STEM careers have been a buzz word in the world of work for a while now. With STEM careers being seen as the highest paying positions of any field, the incentives are good. However, it is believed that only 23% of the overall UK STEM workforce are women. The gap is big and the opportunities abundant.
With STEM careers for both men and women rising, many schools and colleges are pushing more and more girls to take STEM-orientated GCSE subjects. According to 2018 Workforce Statistics by the Wise campaign, over 900 000 women work in STEM occupations in the UK. Wise’s goal of 1 000 000 women by 2020 is therefore in close reach.
Events like Women in Data and Women in STEM help to get this message out. The Women in Data event has now become the biggest UK data event of its kind in the UK. With companies like Female Leads actively encouraging girls from a young age to become future leaders. Stemettes.org, on the other hand, works hard to inspire young women into STEM careers. They not only provide events, workshops, exhibitions and mentoring but encourage girls to find women in STEM role models.
So what careers are at the top of the list for aspiring female scientists and engineers?
STEM Careers to study with the highest pay
As Benjamin Franklin so famously said: “To fail to plan is to plan to fail”. This applies to career guidance too. To realise the end goal – what are the options out there and what education do you need. As mentioned in our article, Future STEM Jobs, we are educating our children for careers that we might not even be aware of. Therefore looking at STEM, it is can provide security. Most future jobs would most likely be based in STEM. Here are some of the highest paying STEM careers for women (and men) to study for now, according to a study done by ADZUNA in 2018.
1. Aeronautical Engineer
Average Salary: £51 448
Number of UK jobs: 26
2. Civil Engineer
Average Salary: £47 503
Number of UK jobs: 1 505
3. Computer Science
Average Salary: £47 197
Number of UK jobs: 4 236
4. Chemical Engineer
Average Salary: £45 527
Number of UK jobs: 194
5. Life Science
Average Salary: £43 872
Number of UK jobs: 1 362
6. Statistics
Average Salary: £43 731
Number of UK jobs: 438
7. Electrical Engineering
Average Salary: £43 412
Number of UK jobs: 831
8. Pharmacy
Average Salary: £42 984
Number of UK jobs: 407
9. Mechanical Engineering
Average Salary: £38 752
Number of UK jobs: 1 432
10. Mathematics
Average Salary: £38 125
Number of UK jobs: 1 100
According to this study, technology graduates have the most opportunities. However, even though Engineering and IT topped the list, there is no reason to drop Maths and Sciences.
Best STEM careers – most opportunities
1. Computer Science
Average Salary: £47 197
Number of UK jobs: 4 236
2. IT
Average Salary: £36 542
Number of UK jobs: 1 847
3. Civil Engineering
Average Salary: £47 503
Number of UK jobs: 1 505
4. Mechanical Engineering
Average Salary: £38 752
Number of UK jobs: 1 435
5. Life Science
Average Salary: £43 872
Number of UK jobs: 1 362
6. Mathematics
Average Salary: £38 152
Number of UK jobs: 1 100
7. Physics
Average Salary: £26 617
Number of UK jobs:1 046
8. Chemistry
Average Salary: £27 795
Number of UK jobs: 923
9. Electrical Engineering
Average Salary: £43 412
Number of UK jobs: 43 412
10. Statistics
Average Salary: £43 731
Number of UK jobs: 438
The above lists should give you a good indication as to which STEM careers are both the highest paying and have the most opportunities.
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For more of our STEM Career blogs
Women in Tech; girls’ STEM careers / Future STEM jobs / STEM Careers
