by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you have a passion for conducting experiments and working with data, consider majoring in Science Technologies.
As a Science Technologies major, you will learn the necessary skills to aid research scientists with the variety of tasks they must perform within the lab. You will take classes in biology, chemistry, physics, environmental science, engineering, and other science disciplines to teach you the about the field and how to properly conduct experiments, operate technology, and draw conclusions.
Since there are many different science disciplines that conduct very specific research, there are many types of science technicians. You may decide to specialize in environmental science, engineering, agricultural and food, forensic science, or forest and conservation.
While some students decide to earn a bachelor's degree, you only need an associate's degree from a community college or vocations school to begin work as a science technician. A bachelor's degree may make your more competitive in a niche field or offer opportunities with more pay.
In 2020-2021, other science technologies/technicians was the 180th most popular major nationwide with 2,451 degrees awarded. This represents a 28.3% reduction in other science tech degrees awarded over the prior year's total of 3,145.
This year's Best Other Science Technologies/Technicians Schools ranking compares 8 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of other science tech programs later in this article.
Students interested in pursuing a career in Science Technologies should have good observation skills along with the ability to work in a team. You will be responsible for keeping detailed notes on experiments and collecting data for research scientists making it important to pay close attention to detail. Strong writing and communication skills will help you explain conclusions and ensure all information is accurate. Students earning a degree in Science Technologies often have a background in science and math.
Students interested in this field should pursue internships or summer jobs at research labs to gain relevant experiments. This will allow you to learn new skills on the job while making you more competitive when looking for jobs after graduation.
other science technologies/technicians degree applicants generally need have finished high school or their GED. Many schools may also have GPA and SAT/ACT score minimums that must be met. Once you obtain your degree, additional other science tech certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Other Science Tech degree levels vary. You can get anything from a in other science technologies/technicians to the highest other science tech degree, a . Other Science Technologies/Technicians programs can take anywhere between one to four or more years for a full-time student to complete.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A bachelor's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to other science tech, with approximately 54.8% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for other science tech workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 54.7% |
| High School Diploma | 11.7% |
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 11.0% |
| Some College Courses | 9.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 5.6% |
About 67.6% of workers in careers related to other science tech obtain at least bachelor's degrees. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in other science technologies/technicians have received.
This of course varies depending on which other science tech career you choose.
Science Technology graduates work in a variety of research labs. Depending on your specific area of study, be it environmental, engineering, or another science discipline, you will find a job in a lab that performs specific types of research. Since you will have the knowledge to run laboratory technology along with the critical and analytical skills to collect data and draw conclusions, you will be able to work in labs across many different industries.
Want a job when you graduate with your other science tech degree? Other Science Technologies/Technicians careers are expected to grow 10.5% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to other science technologies/technicians.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Science Technicians | 83,500 | 9.7% |
| Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians | 38,800 | 12.1% |
Recently graduated other science technologies/technicians students earned an average of $44,953 in 2019-2020. Earnings can range from as low as $14,505 to as high as $79,568. As you might expect, salaries for other science tech graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for other science technologies/technicians graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers other science tech grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Science Technicians | $52,940 |
| Environmental Science, Protection, and Health Technicians | $50,350 |
With over 108 different other science tech degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased other science tech school rankings to help you with this.
One of 4 majors within the Science Technologies / Technicians area of study, Other Science Technologies/Technicians has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Physical Science Technicians | 2,909 |
| Biology & Biotech Lab Technician | 732 |
| Nuclear & Radiological Technicians | 299 |
| General Science Technologies/Technicians | 60 |
