Ranked: Top 20 Highest Paying STEM Jobs, 2020

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. STEM jobs immensely contribute to the American economy. 64 million Americans directly are STEM workers. This means that one-third of the country’s workforce is powered by STEM industries. These direct STEM jobs contribute to 39 percent of the nation’s GDP ($7.7 trillion).

STEM jobs indirectly support about 130 million jobs in the US. This comes to approximately 67 percent of the total jobs in the country. These jobs are responsible for $13.5 trillion in the country’s GDP, which is about 69 percent of the total GDP. They also contribute to $2.3 trillion in federal tax revenues and $1.2 trillion in local tax revenues.

Surprisingly, 59 percent of these STEM job holders do not have a bachelor’s or higher degree. They manage to sidestep hefty education loans by obtaining associate degrees, technical certifications, apprenticeships, and on-the-job training.

1. Orthodontist (Analyst Average Annual Salary: $208,000)
2. Pediatrician (Analyst Average Annual Salary: $183,240)
3. Dentist (Analyst Average Annual Salary: $158,120)
4. Nurse Anesthetist (Analyst Average Annual Salary: $165,120)
5. IT Manager (Analyst Average Annual Salary: $139,500)
6. Information Security (Analyst Average Annual Salary: $134,766)
7. Statistician Average (Annual Salary: $122,035)
8. Medical and Health Services Manager (Average Annual Salary: $115,822)
9. Nurse Practitioner (Average Annual Salary: $109,233)
10. Physician Assistant (Analyst Average Annual Salary: $104,500)
11. Actuary (Analyst Average Annual Salary: $102,600)
12. Mathematician (Analyst Average Annual Salary: $101,500)
13. Medical and Health Services Manager (Analyst Average Annual Salary: $99,700)
14. Database Administrator (Average Annual Salary: $92,545)
15. Computer Systems Analyst (Average Annual Salary: $88,500)
16. Mechanical Engineer (Average Annual Salary: $84,844)
17. Civil Engineer (Average Annual Salary: $84,700)
18. Operations Research Analyst (Average Annual Salary: $83,200)
19. Software Developer (Average Annual Salary: $69,190)
20. Cartographer (Average Annual Salary: $63,000)

Mechanical Engineer: Mechanical engineers are responsible for designing, developing, building, and testing mechanical systems like elevators and air-conditioning systems. They have to ensure the optimal and efficient use of resources for the same. Their contribution makes our lives convenient. Compared to 2019, the demand for mechanical engineers is expected to increase at 4 percent by 2028. Although this is the average across all industries, more jobs will be available in organizations that deal with advanced and emerging technologies.

Database Administrator: The database administrator is a crucial member of the IT team. Their primary responsibility is the creation, maintenance, and security of an organization’s databases. They offer custom database solutions as per the company’s needs. He/she also ensures only the required accesses are given to the right personnel. With the increasing needs for data in companies across the economy, job opportunities for database administrators are expected to grow by 9 percent from 2019 to 2028.

Medical and Health Services Manager: So, medical and health services managers are responsible for keeping the facility in order and ensuring efficient functioning. He/she is responsible for maintaining records, creating work schedules for the healthcare team, and coordinating the delivery of services. He/she is also answerable to stakeholders for his/her team. Employment opportunities for medical and health services managers are expected to grow by 18 percent from 2019 to 2028.

Statistician: The statistician is among the fastest-growing careers. Almost all industries require statisticians as they provide reliable analyses and predictions based on available data. This helps stakeholders make crucial decisions for the business. The demand for statisticians is expected to grow by 31% from 2019 to 2028.

Nurse Practitioner: Nurse practitioners are registered nurses who provide acute, primary, and specialty health care services. Thanks to their advanced education and preparation, nurse practitioners play a key role in evaluating patients, running diagnosis, prescribing medications, and managing patient treatment. It was estimated in 2019 that the demand for nurse practitioners will increase by 36 percent by 2026.

Software Developer: Specific software is needed for specific functions in every business. While developing software is important, it is equally important to ensure that it is adequately tested. Software developers also need to be on hand to swiftly and efficiently fix any issues that arise. Compared to 2019, the demand for software developers is expected to increase by 24 percent by 2026. While 30 percent of job growth is expected for application developers, 11 percent growth is expected for systems developers.

Information Security Analyst: With the increase in cases of cyberattacks, cybersecurity is a must. Information Security Analysts make sure safety of an organization’s computer data, network, and systems. They make sure the systems are always up and running. They also keep an eye on the organization’s computer network to check for possible security breaches. Compared to 2019, 28 percent more Information Security Analyst jobs will be available by 2026.

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