12 Highest Paying Jobs in Science (2022)

A degree in science is said to open a lot of doors. With the right experience, exposure, and skills, it can lead to a job in the most interesting science fields with an amazing professional life and great pay. With this in mind, we have listed some of the highest-paid jobs that you can land with your science degree and experience. Let’s get started.

1. Medical Science Liaison

Median Salary-  £52,146/yr

A Medical Science Liaison is a science professional who provides information about medical products like drugs, equipment, and treatments. They are a part of any medical product’s lifecycle based on their specialisation, providing relevant information and helping in its efficient utilisation. Additionally, they develop and maintain project-related relationships with physicians, clinicians, and other specialists in different medical institutions.

To be a Medical Science Liaison, an advanced degree such as a Master’s or a Ph.D. is required along with a considerable amount of experience. Such professionals are also required to have industry knowledge based on their expertise combined with excellent communication, presentation, data analysis, and critical thinking skills.

2. Physician

Median Salary-  £51,350/yr

A Physician diagnoses and cures a wide range of disorders and diseases. They conduct routine check-ups on patients, perform in-depth diagnoses, and give appropriate medications and advice. They counsel patients on diet, healthy living, and fitness and consult with other physicians and refer patients to them based on patient needs.

A Physician is required to have a strong understanding of examination methodologies and diagnostics, good leadership, and strong communication and interpersonal skills. They require a Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) and a license to practice.

3. Clinician

Median Salary-  £44,389/yr

A Clinician is responsible for managing patients and their illnesses. Their role may not always be about diagnosing or finding cures but primarily ensuring patients get the right care. Some types that come under this category include nurse, clinical mental health counselor, or care coordinator. They maintain good relationships with patients providing them with the best care available.

As a clinician, one is required to have completed an accredited Clinical training program, possess a valid license, strong interpersonal and diagnostic techniques, and excellent verbal communication skills.

4. Pharmacist

Median Salary-  £42,062/yr

Pharmacists are responsible for supplying medicines and other medical devices for consumers. They check prescriptions for accuracy and safety and dispense medicines accordingly. Pharmacists could be hospital pharmacists with a presence in different hospitals, retail pharmacists that dispense medicines directly to consumers, or industrial pharmacists who discover, produce, and sell medicines.

To be a Pharmacist, one should have an MPharm degree approved by the General Pharmaceutical Council. Key skills required are analytical skills, ability to think critically, strong numerical skills, critical thinking, presence of mind, and attention to detail.

5. Bioinformatics Scientist

Median Salary-  £41,784/yr

A Bioinformatics Scientist combines health-related studies such as biology and medicine with information technology to collect, analyse, and interpret data. The purpose is to build data models and databases to develop and enhance scientific processes like gene expression profiling, genome annotation, and structural bioinformatics. They make recommendations to improve the quality of research and output in terms of methods and tools.

An advanced degree in genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, or a similar field is required to work as a Bioinformatics Scientist. Some top skills required for this role are computer literacy, data analysis, communications, strategy formulation, and teamwork among others.

6. Veterinarian

Median Salary-  £41,080/yr

A Veterinarian (Vet) is an animal doctor responsible for diagnosing and treating animals. On a day-to-day basis, they treat animal wounds and perform dental, ophthalmic, and orthopedic surgeries as required. They prescribe medications, advise pet owners on pets’ health, and vaccinate animals. 

To be a Vet, one should have completed a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. Additionally, they should have work experience as a Veterinarian, Veterinary Technician, or Veterinarian Assistant. Compassion, empathy, the ability to work under pressure, and industry knowledge are key for Vets.

7. Research Fellow

Median Salary-  £40,198/yr

Research Fellows are primarily responsible for developing research objectives, projects, and proposals, performing research, and analysing & communicating the results. They develop new concepts and ideas to enhance intellect understanding, knowledge contribution, and distribution based on their domain and speacialisation. They work on improving research techniques with colleagues to enhance research output.

Research Fellows are usually required to have a higher degree in a related field like a Ph.D. and some research experience. Oral and written communications, data analysis, making presentations, networking, and teaching are some common requirements for this role.

8. Physician Advisor

Median Salary-  £$39,619/yr

A Physician Advisor is usually employed by medical institutions to act as an advisor on quality regulations. They perform reviews to evaluate and determine whether initial physician findings and recommendations were accurate or not. They review products and suggest benefits, efficacy, and impact to higher management.

They require a degree in Osteopathic Medicine, Medicine, Health Care Administration, or any other related field. Physician advisors should also have a valid license to practice. Some key skills required are strong analytical, critical thinking, and communication skills along with the ability to make excellent presentations.

9. Radiologist

Median Salary-  £39,187/yr

Radiologists use the process of imaging to diagnose, treat, and manage medical conditions and diseases for patients. The job involves examining the anatomy, medical history, and previous imaging for the patient. Some imaging techniques used include x-ray, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan, and more.

As a Radiologist, one should at least have a bachelor’s degree in biology, physical sciences, or a related field.  Additionally, a two-year Foundation Training programme that is common to all medical graduates is also required. Here, students work in hospitals as junior doctors on a rotational basis in different departments. Skills required are critical thinking, problem-solving, and communications.

10. Clinical Research Associate

Median Salary-  £39,026/yr

Clinical Research Associates prepare and carry out clinical trials to test drugs and assess their safety and benefits. They examine and approve the associated risks and effects of different drugs before distributing them to consumers. They set up study centres or labs for trials, perform monitoring visits and data checks, and finalise collected data to create reports. 

To be a CRA, one should have an advanced degree in biology, microbiology, pharmacy, or any other branch of medicine. Moreover, work experience within a hospital or pharmaceutical company is always advantageous. Some important skills include excellent attention to detail and the ability to keep detailed, accurate records, along with advanced organizational and planning skills.

11. Radiologic Technologist

Median Salary-  £36,874/yr

A Radiologic Technologist operates X-ray, CT, mammogram, sonogram, and MRI machines among other imaging equipment. Their primary role is to assist other medical professionals to identify disorders and injuries through imaging equipment. Furthermore, they educate patients about the purpose of scans and resolve their doubts. They also produce a detailed report for the attending doctor to interpret.

As a Radiologic Technologist, one should have an associate or bachelor’s degree along with a valid license. Good organizational, technical, mathematical, and analytical abilities are required for this role.

12. Research Scientist

Median Salary-  £36,000/yr

A Research Scientist is primarily involved in designing and conducting experiments and analysing their results. The domain could range from geosciences, meteorology, and pharmacology to microbiology, neurosciences, and plant sciences. They work in multi-disciplinary teams in different domains in academia or industry. Furthermore, they carry out peer reviews of publications and presentations while also preparing research proposals and funding applications.

To be a Research Scientist, one should have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in science depending on target specialisation. Post-doctoral work or other research projects are always an advantage. Some important skills are technical, numerical, analytical, and interpersonal skills.