Careers · Work that centers on
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Research, problem-solving, and figuring out how things work. 72 careers score highest here in O*NET's interest profile.
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The colored dot shows what each career's work centers on.
| Career | Median yearly payAll workers · May 2025 | Projected growth2025–35 | Openings per yearprojected, 2025–35 | Typical education to start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Software developers Strong outlook | $135,980 | +10.2% | 95,300 | Bachelor's degree |
| Computer systems analysts Strong outlook | $105,850 | +7.9% | 32,900 | Bachelor's degree |
| Nurse practitioners Strong outlook | $132,300 | +41.0% | 29,400 | Master's degree |
| Data scientists Strong outlook | $120,230 | +34.6% | 24,800 | Bachelor's degree |
| Occupational health and safety specialists Strong outlook | $90,150 | +18.5% | 17,100 | Bachelor's degree |
| Pharmacists Strong outlook | $140,910 | +5.2% | 12,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Software quality assurance analysts and testers | $104,300 | +5.7% | 10,700 | Bachelor's degree |
| Medical scientists, except epidemiologists Strong outlook | $103,410 | +12.6% | 10,500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Computer network architects Strong outlook | $134,050 | +7.7% | 9,600 | Bachelor's degree |
| Natural sciences managers Strong outlook | $167,220 | +8.2% | 9,200 | Bachelor's degree |
| Web and digital interface designers | $104,000 | +6.0% | 8,300 | Bachelor's degree |
| Detectives and criminal investigators No bachelor's needed | $93,790 | +0.2% | 7,800 | High school diploma or equivalent |
| Chemical technicians Strong outlook No bachelor's needed | $60,390 | +4.9% | 7,600 | Associate's degree |
| Operations research analysts Strong outlook | $88,940 | +11.9% | 7,500 | Bachelor's degree |
| Environmental scientists and specialists, including health Strong outlook | $82,220 | +6.1% | 7,300 | Bachelor's degree |
| Chemists Strong outlook | $91,240 | +6.4% | 5,900 | Bachelor's degree |
| Social science research assistants Strong outlook | $61,990 | +5.0% | 4,900 | Bachelor's degree |
| Dentists, general Strong outlook | $170,950 | +5.7% | 4,200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Aerospace engineers Strong outlook | $134,960 | +8.3% | 3,800 | Bachelor's degree |
| Urban and regional planners Strong outlook | $89,320 | +3.9% | 3,200 | Master's degree |
| Biochemists and biophysicists Strong outlook | $127,410 | +12.3% | 2,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Computer and information research scientists Strong outlook | $140,300 | +21.8% | 2,900 | Master's degree |
| Forensic science technicians Strong outlook | $72,060 | +13.3% | 2,800 | Bachelor's degree |
| Environmental engineers Strong outlook | $107,110 | +6.3% | 2,300 | Bachelor's degree |
| Conservation scientists Strong outlook | $73,010 | +5.3% | 2,100 | Bachelor's degree |
| Optometrists Strong outlook | $136,570 | +9.5% | 2,000 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| General internal medicine physicians Strong outlook | $256,560 | +4.0% | 1,900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Statisticians Strong outlook | $105,650 | +11.0% | 1,900 | Master's degree |
| Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers Strong outlook | $101,920 | +5.1% | 1,800 | Bachelor's degree |
| Chemistry teachers, postsecondary | $93,250 | +2.3% | 1,700 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Microbiologists Strong outlook | $87,990 | +6.2% | 1,500 | Bachelor's degree |
| Soil and plant scientists Strong outlook | $78,850 | +6.7% | 1,400 | Bachelor's degree |
| Zoologists and wildlife biologists Strong outlook | $76,780 | +3.6% | 1,400 | Bachelor's degree |
| Physicists Strong outlook | $172,250 | +7.2% | 1,300 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Bioengineers and biomedical engineers Strong outlook | $109,370 | +7.6% | 1,200 | Bachelor's degree |
| Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors Strong outlook | $115,160 | +5.4% | 1,200 | Bachelor's degree |
| Anesthesiologists Strong outlook | $391,490 | +3.6% | 1,100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Economists Strong outlook | $124,720 | +4.7% | 1,100 | Master's degree |
| Food scientists and technologists Strong outlook | $88,720 | +6.2% | 1,000 | Bachelor's degree |
| Emergency medicine physicians | $335,550 | +3.2% | 900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Psychiatrists Strong outlook | $281,870 | +7.2% | 900 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Anthropologists and archeologists Strong outlook | $70,770 | +6.0% | 800 | Master's degree |
| Atmospheric and space scientists | $99,070 | +2.6% | 800 | Bachelor's degree |
| Epidemiologists Strong outlook | $87,220 | +18.7% | 800 | Master's degree |
| Nuclear engineers | $133,970 | +0.4% | 800 | Bachelor's degree |
| Radiologists | $420,860 | +3.4% | 700 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Audiologists Strong outlook | $95,780 | +11.0% | 600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Environmental science teachers, postsecondary | $94,980 | +2.7% | 600 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Materials scientists Strong outlook | $117,790 | +8.3% | 600 | Bachelor's degree |
| Survey researchers | $69,460 | -4.8% | 600 | Master's degree |
| Cardiologists Strong outlook | $496,010 | +4.8% | 500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Obstetricians and gynecologists | $292,910 | +1.7% | 500 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Dermatologists Strong outlook | $328,730 | +6.8% | 400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Hydrologists | $96,600 | +1.5% | 400 | Bachelor's degree |
| Orthopedic surgeons, except pediatric Strong outlook | $358,550 | +4.0% | 400 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Political scientists | $142,080 | -2.0% | 400 | Master's degree |
| Genetic counselors Strong outlook | $100,040 | +10.4% | 300 | Master's degree |
| Historians | $76,750 | +3.0% | 300 | Master's degree |
| Industrial-organizational psychologists Strong outlook | $193,950 | +6.5% | 300 | Master's degree |
| Neurologists Strong outlook | $248,560 | +6.4% | 300 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Physicians, pathologists Strong outlook | $312,400 | +4.8% | 300 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Animal scientists Strong outlook | $68,940 | +5.8% | 200 | Bachelor's degree |
| Medical dosimetrists Strong outlook | $147,470 | +5.0% | 200 | Bachelor's degree |
| Ophthalmologists, except pediatric Strong outlook | $300,080 | +4.5% | 200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Oral and maxillofacial surgeons Strong outlook | $352,220 | +5.6% | 200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Orthodontists Strong outlook | $289,140 | +6.0% | 200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Podiatrists | $160,300 | +2.0% | 200 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Sociologists Strong outlook | $106,030 | +3.8% | 200 | Master's degree |
| Astronomers Strong outlook | $128,820 | +7.8% | 100 | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Geographers | $102,040 | -2.1% | 100 | Bachelor's degree |
| Mathematicians | $126,710 | +0.6% | 100 | Master's degree |
| Pediatric surgeons | $559,030 | +2.0% | 0 | Doctoral or professional degree |
Median yearly pay is from May 2025, for all workers at every experience level: half earn more, half less. Growth and openings are BLS projections for 2025 to 2035; openings include jobs that come open as people retire or change careers.