the Bitcoin revolution in late 2010. Blockchain is a subfield of data science where the data are organized in blocks. They are then linked to one another with the aid of cryptography. Young people across countries have been so thrilled by this in-demand career that most of them have invested their time and money to study the nitty-gritty of it. It is a new-age technology prominent for creating cryptocurrencies and other relevant geometric documents. With the rate at which cryptocurrency and its trading are increasing, the demand for this kind of developer is on the high side. Anyone who desires to pursue a career in blockchain development must have a complex knowledge of computer software, mathematics, statistics, and algorithms. An advanced specialization in blockchain and its development in sophisticated universities under postgraduate degrees in computer science will be required for you to become more grounded in the field. However, the course has been simplified by some online courses on diverse platforms. Interestingly, you can set up your firm as a blockchain developer.
Average salary: $154,550 per year
16. Data Science: Data is considered the most important thing among the leading companies. They rely on mining and decoding excellent data to carry out their tasks. Data science involves the study of various kinds of data using scientific methods, processes, and algorithms. It is one of the new-age careers that requires advanced and complex knowledge of computer science software, mathematics, and analytics. Data science has become the yardstick for driving growth for companies and their investors. Future business operations are determined using the knowledge and skills of data science. The best way to become an expert in this field is by acquiring a postgraduate degree in data science or computer science. However, you can take online courses to help you achieve your goal.
Average salary: $119,287 per year
Benefits of Careers in Science Fields
1. Job security: While demand for staff in certain fields, such as tourism, investment, and real estate, often see peaks and troughs depending on market performance, the science sector offers a rare oasis of stability and security. For instance, although the effects of economic downturns and major recessions can still be felt, employment has remained steady.
2. Monetary remuneration: Benefits for professionals in the scientific research and development (R&D) part of the industry are abundant, and one such perk is the pay, considered among the highest in the professional world. That’s not the only area where competitive salaries are also to be looked forward to; R&D in the pharmaceutical arena is another area, especially as the field expands and continues to observe a high demand for talent. You could earn up to $110,000 annually as a research scientist in Singapore. On top of that, researchers with knowledge of machine learning (ML) are particularly in high demand as the industry evolves and incorporates the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in R&D.
3. Making a difference: For many professionals, the ability to contribute towards research in significant areas of life gives them purpose. While the remuneration packages are attractive to some, the fulfillment gained from knowing they’re doing important work with a real impact on people drives most of them. Finding gratification in a full-time role is often overlooked in getting a good job. Although it may seem like an unattainable and abstract component of a position, if your passion lies in the sciences, follow it, and you might find the best career for you!
4. Continuous learning: In the science sector, nothing is stagnant, and everything develops quickly. Methodologies and common practices can advance in periods as short as a year or two, causing snowball effects that reverberate through the whole field; machine learning innovations frequently alter how data is used, and new instruments routinely transform how scientists work. As a result, science professionals often pick up new skills and programs regularly. Furthermore, it has led to a highly collaborative environment in some areas.
5. Career advancement opportunities: The sciences have always offered good career progression, regardless of experience. In fact, with some fields becoming more of a corporate endeavor, professionals may find that their experiences and areas of expertise can help them in career tracks outside of the laboratory, should they wish to expand their horizons.
Conclusion
A career in science offers a wide array of exciting and rewarding opportunities. The dynamic nature of the field, its potential for positive societal impact, job security, and continuous learning make it an appealing choice. Whether you're interested in laboratory work, research, environmental science, technology, or any other science-related field, the world of science provides diverse paths for those passionate about exploring and contributing to our ever-evolving understanding of the world.