Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics careers — also known as STEM careers — are plentiful and lucrative, but what if you have no idea which one to choose? Maybe you like math or science, but you’re unsure how those subjects translate to STEM careers. Or maybe you’d like to understand all the options of STEM careers you can pursue – and there are a lot of them.
In this guide, we’ll review what STEM careers are, then share a free, fun quiz that tells you which STEM careers are right for you based on your strengths, personality, and career goals.
What Are STEM Careers?
STEM careers are careers that are in science, technology, engineering, and math. For example, a data scientist, robotics engineer, biochemist, and cybersecurity analyst are all different STEM careers. They all use technical skills in science, technology, engineering, or math to problem-solve, innovate, and contribute to rapidly-evolving fields.
>>MORE: What Tech Job Is Right for Me?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), STEM careers include life and physical science, architecture and engineering, and computer and mathematical jobs, plus some management, teaching, and sales jobs related to those areas.
In 2023, 10.7 million people had a job in STEM in the United States, according to BLS, which projects that STEM jobs will grow over ten percent by 2032. This is a much higher projected job outlook than non-STEM occupations, which projects these jobs to grow by about 3.5% by 2032.
Which STEM Careers Are Right For Me? Quiz
Learn which STEM careers are right for you based on your interests and traits. It’s completely free — you’ll just need to log in or sign up to view your results.
Types of STEM Careers
When you think of STEM careers, you might picture someone in a lab coat holding up a test tube. However, lab work is only one option that falls within the huge category of STEM careers.
Once you’ve taken the quiz above, you might be curious about your other options. Here are some examples of STEM careers and perspectives from professionals on their paths to these careers.
Scientist (and Other Science STEM Careers)
Scientists conduct research to produce products and answer questions. Scientists can specialize in a variety of disciplines, including chemistry, physics, biology, and more. If you pursue a career as a scientist, you may work at a university or in a company’s research department. Scientists review existing research on a topic, design and conduct experiments, and publish the results of their experiments.
Examples of science STEM careers include:
| Role | Average annual pay | Job outlook |
| Agricultural and food scientists | $88,350 | 8% (faster than average) |
| Astronomers | $128,940 | 7% (faster than average) |
| Atmospheric scientists, including meteorologists | $101,530 | 6% (faster than average) |
| Biochemists and biophysicists | $120,310 | 9% (much faster than average) |
| Chemists and materials scientists | $112,440 | 8% (faster than average) |
| Environmental scientists and specialists | $86,710 | 7% (faster than average) |
| Geoscientists | $104,000 | 5% (as fast as average) |
| Medical scientists | $112,380 | 11% (much faster than average) |
| Physicists | $158,270 | 7% (faster than average) |
| Zoologists and wildlife biologists | $75,740 | 4% (as fast as average) |
Jodi Asbell-Clarke is a scientist who’s a senior researcher in neurodiversity in STEM Education and director of educational gaming environments group at TERC. Yet she started her career at IBM as a programmer on NASA’s space shuttle.
“While working at NASA, I wanted to become an astronaut,” she says. “Dr. Sally Ride was the first U.S. woman in space, and she had a Ph.D. in astrophysics that led me to the field. I love space and astronomy, and even more, I love the fundamental nature of physics – how it all boils down to four fundamental laws. That kind of systematic thinking seemed to suit the way my mind works.”
Asbell-Clarke has held several different roles in STEM. She went to graduate school and conducted research in astrophysics, then became a high school teacher, and is now a researcher, author, and leader in her role at TERC.
“I bring skills and perspectives from all these different roles together. Each one has given me something valuable and showed me a different side of STEM,” she says.
Software Engineer (and Other Computer or IT-Related Careers)
Software engineers write the code that powers websites and applications. They may specialize in a particular area. For example, front-end engineers implement functional user interfaces from designs or wireframes, while backend engineers focus on how apps access and store data. DevOps engineers and site reliability engineers build and maintain the infrastructure that keeps software applications running around the clock for thousands or millions of users.
>>MORE: Learn more about the types of software engineers.
Software Engineering
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Examples of software engineering and other computer and IT-related STEM careers include:
| Role | Average annual pay | Job outlook |
| Computer and information research scientists | $157,160 | 26% (much faster than average) |
| Computer network architects | $133,930 | 13% (much faster than average) |
| Information security analysts | $124,740 | 33% (much faster than average) |
| Network and computer systems administrators | $100,580 | -3% (decline) |
| Software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers | $108,460 | 17% (much faster than average) |
| Web developers and digital designers | $108,820 | 8% (faster than average) |
Engineer (and Other Engineering Careers)
Engineers build things to solve problems. Electrical engineers, chemical engineers, environmental engineers, civil engineers, and computer hardware engineers are just a few examples of types of engineers. To be an engineer, you’ll need an eye for precision and a problem-solving mindset. You’ll also need to be resilient, since engineers have to iterate on their designs as constraints change.
