Fuel your curiosity: 7 thrilling careers for science lovers

Are you fascinated by science and interested in a scientific career path? Whether you’re a STEM graduate, a school leaver who is drawn to science, or a science lover who wants to change career, there’s sure to be a perfect fit for you in the vast range of scientific roles.

And just to get you started, here are seven top jobs for science lovers.

Healthcare professional

Healthcare professional is a generalised term for a wide range of health-related roles, including:

• nurse
• doctor
• physiotherapist
• midwife
• health visitor
• optometrist

And those are only a handful. There’s no escaping the fact that there’s a shortage of healthcare professionals in both the UK and the US post Covid-19, so there are plenty of employment opportunities in this field.

  Qualifications

We can’t go into all of the healthcare roles here, but these are the typical qualifications needed to work as a nurse or doctor:

Doctor
In the UK, you’ll need a medical degree and a licence to practise from the General Medical Council (GMC). In the US, you must have achieved a relevant degree, successfully completed medical school and residency training, and be licenced to practise.

Nurse
In the UK, you’ll need a degree in nursing and you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). In the US, you’ll need to have achieved an RN accredited nursing diploma or degree in nursing, successfully completed the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN), and have a nursing license in the state where you work.

  Salary range

Here are typical salary ranges for nurses and doctors. These are based on a full-time, employed role:

• nurse, between £25,000 and £90,000 in the UK, from $45,000 to $120,000 in the US
• doctor, between £30,000 and £104,000 in the UK, from $35,000 to $208,000 in the US

Data analyst or data scientist

If you have good mathematical and analytical skills, either of these jobs could be for you. Data analysts and data scientists have distinct roles, but they both work with scientific information. A data analyst examines existing data to draw insights and spot trends. Data scientists deal with the unknown by using more advanced techniques to make predictions about the future.

  Qualifications

To work in either of these roles, you’ll generally need to have at least an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject. Pursuing a relevant master’s degree can also prove helpful, but it isn’t always necessary. Having a knowledge of relevant programming languages will definitely be to your advantage.

  Salary range

Here are typical salary ranges for both roles:

• data analyst, between £25,000 and £60,000 in the UK, and from $56,000 to $112,000 in the US
• data scientist, between £28,000 and £62,000 in the UK, and from $120,000 to $160,000 in the US

Science writer

Science writer is an ideal role if you want to combine your love of science with your writing and communication skills. Science writers create articles, reports, and news pieces on scientific developments and breakthroughs, often turning technical jargon and complex topics into easily understood content for a non-scientific audience. They may write for a range of outlets, including business publications, trade journals, blogs, and mainstream media.

  Qualifications

There are no set qualifications to work as a science writer. A background in science is helpful, as is commercial writing experience. However, neither of these is a necessity. Many science writers start out as journalists, while others may work as copywriters or in a scientific role.

  Salary range

Salaries vary greatly for science writers, depending on seniority and employer, but a typical salary range in the UK starts at £15,000 and stretches to £43,000. In the US, that salary range is $55,000 to $100,000.

Chemist

A chemist investigates the composition, properties, and behaviour of substances. They analyse how these substances interact with each other by conducting experiments, usually in a laboratory setting. Chemists are involved in a variety of research and development processes including pharmaceuticals, creating new materials, environmental studies, and ensuring food safety and quality.

  Qualifications

To work as a chemist, you typically need to have at least a bachelor’s degree in chemistry or a related field. Postgraduate degrees are common for research and specialized roles.

  Salary range

A typical salary range for a chemist in the UK is £21,000 to £41,000. In the US, that range is between $48,000 and $90,000.

Environmental scientist

If you’re passionate about science because you want to save the planet, the role of environmental scientist is a great fit. Environmental scientists use their scientific knowledge to help save the environment and protect human health. Their main duties include collecting and analysing samples, finding ways to control, fix, or prevent environmental problems, conducting research, reporting their findings, and advising and educating the government, businesses, and the public.

  Qualifications

To work as an environmental scientist, you typically need to have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as environmental science, biology, or geoscience. Many environmental scientists also hold postgraduate degrees.

  Salary range

A typical salary range for an environmental scientist in the UK is £26,000 to £44,000. In the US, that range is between $44,000 and $96,000.

Epidemiologist

An epidemiologist investigates the patterns, causes, and effects of diseases. Their job is to understand disease spread, prevent outbreaks, and improve public health. Epidemiologists might study a mass outbreak, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, or study diseases in individual patients. They may work for a government or in a health setting like a hospital.

  Qualifications

If you want to work as an epidemiologist, you’ll need a relevant bachelor’s degree and a postgraduate degree in epidemiology, public health, or a related field.

  Salary range

A typical salary range for an epidemiologist in the UK is £27,000 to £60,000. In the US, that range is between $43,000 and $100,000.

Science educator

If you want to share your passion for science, your ideal job may be science educator. That might mean teaching in high school, college, or university, in a museum or zoo, or in a business setting. Beyond teaching, you’ll need the ability and drive to stay up to date with scientific advancements.

  Qualifications

To work as a science educator, you’ll need a teaching qualification and the relevant registration or license. You’ll also need a bachelor’s degree in one or more science subjects.

  Salary range

Science educator salaries vary, depending on setting, qualifications, seniority, and location. However, a high school science teacher can typically earn between £28,000 and £52,000 in the UK, and from $32,000 to $72,000 in the US.

Wrapping it up

Whatever skills you want to combine with your love for science or your motivation for choosing this field, there’s sure to be a perfect job for you.