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Asked by anon-256014 on 1 Jun 2020.
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Steve Thackeray answered on 1 Jun 2020:
Hi Hanna, there are actually lots of different types of scientific role, with varying responsibilities, and working for different organisations. So, like in many other types of employment, there is a lot of variation in pay.
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anon answered on 1 Jun 2020: last edited 1 Jun 2020 12:42 pm
Hello Hanna
Of course it depends hugely on exactly what you end up working on (science is so varied!), if you plan to get a postgraduate degree, etc. More importantly than just the money, everyone should look to pursue a career in something they like – not only because we spend so much time at work, but from a practical standpoint – the more fun you have and the more interested you are, the better you’ll be at your job (you’ll work harder, you’ll pursue stretching goals, you’ll feel better about yourself and work better with people around you etc), and then you’ll reap the rewards!
I would also say that degrees in science fields are highly sought after and are a good foundation for you to work even in other fields due to the problem-solving and group working skills you’ll learn. I have a friend who’s got a PhD in biology and now he works in finance!
You can find some information online and you can compare yourself vs other careers
https://targetcareers.co.uk/career-sectors/science/837-how-much-will-i-earn-in-science -
Gareth Mason answered on 1 Jun 2020:
Working in conservation generally is not paid well unfortunately. If you work for a government agency such as Scottish Natural Heritage, or Forestry & Land Scotland, then you generally get paid more than someone doing similar work for a charity such as the Wildlife Trust or RSPB. However, most people I know who work in ecology or conservation are doing so because they love their work and want to make a positive impact on our planet, and not to become millionaire’s!
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Luke Hillary answered on 1 Jun 2020:
Hi Hanna. As the others say, there’s a lot of variation. It depends a lot on what you’re doing and how much experience you have. Working for a private company often pays more than research in universities, especially if you’re working in medicine. In conservation, it can be the other way around and there’s a lot of volunteers who don’t get paid at all and some organisations that need you to pay them to work on conservation projects overseas. A lot of scientific jobs in universities are also “short-term”, which means they may only last for up to 3-4 years (sometimes as short as 6 months). Once this time is up, you then have to apply for either more money or for a different job. Science is definitely something you do because it interests you rather than to become rich, but that said, it can be really rewarding in other ways.
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Helen Roy answered on 2 Jun 2020:
The diversity of possible roles within science is incredible and of course there are different salaries for different roles. You can look at current job adverts to see the salaries on offer. There are so many rewards that go beyond the salary though.
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Steve Wroe answered on 2 Jun 2020:
It can pay well. It depends upon the type of work that you undertake. I was involved in field work living and working in eight different countries. This paid better than if I was based in the UK. I was not doing the analytical ‘number crunching’ but out in the field in Antarctica in a tent, doing the sample gathering. Later I worked in Algeria, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Falkland Islands and Romania.
I later became a University Lecturer and deputy head of a large department which paid very well. I hope that this has been of use
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Ricardo González-Gil answered on 4 Jun 2020: last edited 4 Jun 2020 6:21 pm
Hi Hanna, as some of my colleagues already pointed out, the salary can vary a lot. However, I think that the salary in the first stages of an academic career could be relatively low in relation to the effort and hours spent doing science. I’d say that scientist, in general, choose this career not because they want to earn tons of money but because they love it.
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Liam Herringshaw answered on 5 Jun 2020:
It can be, but it very much depends what you do. As a palaeontologist, the answer is generally no!
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anon answered on 5 Jun 2020:
I work in the energy industry which does pay well. There are other types of jobs which could pay more money but I love my job because I feel like I am helping to slow down climate change, but still get paid enough to still go on holiday, buy plenty of coffee and do all the things I enjoy!
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Stephen Kelly answered on 9 Jun 2020:
I guess that depends on how much you think ‘high-paying’ is – if you’re expecting Tony Stark type money, you’ll probably be disappointed! It’s enough to be happy on though. I’m an oceanographer, and I earn about the average UK salary.
But more importantly than that, it’s a job that I love. I’m very lucky to be able to do something that I’m really passionate about for a career, and that’s worth a lot that you can’t measure in money. If you’re thinking about what you want to do as a career, I’d say that finding a job that you enjoy doing (whether that’s science or something else) is even more important than money.
But whatever job you end up doing, the skills that you learn in maths and science (like problem solving and logical thinking) are some of the most useful skills in all kinds of careers.
Comments
Krishna commented on :
There generally is a salary gap between academia/public sector/private sector, however in all cases you can earn a very comfortable salary, some more than others. As my colleagues say, in each sector comes different benefits other than salary, that really just have to be in balance with your lifestyle and values. Though I think it is important to indicate that, the early stages of a science career can be quite uncertain and challenging.