If your hobbies involve building things and working with your hands, engineering could be a rewarding STEM career for you.
Examples of engineering STEM careers include:
| Role | Average annual pay | Job outlook |
| Aerospace engineers | $134,330 | 6% (faster than average) |
| Agricultural engineers | $93,490 | 8% (faster than average) |
| Bioengineers and biomedical engineers | $106,700 | 7% (faster than average) |
| Chemical engineers | $122,910 | 10% (much faster than average) |
| Civil engineers | $101,160 | 6% (faster than average) |
| Computer hardware engineers | $147,770 | 7% (faster than average) |
| Electrical and electronics engineers | $117,680 | 9% (much faster than average) |
| Environmental engineers | $105,840 | 7% (faster than average) |
| Industrial engineers | $103,150 | 12% (much faster than average) |
| Materials engineers | $97,890 | 7% (faster than average) |
| Mechanical engineers | $105,220 | 11% (much faster than average) |
| Mining and geological engineers | $105,460 | 2% (slower than average) |
| Nuclear engineers | $126,950 | -1% (decline) |
| Petroleum engineers | $148,590 | 2% (slower than average) |
Paul Chow, CTO and co-founder at 3DGearZone, a 3D printing business, says that practical experience propelled his career in engineering.
“My physics and computer science background provided the foundation, but it was hands-on exploration that truly propelled me forward,” he says. “I dove deep into woodworking, CNC machining, and 3D modeling, and in 2016, the world of 3D printers became my personal playground.”
If you decide to major in engineering, there will be other STEM careers open to you in addition to engineering roles.
“An engineering degree is an asset that can serve you in a broad range of career paths,” says Molly Roux, CEO of Brain Spice Labs, where she uses engineering skills to build extended reality apps. “Internalize the problem-solving, flexibility, and creativity that makes you a great STEM student, and apply that to your career planning.”
>>MORE: Learn about the top ten jobs for engineering majors.
Explore Engineering
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Statistician (and Other Math-Related Careers)
Statisticians use mathematical models to analyze data and predict outcomes. As a statistician, you might perform calculations to support business decisions or analyze experiment results. Statisticians need to be comfortable with ambiguity, since every data set has limitations.
Examples of math STEM careers include:
| Role | Average annual pay | Job outlook |
| Actuaries | $132,500 | 22% (much faster than average) |
| Data scientists | $119,040 | 36% (much faster than average) |
| Economists | $132,650 | 5% (as fast as average) |
| Mathematicians | $119,770 | 11% (much faster than average) |
| Operations research analysts | $95,600 | 23% (much faster than average) |
| Statisticians | $109,190 | 11% (much faster than average) |
>>MORE: What Math Careers Are Right for Me? Quiz
Liz Yauch, director of data science at 84.51˚, went to school for finance and took several courses in economics and statistics.
“I was fascinated by the intersection of math and using it to solve and explain real-world economic and business challenges,” Yauch says. “I pursued a second major in economics after researching potential career opportunities in the field and coming across roles in business analytics.”
Geillan Aly, founder and CEO at Compassionate Math, left a position as a mathematics professor to help make math more accessible for students.
Aly emphasizes the importance of math in all STEM careers. “Math is the foundation for STEM, and if a student is not comfortable with or good at math, they are likely to have a more difficult time in STEM,” Aly says.
Data Science
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Professor (and Other Careers in STEM Education)
Becoming a professor at a university is one option among many STEM careers in education. Professors have advanced degrees in their disciplines and need to be able to effectively explain complex technical concepts to students. They often juggle multiple priorities, including conducting and publishing research, supervising graduate students, grading assignments, and serving on committees.
Examples of STEM careers in education include:
| Role | Average annual pay | Job outlook |
| Career and technical education teachers | $70,810 | 0% (little or no change) |
| Instructional coordinators | $73,080 | 2% (slower than average) |
| Postsecondary education administrators | $122,010 | 3% (as fast as average) |
| Postsecondary teachers | $80,750 | 8% (faster than average) |
Pursuing a Ph.D. in a STEM subject can pave the way to a career in academia, but it also opens other doors.
For example, Caitlin Runne-Janczy, chief academic officer at Science Interactive, knew she wanted to pursue a career outside of the academic laboratory setting when she completed a Ph.D. in pharmacology.
“I also wanted a career where I had the opportunity to increase opportunities for students to pursue STEM education,” Runne-Janczy says. “Science Interactive allowed me to bring science laboratory courses to students who wouldn’t typically be able to have that opportunity.”
