Science Careers - Careers in Science

What Science Careers are There?

Will having a science degree help me find a good career?

Making the transition from bachelor of science student to graduate in a science career is an intimidating situation for many soon-to-be and recent graduates. There can be many unknowns when you're thinking about what awaits you after school: which profession to pursue, who's going to hire you, what your salary will be, and whether or not you will find fulfillment in your career.

This Science careers guide is designed to help you make the difficult decision of deciding what to do with your undergraduate science degree after graduation. From a career as a marine biologist to a career as a doctor, there are a multitude of career paths a science graduate can pursue.

Sorted by major, this Science careers guide contains detailed occupational information on hundreds of careers that you can apply your undergraduate science degree towards. We’ve included job descriptions, expected salaries, educational requirements and other pertinent information related to these careers. Not enough? We’ve outlined scholarships that can help you pay for school.

Science Careers Sorted by Major

Clothing, Textiles & Material Culture Careers

Computer Science Careers

Environmental Science Careers

Exercise Science Careers

Forestry Careers

Geography Careers

Geology Careers

Human Ecology Careers

Why is a Bachelor of Science Degree Useful?

The coursework related to obtaining a bachelor of science degree helps you gain knowledge and training that will be useful for the rest of your life, both within and outside of the workplace. An undergraduate science degree will not only help you expand your knowledge base in the field of science, it will help you develop intangible traits such critical thinking, effective communication, creativity and independent judgment.

The pursuit and achievement of a bachelor of science degree allows us to discover new knowledge to better understand ourselves, the world and our place in it. Studying science at the undergraduate level also provides you with the knowledge needed to make important decisions, react to challenges and solve problems that threaten our planet or its various inhabitants. Practical applications of this knowledge may include finding new ways to treat diseases, properly managing natural resources, or effectively reacting to the occurrence of epidemics.

A bachelor of science degree also leads to many opportunities to find a meaningful, rewarding and lucrative career in science or outside of science. It thoroughly teaches you to solve problems using logic and scientific methods; traits that are highly valued by many of today’s top employers.

Science Careers - Employable Skills of Science Graduates

Undergraduate science students are taught more than just how a lab functions; they are also taught many skills that employers both inside and outside the field of science are looking for. Take a look at the next set of job postings you come across. Do they all require specific degrees? Odds are that many won’t.

The following is a set of skills that you will gain as an undergraduate science student that you can apply to almost any career:

Research skills – The ability to locate information and determine its quality in a timely manner

Report writing skills – The ability to present findings in a logical order, while articulating findings

Data collection skills – The ability to collect data involves teamwork, communication, thoroughness and attention to detail

Data analysis skills – Involves using a wide range of statistical methods and techniques to identify patterns and other attributes of various sets of data

Time management and organizational skills – Must be able to see a project through from start to finish within strict deadlines

Problem solving skills - Using logical methods to solve problems is a skill that many employers value greatly

Communication skills – being able to present and articulate complicated ideas in a clear and concise manner

Science Careers - Biologist Science Careers - Chemist Science Careers - Physicist

Online Science Degrees

Interested in taking online classes to get an associate, bachelor or master degree in Science? Take a closer look at some of these online schools.

See all Online Science Schools

Science Graduate Salary

Entry-level salaries for employees with a science degree

Below are the average salaries reported by nearly 20,000 Ontario graduates in 2010, based on the Council of Ontario Universities' study of the 2008 graduating class. No similar surveys were found for other Canadian provinces or the United States. Not all of the graduates who responded to the survey were science graduates. (1)

$62,865 CAD - Nursing

$58,587 CAD - Computer Science  

$56,117 CAD - Mathematics

$50,760 CAD - Other Arts and Science

$47,857 CAD - Therapy and Rehabilitation

$45,427 CAD - Physical Sciences

$45,104 CAD - Food Science and Nutrition  

$43,468 CAD- Social Sciences

$42,181 CAD - Agricultural and Biological Sciences  

$42,000 CAD - Forestry

The earnings of bachelor of science graduates can vary substantially, as there are many variables that can influence salary, such as: Who the employer is, the type of sector the individual works in, their level of experience and others.

