The United States is one of the few countries in the world that has a very good remuneration for those employed there.
STEM related careers being a highly paid career field is no exception in the US as the United States is a major participant of technology, a vital element of STEM careers.
If you’re looking for a STEM career to focus on in the United States, one thing you have to look out for is the salaries and in this article, I have picked out ten of the best STEM career jobs that pay the most in the United States and any other relevant information you should know of.
Why is the United States an ideal place for STEM Careers
The United States is one of the best countries for working in a STEM career for the following reasons:
It Is Technologically Advanced
When it comes to science and technology, the United States tops as one of the best places either to study or work. Due to how highly favoured STEM is, it is not surprising that doing anything STEM related in the US blooms.
Favourable Community
The STEM community in the United States thrives so well due to collaboration and assistance they render to themselves.
There is Abundant Job Opportunities
Having your eyes on the United States for a STEM career is profitable as there are a lot of opportunities to find jobs related to the field there. This is why there is an influx of foreigners seeking jobs in the US, most of which are STEM related.
Most Paying STEM Jobs in the United States
After careful analysis, I have compiled a list often of the best STEM jobs in the US with accurate information about their average salaries. You can make comparison with all of them to see the one that aligns with your goals.
System Administrators
Also shortened as Sys Admin or system Admin, the sub role under cyber security is concerned with the maintenance, and configuration of computer networks and systems.
Becoming a system admin will warrant you to typically get a degree in computer science, cyber security or a relevant degree alongside knowledge of computer networking.
The average salary of a Sys Admin is about $83,000 per annum in the entire nation.
Data Analysts
The work of a data analyst is to compile and analyse data to help businesses good decisions with their operations. These could involve financial data, marketing insights, customer data and behavior, etc.
With a degree in statistics, one can venture into data analysis.
The average salary data analysts get paid a year in the United States is $80,000
Mechanical Engineers
These set of engineers work on machines and automobiles.
The US, having an highly advanced industrialization has over the years paid more attention to mechanical engineering that they have become one of the highest paid STEM careers in the country.
A degree in mechanical engineering or traditional engineering that’s closely related with mechanics is good enough to take you into mechanical engineering as a career.
They are paid an average annual salary of $87,000.
Chemical Engineers
Closely following mechanical engineering is chemical engineering, a highly paid career path in STEM that deals with the processes involved in developing and researching chemical components used in production of medicine, food, cosmetics and industrial products.
Due to its versatility, engineers working as a chemical engineer earn an average of $91,000 a year.
Computer Scientists
These professionals are very knowledgeable about the working methodologies of computers and employ skills like coding, and even engineering to develop, test and maintain computer hardware and software.
They earn a yearly average of around $105,000.
Software Engineers
Niching down from computer science, we have software engineering. A software engineer combines mathematics and computing to develop and implement computer software.
Most software engineers are usually knowledgeable in the frontend and backend development of computer software making it a highly competitive and highly sought after STEM job in the United States.
Software engineers typically go home with about $108,000 a year. That’s a lot for an average annual salary.
Security Engineers
Security Engineers are specialists in the engineering aspect of cyber security. They design, implement and contribute to the maintaining of security systems of organisations. They often develop IPS and IDS, firewalls, etc.
With the way organizations are taking their company security serious, security engineers earn about $115,000 a month.
Radiologists
On this list, radiologists tops with earnings and that comes with a lot of work, learning and research.
A combination of a degree in medicine, chemical and nuclear engineering is needed to become a Radiologist, though the majority of Radiologists typically take a degree in just nuclear engineering. Radiologists work by diagnosing medical problems using radiological techniques like CT scans, X-rays, MRI, etc.
Aside from diagnosing, they work with engineers in developing and researching these tools.
A radiologist in the United States typically goes home with an average salary of about $200,000 a year.
Medical Doctors and Surgeons
Like most countries, the US invests a lot in her health sector and this can be seen in the quality of lives the country has experienced in the last few years. Both in the private and public health sectors, medical doctors and surgeons are highly paid.
Though it comes with lots of work and experience garnering, being a medical doctor and/or surgeon attracts an average annual salary of about $140,000
IT manager
This is often a senior level role and thus comes with a good salary.
An IT manager is charged with maintaining and supervising the entire IT infrastructure of an organization and teams.
Quite a lot of work where anyone who has worked long enough in IT cab get with an average annual salary of $95,000.
What Determines the salary of any STEM career in the US
There are a number of reasons why salaries for those in the STEM community vary. This is why we gave an average for all the careers in our list. So when looking for a STEM job, keep the average in mind and also pay attention to these below.
The average salaries might be lower or higher than what is written here depending on any of these factors:
- Specific Location.
- Organization type and size.
- Your Qualifications.
- Your level of experience.
Conclusion
STEM is lucrative in a country like the US, but it comes with lots of work.
Whether you’re migrating to the US, already a US citizen or you simply want to explore STEM careers opportunities, this guide is comprehensive enough to guide you with the top best paying STEM careers in the US.