How to Get Into STEM Careers
Once you know which STEM career is right for you, you can start taking steps to pursue it. The STEM professionals I consulted shared their advice for undergraduate students on how to get into STEM careers.
Find an Intersection of Interests, Skills, and Earning Potential
Salary is an important consideration when choosing a career. Many STEM careers have high earning potential, but to maximize the chance that you’ll be satisfied with your career choice, take your interests and skills into account, too.
“Careers in STEM fields are always uplifted for their high-earning potential, and that’s really important to build your livelihood, but ideally you want to find a balance between your values, your work, and your skill set,” says Kilan Ashad-Bishop, principal scientist at the American Cancer Society and co-founder and executive director of STEMNoire. “Taking the time to identify those things will help you identify what niche of STEM will be the best fit for you.”
Take a Variety of STEM Classes
Even as a first-semester freshman, you can start exploring STEM careers by taking a variety of STEM courses.
“Don’t be dissuaded from intro classes,” Aly says. “Find out the interesting applications related to ‘boring’ topics, since intro classes are grounding, and fun applications aren’t always discussed or explored in them.”
Lab courses can be of particular importance.
“Don’t shy away from taking away laboratory-based STEM courses in your first year,” says Runne-Janczy. “Lectures play a key role in learning STEM topics, but laboratories are where students can really see these topics come alive, and realize that science is accessible to all.”
In addition to considering intro and lab courses, think about taking a STEM course outside your major.
“I encourage students to take STEM courses inside and outside their declared major to see if anything piques their interest,” Yauch says. “A semester is a short obligation to try something new without fully committing to a major or career outside of school.”
Get Hands-On STEM Experience Outside of Class
Coursework can help you gauge your interest in a subject, but hands-on experience can provide a fuller picture of how you might apply what you learn in your courses to a career.
“As much as possible I would advise you to get hands-on experience in the form of internships, co-ops, or volunteer work in the area you are interested in,” Yauch says. “Not only will you get a chance to ‘try it before you buy it,’ but the experience will look great on your resume.”
Hands-on experience goes beyond internships, though. “While it may seem overwhelming, joining a variety of STEM clubs, academic channels, competitions, and more can really ignite passions for STEM,” says Edward Kim, vice president of education and training at Code Ninjas.
“Students need to take their learning and actually try to apply it in other settings to see if there is a fit and match for that field.”
>>MORE: Try out different STEM careers with job simulations on Forage that you can add to your resume.
Job shadowing can also be a viable way to build experience.
“I’ve had students be successful at getting placed in a lab just by emailing the faculty supervisor and asking if they can shadow them for a semester,” Aly says. “This gets your foot in the door and gives you a chance to learn if the project is interesting to you without making a significant dedication. Often, students who shadow in a lab will be offered internships or other opportunities first.”
Don’t Limit Yourself Based on Your Major
While your college major may seem like a big decision for your future STEM career, your undergraduate major isn’t the sole determinant of your career trajectory.
For example, if you major in computer science, a role as a software engineer might seem logical to pursue, but you could choose a different role in tech, like product manager or cybersecurity analyst, if software engineering isn’t the right fit. The skills you learned as a computer science major would still be relevant in those roles.
Deepika Gajaria, vice president of GTM and strategy at Securin, chose to study physics, chemistry, and other sciences at college because she was interested in the subjects and they came easily to her.
“I loved the hands-on nature of natural sciences and engineering, leading me to my first job after graduating from CPI in Palo Alto. The job required me to work with my hands, fixing things and working on machines for cancer therapy,” Gajaria says.
At CPI, Gajaria learned about national security and researched cutting-edge technology.
“That concept of digging deep and identifying what can have value in the future stuck with me,” Gajaria said. Her interest in innovation led her to a head of product role at a cybersecurity startup.
One of the benefits of STEM careers, and especially careers in tech, is the flexibility to transition to different roles as you gain experience and transferable skills.
Challenge Your Preconceived Ideas About STEM Careers
Not everyone working in STEM careers spends their days wearing a lab coat and inspecting test tubes of colored liquid. Similarly, not every STEM career fits common characterizations of the field.
For example, STEM careers require collaboration skills, in contrast to the stereotype that scientists are introverted and isolated.
“It is a myth that STEM jobs are for loners,” Aly says. “Oftentimes jobs in STEM are large, cooperative endeavors with multiple moving parts. You have to be willing and able to work well in a group to be successful in STEM.”
In addition, STEM careers exist in industries outside of the top ones you might expect.
“STEM roles span all industries — to me, that’s the most magical part,” Tasker says.
“You can have a career in fashion, gaming, banking, and everything in between. There is a role for every passion.”
Image credit: Canva