(1) Dehaas, Josh. “The most (and least) lucrative degrees in Ontario” MacLean’s On Campus, Web. November 10, 2011.

Who Hires Science Graduates?

Employers who value employees that have proven abilities to use logic and scientific methods to solve problems are typically in search of science graduates.

The skills and knowledge that science graduates obtain make them employable with virtually any organization. Among the list of required skills frequently listed on job postings across Canada and the United States are 'problem solving abilities' and being 'detail oriented', attributes that are gained through coursework in an undergraduate science program.

Graduates with a bachelor’s of science degree can choose a broad range of employers including:

Government agencies
Small, medium and large private companies
Publicly traded companies
Non-profit organizations
Self-employment

Choosing a Science Career that Suits Your Needs

If you have recently graduated, or are in your final year of an undergraduate science program and are anxious about finding a job when you graduate, you may be asking yourself, “Who should I work for?” This is a perfectly valid question, and one that may not have an easy answer. The best answer your likely to hear, is from yourself, and that will be once you determine what your motivating factors are. You should aim to work for a company that suits your career needs, goals and aspirations. Doing so will allow you to narrow your search field, and research suitable employers.

When it comes to motivating factors for making career choices, a science graduate has plenty to think about. Which of the following motivate you the most? (You won’t be graded on this, but it will give you honest and valuable insight into where you should focus your job search).

Impressing friends with a fancy job title
Fear of disappointing family
Income level right out of school
Future earning potential
Good company benefits/vacation package
The opportunity to travel for work
Hours of work
Working environment
Satisfaction of work completed/keeping busy
Working an easy job
Feeling like you make a difference in the world
Power over other people
Lack of responsibility
Control over your work activities
Working within your field of expertise
Working alone or in a team setting
I will only work because I have to

So know that you’ve thought about where your motivation lies, what will you do with your undergraduate degree in science?

Will you pursue a career that is strongly related or dependent on your science major?
Will you pursue your dream job and nothing else?
Will you choose only a reputable employer in your chosen field?
Will you pursue a career that aligns closely with your passions and interests?
Will you start your own business right out of school?
Will you simply take the first job you can get?

If you chose from these honestly, you can begin to build a profile of your career needs, and actively search for opportunities that will satisfy them. Pursue job leads that you discover during your search, and you will end up answering the question, ‘Who should I work for?’ without even knowing it.

Science Careers - Professional Associations

We recommend these links for bachelor of science students and new graduates who are interested in learning more about careers related to their major.

Science Scholarships

Millions of dollars in science scholarships go unused every year! Why is this? Not enough applicants! Our science scholarships database contains hundreds of Canadian, American and international scholarships suited to students from many areas of focus in an undergraduate science degree program. There are many scholarships that apply to students regardless of their field of study, so ensure you apply for those as well. Don't let this scholarship money go unused!

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Science Jobs - Jobs for Science Students and Graduates

Are you a science student looking for a job to help you pay for school? Are you a science graduate looking for an entry level job? Search our job board for opportunities related to the skills you've obtained as a science student.

Are you looking for a job that is directly related to your undergraduate or graduate science education? Or are you willing to apply the 'soft skills' that you've obtained as a result of your degree? If you are looking for jobs outside of the field of science be sure to keep an eye out on the "skills" section of job postings, as you will find many employers looking for applicants with skill sets similar to what you posses as a science student or graduate. these skill may include:

• Research skills

• Report writing skills

• Data collection skills

• Data analysis skills

• Time management and organizational skills

• Problem solving skills

• Communication skills

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Science Career Fairs

Be sure to attend any career fair you can in order to network with possible employers and learn about possible future science career paths.

View science career fair listings