While it’s certainly not the only factor that’s important when exploring a career opportunity, salary is usually near the top of the list of considerations. Earlier this spring, a new report from Glassdoor presented a list of the most high-paying jobs in 2016. From looking at the list, it’s pretty clear that a background in math and science will land you some of the best paying jobs out there today.
The Top Jobs
Here’s a look at the top 15 most high-paying jobs in 2016:
- Physician – $180,000
- Lawyer – $144,500
- Research & Development Manager – $142,120
- Software Development Manager – $132,000
- Pharmacy Manager – $130,000
- Strategy Manager -$130,000
- Software Architect – $128,250
- Integrated Circuit Designer Engineer – $127,500
- IT Manager – $120,000
- Solutions Architect – $120,000
- Engagement Manager – $120,000
- Applications Development Manager – $120,000
- Pharmacist – $118,000
- Systems Architect – $116,920
- Finance Manager – $115,000
Having top-paying jobs that are heavily based in the math and science fields is a trend that has been coming on strong for many years. In fact, the whole category of science and math – and how it pertains to education and workforce – has its own acronym, STEM (science, technology, engineering, math). Let’s take a closer look at STEM and its role in today’s – and tomorrow’s – workforce.
A Look at STEM
It wasn’t until the 1990s that the STEM acronym was used. In fact, the original term was SMET, but the National Science Foundation later changed it to STEM in 2001. But it was decades before that, in the 1950s actually, when the U.S. started out on their path to innovation and technology. The spark that ignited the flame was the launch of Sputnik, the Russian space satellite. Under the leadership of Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy, Americans were encouraged to become pioneers in science, technology, engineering and math.
Historically, our country has been a leader when it comes to STEM disciplines in the workforce, but the struggle to stay at the top is real. Here are some interesting statistics:
- The U.S. Dept of Education says only 16% of high school students are interested in a STEM career and have the needed math proficiency
- In less than just two years, there’s an estimated need for a whopping 8.65 million workers in STEM-related jobs
- The skills gap in manufacturing is a big one – the industry is currently facing a shortage of almost 600,000 skilled workers
There’s no doubt that STEM education plays a big role in developing our future workforce. And for those who are interested in science and math – and gain the necessary education and skills for employment – the opportunities are endless!
Your Job Awaits
Through our Industrial Group, A.R. Mazzotta offers staffing specialists who have an expert understanding of the job opportunities that are out there in those more technical math and science fields, such as manufacturing. If your professional background is in a STEM-related field, or you’re a new graduate looking for STEM-related employment, connect with our team and we can get you on the path to employment.
Sources:
Glassdoor
Marick Group
FAA