12 Promising STEM Careers

By Camilla Andersson, Monster Contributor

From the moment we wake up to the moment we go to sleep, we interact with the world of STEM. There are a wide range of STEM careers, and many of them are in high demand and pay well. Groundbreaking technologies and new discoveries continue to advance STEM and create new job titles.

What opportunities does the STEM field have for your career? We have the details on what STEM is and a list of 12 STEM careers to pursue.

What Does STEM Stand for?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. This word was coined in 2001, but STEM fields have been around for thousands of years.

The 4 STEM Fields

Each of the STEM disciplines has a different function and focus. Here are some examples of common jobs within each of the STEM fields:

Science: Science careers focus on conducting scientific research, typically in natural or physical science. There are many different types of scientists. Some examples of science fields are chemistry, biology, and physics.
Technology: Tech jobs are in computer science, artificial intelligence, electronics, nanotechnology, robotics, and more.
Engineering: Engineers develop structures, processes, plans, and products. This field is divided into several specialties, such as mechanical, civil, electrical, and chemical engineering.
Math: Math jobs can be solely focused on math, such as teaching or researching math, or utilize math skills to process data, make predictions, provide solutions, and more. Some industries where math is commonly used are accounting, insurance, finance, business, and economy.

STEM categorizations aren’t always completely clear-cut and there is some disagreement on which industry sectors and job titles belong in STEM. For example, some consider healthcare professionals like nurses and doctors, as well as social science jobs, to be STEM careers, but many don’t. Some jobs can also fit into more than one STEM discipline.

What Do Scientists Do ?

Scientists conduct research in a systematic way according to scientific principles. Careers in science can be conducting basic research, where the goal is the knowledge itself, or applied research, where the goal is to develop solutions to problems.

The term scientist usually refers to a researcher active in the science fields of natural or physical sciences (although social scientists conduct research as well). These are some examples of different types of scientists:

What Are Some Emerging Technologies in STEM?

Emerging technologies continue to blur the lines between the four STEM disciplines, and especially between science and technology. Below are some examples of emerging technologies in STEM.

Robotics: A robot is a machine that can move independently, sense its environment, and respond accordingly.
Artificial intelligence (AI): AI is computer software that mimics human intelligence in its ability to reason, learn, solve problems, and more.
Nanotechnology: Nanotech is the convergence of engineering and science to manipulate matter on a near-atomic scale. Nanotechnology can be used to create consumer electronics, medical devices, and many other products.
The Internet of Things refers to when products are connected to the Internet that typically aren’t connected devices, for example a light bulb. This is often done for convenience or entertainment but has the potential to revolutionize healthcare and other industries.

9 of the Best STEM Careers to Pursue

Advances in tech create new careers in STEM and rapid job growth for many established STEM careers.

Ready to start your search for careers in STEM? Here’s a STEM careers list of some of the fastest-growing jobs in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Fast-Growing STEM Careers in Science

Since there are a wide range of science careers, demand for jobs varies. As a whole, the job market for scientists is expected to grow at a rate of about 7% in the next few years, but some jobs will see much higher growth rates. These are some examples of sciences careers that are in high demand:

Data Scientist

Data analysts collect, organize, analyze, and present data. Some also make recommendations based on this data, such as business strategies or government policies. To perform their work, data scientists often need to develop computer algorithms and models. You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field for this career.

Projected job growth: 36%

Median salary: The median salary for a data scientist is $49.76 per hour.

Find data scientist jobs on Monster.

Biochemist

Biochemists conduct basic and applied research focused on chemical processes in humans and animals. Most biochemists have a Ph.D. in biochemistry or a related field. For some positions, a master’s degree may be sufficient.

Projected job growth: 9%

Median salary: The median salary for a biochemist is $38.78 per hour.

Find biochemistry jobs on Monster.

Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists monitor public health problems and investigate how to prevent or treat them. They often track the spread of infectious diseases but may also research bioterrorism threats and other health risks. They plan and conduct studies and collect, analyze, and present data. They usually work for state or local governments or universities, but can also work for nonprofit organizations, health insurance companies, and the pharma industry. To become an epidemiologist you’ll typically need a master’s or doctoral degree in public health, epidemiology, or medicine.

Projected job growth: 19%

Median salary: The median salary for an epidemiologist is $37.75 per hour.

Find epidemiology jobs on Monster.

Fast-Growing STEM Careers in Technology

Tech is one of the largest sectors of the U.S. economy—it’s second only to healthcare. There are over 585,000 tech companies in the U.S., resulting in plenty of jobs. Many offer generous benefits packages and salaries—learn more in our article about the best tech companies to work for.

These are some of the fastest-growing tech jobs:

Computer Scientist

Computers scientists are computer experts who hold a degree in computer science. They often work in basic research, studying computational theories, and applied research, developing new technologies. Computer scientists can also use their knowledge and education to work in other jobs besides research, such as in programming or software development. You’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science to become a computer scientist. Advanced positions will require a higher degree.

Projected job growth: 26%

Median salary: The median salary for a computer scientist is $65.69 per hour.

Find computer science jobs on Monster.

Software Developer

Software developers plan, develop, create, and test software, for example apps. Software developers might be directly involved in writing code or have a project management role supervising programmers. Software developers usually have a bachelor’s degree in software development, computer science, or a related field.

Projected job growth: 17%

Median salary: The median salary for a software developer is $61.18 per hour.

Find software developer jobs on Monster.

