Your Future in STEM: What Can You Earn?

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

very year, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes data related to job trends across a number of different industries. This data includes information on occupation growth, the minimum level of education required for certain jobs and the annual median earnings for workers in a specific field.

If you’re looking forward to a career in STEM, there’s good news. According to the latest Labor Statistics report, jobs in computer and information technology are expected to grow 13% between 2020 to 2030, one of the fastest rates of growth across all industries. Employment in engineering fields is also expected to grow, at a slower rate of 6% over the next ten years. Even at this average growth rate however, nearly 150,000 jobs are expected to be added in the engineering industry in the next decade.

Many of these new positions will be in the robotics industry, as more and more parts of the industrial economy become automated or machine-aided. Rapid job growth is also expected in other STEM fields like oil and gas extraction, cloud computing and information security.

As of May 2020, the median annual salary for workers in the computer and information technology industry was $91,250. The median annual wage in the engineering and architecture industry was $83,160. Both of these figures are significantly higher than the overall median wage across all industries, which comes in at $41,950.

Take a look at the selected jobs below, and see what you could earn in STEM!

OCCUPATION

JOB SUMMARY ENTRY LEVEL EDUCATION

2020 MEDIAN PAY

AEROSPACE ENGINEERS

Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. Bachelor’s Degree $118,610

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERS

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERS

CHEMICAL ENGINEERS

COMPUTER NETWORK ARCHITECTS

COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS

Agricultural engineers solve problems concerning power supplies, machine efficiency, the use of structures and facilities, pollution and environmental issues, and the storage and processing of agricultural products.

Bioengineers and biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software.

Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the use of fuel, drugs, food, and many other products..

Computer network architects design and build data communication networks, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and Intranets.

Computer programmers write and test code that allows computer applications and software programs to function properly. Bachelor’s Degree $84,410

Bachelor’s Degree $92,620

Bachelor’s Degree $108,540

Bachelor’s Degree $116,780

Bachelor’s Degree $89,190

DRAFTERS

Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings. Associate’s Degree

$57,960

INFORMATION SECURITY ANALYST

NUCLEAR ENGINEERS

SURVEYING AND MAPPING TECHNICIANS

WEB DEVELOPERS AND DIGITAL DESIGNERS

Information security analysts plan and carry out security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems.

Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. Bachelor’s Degree $103,590

Bachelor’s Degree $116,140

Surveying and mapping technicians collect data and make maps of the Earth’s surface. High School Diploma or Equivalent

Web developers create and maintain websites. Digital designers develop, create, and test website or interface layout, functions, and navigation for usability.

$46,200

Bachelor’s Degree $77,200