STEM Careers List

STEM Careers List A-Z

Keep reading for a STEAM jobs list, organized alphabetically (STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics). This list is far from comprehensive, but offers some STEM jobs examples you can use in your classroom. Click the links below to download free computer science lesson plans or listen to a podcast interview that corresponds with that STEM Career. You can also view the Ellipsis Education STEM Career Lessons Overview PDF to see examples of STEM Careers introduced at each grade band.

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH A

• Agriculture
• Artists and Animators
• Audio Engineer
• Aviation

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH B

• Biologist

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH C

• Computational Linguist
• Cybersecurity Expert

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH D

• Data Scientist
• Data Analyst
• Digital Security Analyst
• Doctor

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH E

• Engineer
• Entrepreneur
• Environmentalist

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH F

• Farmer
• Firefighter

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH G

• Game Designer
• Game Programmer
• Graphic Designer

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH H

• Hardware Engineer

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH I

• Immunologist 
• IP Law

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH J

• Journalist

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH K

• Kinetic Engineer
• Knowledge Architect

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH L

• Lab Technician 

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH M

• Machine Learning Engineer
• Machinist
• Meteorologist

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH N

• Neuroscientist 

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH O

• Oceanographer 

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH P

• Personal Trainer

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH Q

• Quantum Physicist

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH R

• Radiologist 
• Roboticist

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH S

• Salesperson
• Statistician 
• Software Engineer
• STEM Teacher
• Support Technician 
• Systems Architect 

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH T

• Technical Writer

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH U

• User Experience Designer

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH V

• Volcanologist 

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH W

• Web Designer
• Wildlife Conservationist 

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH X

• X-Ray Technician 

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH Y

• Yield Engineer

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH Z

• Zoologist 

STEM CAREERS THAT START WITH #

• 3D Printing Industry

Cool STEM Jobs

The coolest thing about STEM jobs is that they span many industries. When people think about STEM, they usually think about computer science, engineering, or information technology; however, cool STEM jobs exist in agriculture, finance, food service, and countless other fields. For example, medical STEM careers include all types of healthcare workers, like nurse practitioners, medical imaging professionals, statisticians, physician’s assistants, and doctors.

In 2019, USA Today conducted a study to determine the best STEM jobs. Salary was a factor, but they also considered stress levels, room for promotion, and job security. The results showed the top 10 STEM careers and happiest STEM jobs in America:

1. Genetic Counselor 
2. Mathematician
3. University Professor
4. Occupational Therapist
5. Statistician
6. Medical Services Manager
7. Data Scientist
8. Information Security Analyst
9. Operations Research Analyst
10. Software Developer

This list is certainly not exhaustive; there are many other interesting and promising STEM careers to explore. To provide a jumping point for students, consider sharing a My STEM Career podcast episode. In this show, we speak with industry experts that share information about their cool STEM careers, describe their professional experiences, and offer advice to students. So far, there are episodes for Digital Security Analyst, Entrepreneur, 3D Printing Industry, and many more!  

Highest Paying STEM Jobs

To be clear, there are many ways to define a successful career that have nothing to do with salary. It can be helpful, however, to know what to expect when you are pursuing a STEM career. According to CNBC, the average STEM salary across all workers in the field is $100,900. The highest paying jobs require advanced technical skills, which can be obtained through postsecondary education, bootcamps, or training on the job. 

The highest paying STEM jobs 2022 are network security engineer, network architect, and radiologist. First, network security engineers make an average of $115,000 per year. They are responsible for the cybersecurity strategies for a company, making sure that networks are safe from cyber attacks and hackers. Next, network architects make an average of $136,000 per year. They design, build, and maintain networks for business, financial, and medical companies. The highest paying STEM jobs salary is radiologist. Radiologists are doctors that diagnose and treat disease using special imaging technology, like x-rays or MRIs. They make close to $200,000 per year.

Other high paying STEM jobs include data scientist, mechanical engineer, and geologist. As you can see, STEM careers span many settings and industries. Without a doubt, you can discover a STEM career that not only pays well, but also aligns with your interests. Learn more from professionals in the STEM field by listening to our podcast, My STEM Career. 

Women in STEM

From Rosalind Franklin (discovered double helix DNA) to Katherine Johnson (mathematician at NASA), we have plenty of historical examples of women breaking barriers in STEM. Still, though, there is gender inequality in the STEM field. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women made up only 27% of the STEM workforce in 2019. Additionally, according to Forbes, men vastly outnumber women in computer science and engineering. 

So, why are there less women in STEM? One study conducted by AAUW (2020) attributes 4 key factors to the gender gap: gender stereotypes, math anxiety, fewer female role models, and male dominated workplace cultures. These four factors cause girls to lose confidence in their STEM abilities at a younger age, thereby discouraging them from pursuing STEM careers. Next, a recent study performed by Dr. Shalini Kesar of Southern Utah University found that 91% of young girls in grades 5-12 identify as creative. Despite this, many young girls do not connect their creativity to computer science or other areas of STEM.  

As educators and curriculum providers, we have the responsibility to help girls see themselves in STEM careers. There is no such thing as “STEM careers for females” and “STEM careers for males”; any student should have the confidence and support to pursue any career they choose. Luckily, we’re beginning to see this change in secondary and higher education. The Research Science Institute (RSI), a prestigious summer STEM program for high schoolers, reports that female students will outnumber male students for the first time in 2022. Additionally, women represent almost 60% of college enrollees in 2020. The most popular best STEM majors for females include health sciences, psychology, and engineering. We are hopeful that these factors, along with systemic change, will help us see a higher percentage of women in STEM 2021 and women in STEM 2022. 

STEM Careers

Introducing STEM careers for kids in the classroom is a unique opportunity to raise awareness about all the possibilities within STEM. Ellipsis Education curriculum is intentionally designed to help students see themselves in STEM roles. 

First, all Ellipsis Education courses include STEM Career lessons. These activities begin with a video and discussion, allowing the educator to raise awareness about a specific STEM career. Students consider the specific training and traits required of a person in this field. Then, students assume the role of the professional, completing cool STEM projects that mirror the daily work of that particular STEM career. For example, in the 3D Printing Industry lesson for grade 6, students evaluate a product similar to the way a 3D printing technician assesses designs before sending them to the printer. To see the full lesson, download the free 3D Printing Industry lesson on our website.

Next, Ellipsis Education produces a monthly podcast called My STEM Career. In this show, hear from industry experts that share information about their careers, describe their professional experiences, and offer advice to students. Episodes span from traditional “computer science” roles (like data analyst) to unusual STEM jobs (like wildlife conservationist). For example, is pilot a STEM career? Yes! Listen to our full interview with Aviation professional Kyle Roth, who flies an emergency response helicopter for a hospital. Check it out below.

Both STEM Career lessons and the My STEM Career series help students discover the ways computer science knowledge can help regardless of their path. Even if they don’t end up in a strict computer science job, skills like critical thinking, creativity, and communication will benefit them for years to come.  

Related Links

• Creativity In Computer Science 
• Computer Science Lesson Plans 
• My STEM Career 
• Aviation – My STEM Career
• Wildlife Conservationist – My STEM Career
• Data Analyst – My STEM Career
• 3D Printing Industry – Free STEM Career Lesson
• Firefighter Free Computer Science Lesson
• Digital Security Analyst Free Computer Science Lesson
• Computational Linguist Free Computer Science Lesson Plan    
• Aviation – Free STEM Career Lesson Download 
• Connecting STEAM Education And Computer Science
• Ellipsis Education Computer Science In Education
• Computer Science In Schools
• Computer Science Teacher Training
• CTE Education