Science Jobs - What Are They and How to Get One

By ZipRecruiter Marketplace Research Team

As technology continues to advance, the demand for science professionals continues to increase. One of the science careers in highest demand is a research technician. A research technician’s duties are to set up, operate, and maintain lab equipment. Another in-demand job is that of a senior researcher. A senior researcher’s responsibilities are to work in a lab and conduct experiments. Other science jobs with significant demand include that of clinical project manager, chief scientific officer, and biotechnology specialist. Chemists, engineers, physicists, geologists, and technical writers are all science jobs currently in high demand.

The science industry is broad and can vary greatly depending on your career interests. There are careers in biology, chemistry, and physics, although it typically requires extensive education to qualify for a job in these fields. Popular science jobs include biological science technicians and assistant research scientists, both of which are laboratory-based jobs. Most science careers are research-based. Engineering is also considered a science career. The medical field is another huge industry that is science-based. Common jobs in medicine include doctors, nurses, hospital administration, and clinicians.

Many companies and organizations outside of academia, such as medical companies, require science professionals to function. Many private companies require researchers as part of research and development processes. Medicine is also a common employer of job seekers with a background in science. Pharmacies and drug companies hire people with experience in the sciences. When seeking a science-based job in a non-academic setting, it is helpful to know technology, business modeling, strategy, and marketing. These qualifications help workers translate their knowledge of science into the business world.

Getting a science job in an academic setting may be challenging, and often takes years of hard work. If your goal is to become a professor, you may be a teaching assistant or adjunct professor before you get tenure at a college or university. Every college or university receives hundreds of applicants each year. You can impress these institutions by having an excellent academic record and demonstrating that you have conducted meaningful research. It is easier, though no less important, to become a science teacher at the middle school or high school level. For these positions, you need a college degree and your teaching certification.