High Paying Careers & Degrees for Women in S.T.E.M.

High Paying STEM Careers for Women

S.T.E.M. careers, or Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, are among the highest-paying positions in any field. Most positions in these fields are currently held by men, but that’s changing – and fast. According to Forbes, 17% of chemical engineers and 22% of environmental scientists are women. Take a closer look at the rest of the STEM careers and you’ll see a significant increase in female employment.

According to seek.org, when it comes to lower-level, lower-paying STEM positions, 37% of database engineers, 46% of biological scientists, 78% of clinical laboratory technologists, and 91% of registered nurses are women. The problem isn’t that these industries don’t want to employ women, but that they cannot find qualified women to fill the positions. STEMCareer.com says this is because of a long-standing but now non-existent bias toward women in the industry. Because women haven’t been encouraged to pursue these careers, they haven’t received the education, and end up filling in lower-level positions than they’re capable of earning.

STEMJobs.com has great news for any woman thinking of studying a STEM field in school: 78% of surveyed STEM employers say they want to hire more women in the future. If you’re interested in a STEM career, there’s never been a better time than now to pursue it.

We put together a list of the top-paying STEM careers, including the education you’ll need, what they earn, and what they do. All of these industries are expected to grow, meaning that, by the time you graduate, there will be even more positions to fill.

 


Top 10 High Paying Careers & Degrees for Women in S.T.E.M.

 


Career #1:

Petroleum Engineer


National Median Pay:

$130,280

Recommended Degree To Earn:

Bachelor’s of Engineering

What They Do:

Petroleum engineers design and develop methods for extracting oil and gas from deposits below the earth’s surface. In addition, they find new ways to extract natural resources from already existing, older wells and reservoirs.


Career #2:

Biomedical Engineer


National Median Pay:

$86,960

Recommended Degree To Earn:

Bachelor’s of Engineering

What They Do:

Biomedical Engineers analyze and design solutions to problems in biology and medicine, with the goal of improving the quality and effectiveness of patient care. They may be involved directly in discovering new medications or improving the quality of medical technology, including CAT scan radiation machinery.


Career #3:

Computer and Information Research Scientist


National Median Pay:

$102,190

Recommended Degree To Earn:

Doctorate in Computer Engineering

What They Do:

Computer and Information Research Scientists invent and design new approaches to computing technology and find innovative uses for existing technology. They study and solve complex problems in computing for businesses, medicine, science, and other fields.

>> Learn more about how to become a computer and information research scientist


Career #4:

Aerospace Engineer


National Median Pay:

$103,720

Recommended Degree To Earn:

Bachelor’s in Engineering

What They Do:

Aerospace Engineers design aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure they function according to design. Recently, Aerospace Engineers have had the opportunity to work, not only for the government, but also for private spaceflight and military contracting companies.

>> Learn more about how to become an aerospace engineer


Career #5:

Marine Engineer or Naval Architect


National Median Pay:

$88,100

Recommended Degree To Earn:

Bachelor’s of Marine Engineering or Bachelor’s of Naval Architecture

What They Do:

Marine Engineers and naval architects design, build, and maintain submarines, sailboats, tankers, and even aircraft carriers. Marine Engineers work on mechanical systems, such as propulsion and steering, while naval architects work on basic design, including the form and stability of hulls.


Career #6:

Business Intelligence Analyst


National Median Pay:

$78,600

Recommended Degree To Earn:

Bachelor’s in Business

What They Do:

Business Intelligence Analysts propose ways to improve and maintain an organization’s efficiency. They advise managers on how to make organizations more profitable through reduced costs and increased revenues. They may be employed in private or public businesses as well as governmental organizations.


Career #7:

Database Administrator


National Median Pay:

$77,080

Recommended Degree To Earn:

Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering

What They Do:

Database Administrators use specialized software to store and organize data, such as financial information and customer shipping records. They make sure that data is available to applicable users and is secure from unauthorized access. This career has seen a huge employment increase among corporations looking to protect their data from cyber criminals.

>> Learn more about how to become a database administrator


Career #8:

Actuary


National Median Pay:

$93,680

Recommended Degree To Earn:

Bachelor’s in Actuarial Science

What They Do:

Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty. They use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to assess the risk that an event will occur and help businesses develop policies that minimize the cost of that risk. Mostly employed in the insurance industry, Actuaries can fill a broad range of positions in a diverse number of industries.


Career #9:

Chemical Engineer


National Median Pay:

$94,350

Recommended Degree To Earn:

Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering

What They Do:

Chemical Engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems involving the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products. In addition, they design processes and equipment for large-scale and sustainable manufacturing, plan and test methods of manufacturing products and treating byproducts, and supervise production.


Career #10:

Nuclear Engineer


National Median Pay:

$104,270

Recommended Degree To Earn:

Bachelor’s in Nuclear Engineering

What They Do:

Nuclear Engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. Additionally, they search for industrial or medical applications for radioactive materials.

 

To learn more about these careers and others, take a look at our Careers Page, where you’ll find a detailed list of positions in every industry, including their salaries, educational requirements, and growth potential.

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