Fast-Growing STEM Careers in Engineering

Engineering is a stable career field with relatively high salaries. Jobs for engineers will grow at about the same rate as the job market as a whole, but the jobs below are examples of engineering specialties that will grow faster.

Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers develop technologies that improve human health, for example medical devices and artificial organs. They also engineer the computer systems behind these, such as software apps. Biomedical engineers work in the intersection of science, medicine, engineering, and technology. They typically have a bachelors’ degree in biomedicine, bioengineering, or a related field.

Projected job growth: 7%

Median salary: The median salary for a biomedical engineer is $47.86 per hour.

Find biomedical engineer jobs on Monster.

Industrial Engineer

Industrial engineers develop systems and processes to help companies operate more efficiently. This saves companies time and money and often helps them become more sustainable as well. Many industrial engineers focus on improving production and distribution.

Projected job growth: 12%

Median salary: The median salary for an industrial engineer is $46.32 per hour.

Find industrial engineer jobs on Monster.

Fast-Growing STEM Careers in Math

There is a high demand for workers with math degrees, and this will continue to grow rapidly over the next few years. This makes math one of the safest career fields to bet on. Below are some examples of math jobs in high demand. Learn more about different math jobs in our article about what you can do with a math degree.

Actuary

Actuaries use analytical math tools and models to predict the likelihood of different financial outcomes. Most actuaries work in the insurance industry. Actuaries usually hold a bachelor’s degree in actuarial science, business administration, or a related field.

Projected job growth: 22%

Median salary: The median salary for an actuary is $41.21 per hour.

Find actuary jobs on Monster.

Mathematician

Mathematicians conduct research and teach at universities or use math to solve problems for companies or government agencies. They gather, analyze, and present data, for example for reports, surveys, and studies. In some jobs you’ll also use the data to make forecasts or suggest business decisions. Mathematicians need at least a bachelor’s degree in math. Many jobs require a master’s or doctoral degree.

Projected job growth: 11%

Median salary: The median salary for a mathematician is $53.90 per hour.

Find math jobs on Monster.

How to Get Into STEM

To have a successful career in STEM, you’ll need to be skilled in science, technology, or math. These fields of knowledge often overlap; so for many positions you’ll need to be well-versed in several or all STEM disciplines. Engineering, for example, frequently incorporates all three. STEM jobs require great attention to detail and high organizational and analytical skills.

STEM is popular and there are many initiatives for people who are interested in pursuing STEM careers. If you’re in high school, see if there are STEM clubs at your school. You might also find local organizations in your area.

During your college years, consider joining a professional organization related to your major. Many of these admit students and some have chapters specifically for students or membership discounts for students. These are some of the most common ones:

If you already have a college education and don’t want to go back to school, consider if you have transferable skills that can help you move into a career in STEM. Many job titles that exist in other industries also exist in STEM; you can for example work as a project manager of an engineering project or a business analyst for a medtech company.

STEM Careers That Don’t Require a 4-Year-Degree

Not all jobs in STEM require a college degree, and some require only an associate degree or a two-year degree from a trade school or technical college. If you have a talent for tech, you might be able to get a job without a degree because of the high demand for tech workers. Some computer programmers are self-taught, have attended online classes, or learned their skills through a coding bootcamp.

These are some examples of other jobs where you may not need a 4-year degree:

Biomedical Equipment Technician

Biomedical equipment technicians (BMET) install, maintain, and repair biomedical equipment. You’ll need at least a 2-year associate degree for this job. Getting certified from the Association from the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation can help you advance on the job market.

Median pay: The median hourly pay for an BMET is $27.82 an hour.

Find biomedical equipment technician jobs on Monster.

Game Tester

Game testers test video games during the development process to give feedback and discover tech issues. Employers look for candidates who have an analytical personality with strong attention to detail, but experience playing video games helps as well. You may or may not need a college degree, depending on the complexity of the job.

Estimated Salary: Game testers make approximately $53,030 a year.

Find game tester jobs on Monster.

Computer Repair Technician

Computer repair technicians solve hardware and software problems with laptops, desktops, and tablets. As a computer repair technician you might work in-house for a company or as a contractor visiting businesses or private clients.

Median salary: The median salary for a computer repair technician is $27.83 per hour.

Find computer repair technician jobs on Monster.

How to Advance in Your STEM Career

New developments in STEM make this an exciting career to work in, but it also means that you’ll need to stay up to date with recent advancements. You can do this on your own or through your employer with online classes, webinars, and professional networking at conferences, trade shows, and other career events, as well as networking virtually.

For other jobs, continuing education is a major advantage. Taking classes or certificate courses might also be required to apply or reapply for professional licenses. Your best starting point to learn more are professional organizations related to your industry.

These are some examples of common optional certificates:

For software developers: Java certifications from Oracle, Certified Scrum Developer from the Scrum Alliance, CompTIA ITF+, Certified Associate Programmer from the C++ Institute
For engineers: Engineer-in-training (EIT), engineering intern (ET), and professional engineer (PE) from the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES)

Women and Minorities in STEM

Women, Latino, and Black workers are among some of the groups underrepresented in the STEM workforce and among STEM students at universities and colleges as well. These groups also tend to earn less income on average in STEM jobs. There are many organizations that aim to advance the causes of women and minorities in STEM and create communities for support. These are some examples:

Find the Job Search Technology You Need on Monster

Discover the latest STEM careers and apply directly on Monster. Start by creating a profile. Upload your resume, add it to our database, and make it visible so that recruiters in STEM can reach out to you as well. Sign up for job alerts and get career advice to your inbox so that you can stay up-to-date on new developments in your STEM field.