Seven Mind-Blowing Careers a Masters Degree in the Sciences Could Land You

By now it should be common knowledge that the U.S. produces fewer science and engineering graduates per capita than our main global competitors for the twenty-first century, India and China. There are several possible explanations for this trend, not least of which is that obtaining a degree in one of the STEM fields is, for most, more challenging than a liberal arts degree. But with the economy in such a gloomy state, a strong science background, especially a mid-career online MS that works to modernize an aging set of skills, could very well be your greatest defense against unemployment.

Following are seven desirable careers available to science majors.

1. Forensic Scientist. Nothing is more satisfying than catching the bad guy, and that is precisely what you would be doing in such a career. A forensic scientist must be trained to investigate a wide spectrum of criminal behavior, from forgery to murder. Much of the workload is done in the lab, analyzing evidence from crime scenes, but forensic scientists must also make occasional court appearances. Median pay is $51,500.

2. Environmental Scientist. With the green movement in full swing, this career is in high demand. In 2010, Forbes named environmental science as the sixth best graduate degree to receive. As such, you would be responsible for studying and minimizing the effects of environmental hazards that threaten our health and safety, from pollution to deforestation. Tasks might include collecting samples in the field or analyzing data in a lab. You could be employed by the government or a private-sector company seeking ways to limit its carbon footprint. Median pay is $61,000.

3. Physicist. Galileo. Newton. Einstein. Some of the most famous people in history have been physicists, and you could join their ivory-tower ranks. Physicists study the physical behavior of the natural world at the quantum level, cosmic level and every scale in between. An exciting and innovative field, the downside is that to be truly successful, you need a doctoral degree, which requires additional time and tuition. Median pay is $105,000.

4. Computer Scientist. This is a no-brainer. Computers are ubiquitous even where you least expect them, and every computer needs software. You could be employed writing code or securing digital data, or you could work in a lab researching the burgeoning fields of artificial intelligence and robotics. Median pay is $100,000.

5. Medical Scientist. Like physics, this career path requires a PhD. But talk about rewarding. Medical scientists, working in university, hospital or government labs, help eradicate one of humanity’s greatest foes -- disease. Every modern remedy or treatment, from blood pressure medication to radiation therapy, is the result of medical scientists’ research. Median pay is $77,000.

6. Meteorologist. Not all meteorologists appear on the 6 o’clock news, so fret not if you are camera shy. Most meteorologists are employed by the government or a university. They work with computers and satellites, monitor and analyze weather patterns and make predictions about atmospheric and environmental trends, both in the near and not-so-near future. Median pay is $88,000.

7. Technical Writer. Good news, English majors: there is a job for you too. These professionals are responsible for interpreting complex terminology and technical jargon and making such language more accessible for consumers and other laypersons. Knowledge in Web design is a plus. Median pay is $63,000.  

Studying science might not be as smooth-sailing as, say, journalism or education, but the salaries and intrinsic rewards are highly competitive. And in today’s shaky job market, you cannot ask for much more.