Using the information in the Occupational Outlook Handbook at http://bls.gove/ooh/, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, you will explore five different STEM career pathways and a corresponding career choice.
- High School Diploma: Elevator Installers and Repairers
- Associate’s Degree: Nuclear Technicians
- Bachelor’s Degree: Database Administrators
- Master’s Degree: Statistician
- Doctoral Degree: Biochemists and Biophysicists
Listed below are the five pathways, each with five questions:
- What do they do?
- How do you become a worker in this field?
- What are some important qualities that a worker in this field should possess?
- What is the job outlook for this occupation between 2012-2022?
- What was the median pay for this occupation in 2012?
1. High School Diploma: Elevator Installers and Repairers
One of the STEM careers that a student could obtain with a High School Diploma is that of an Elevator Installers and Repairers.
Locate this career in the Occupational Outlook Handbook which you opened in the other window (http://bls.gov/ooh/), and answer the following 5 questions in the space provided.
Question: What do they do?
Answer: Elevator installers and repairers assemble, install, and replace elevators, escalators, chairlifts, moving walkways, and similar equipment in buildings. Elevator installers and repairers usually specialize in installation, maintenance, or repair work. Maintenance and repair workers generally require greater knowledge of electronics, hydraulics, and electricity than do installers because a large part of maintenance and repair work is troubleshooting. In fact, most elevators today have computerized control systems, resulting in more complex systems and troubleshooting than in the past.
Question: How do you become a worker in this field?
Answer: A high school diploma or equivalent is required. High school classes in math, mechanical drawing, and shop may help applicants compete for apprenticeship openings. Nearly all elevator installers and repairers learn through an apprenticeship, normally 5 years of instruction and paid on-the-job training. During training, apprentices learn blueprint reading, electrical and electronic theory, mathematics, applied physics, and safety.
Question: What are some important qualities that a worker in this field should possess?
Answer: Detail oriented. Elevator installers must keep accurate records of their service schedules. These records are used to schedule future maintenance, which often helps reduce breakdowns.
Mechanical skills. Elevator installers use a variety of power tools and handtools to install and repair lifts. Escalators, for example, run on tracks that must be installed using wrenches and screwdrivers.
Physical strength. Elevator installers often lift heavy equipment and parts, including escalator steps, conduit, and metal tracks. Some apprentices must be able to lift 100 pounds to participate in a program.
Troubleshooting skills. Elevator installers and repairers must be able to diagnose and repair problems. When an escalator stops moving, for example, mechanics determine why it stopped and make the necessary repairs.
Question: What is the job outlook for this occupation between 2012-2022?
Answer: Employment of elevator installers and repairers is projected to grow 25 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth will result in only about 4,800 new jobs over the 10-year period.
Demand for these workers will depend on growth of non-residential construction, such as office buildings and stores that have elevators and escalators. This sector of the construction industry is expected to grow rapidly during the next decade as the economy rebounds from the recent recession.
Question: What was the median pay for this occupation in 2012?
Answer: The median annual wage for elevator installers and repairers was $76,650 in May 2012. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $39,540, and the top 10 percent earned more than $106,450. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/elevator-installers-and-repairers.htm#tab-5
2. Associate’s Degree: Nuclear Technicians
One of the STEM careers that a student could obtain with a Associate’s Degree is that of a Nuclear Technician.
Locate this career in the Occupational Outlook Handbook which you opened in the other window (http://bls.gov/ooh/), and answer the following 5 questions in the space provided.
Question: What do they do?
Answer: Nuclear technicians assist physicists, engineers, and other professionals in nuclear research and nuclear production. They operate special equipment used in these activities and monitor the levels of radiation that are produced. Job duties and titles of nuclear technicians often depend on where they work and what purpose the facility serves. Most nuclear technicians work in nuclear power plants, where they ensure that reactors and other equipment are operated safely and efficiently.
Question: How do you become a worker in this field?
Answer: Nuclear technicians typically enter the occupation with an associate’s degree. Many community colleges and technical institutes offer associate’s degree programs in nuclear science, nuclear technology, or related fields. Students study nuclear energy, radiation, and the equipment and components used in nuclear power plants and laboratories. Other coursework includes mathematics, physics, and chemistry. In nuclear power plants, nuclear technicians start out as trainees under the supervision of more experienced technicians. During their training, they are taught the proper ways to use operating and monitoring equipment. They are also instructed on safety procedures, regulations, and plant policies.
Question: What are some important qualities that a worker in this field should possess?
Answer: Critical-thinking skills. Nuclear technicians must carefully evaluate all available information before deciding on a course of action. For example, radiation protection technicians must evaluate data from radiation detectors to determine if an area is unsafe and then must develop a decontamination plan to handle the situation.
Listening skills. Nuclear technicians receive complex instructions from scientists and engineers that they must follow exactly. They have to be able to ask questions to clarify anything they do not understand.
Math skills. Nuclear technicians use scientific and mathematical formulas to analyze experimental and production data such as reaction rates and radiation exposures.
Monitoring skills. Nuclear technicians must be able to assess data from sensors, gauges, and other instruments to make sure that equipment and experiments are functioning properly and that radiation levels are controlled.
Question: What is the job outlook for this occupation between 2012-2022?
Answer: Employment of nuclear technicians is expected to grow by 15 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than average for all occupations. Most growth will be due to higher demand for nuclear energy, stemming from overall growth in energy demand and greater interest in energy sources that do not emit greenhouse gases.
Question: What was the median pay for this occupation in 2012?
Answer: The median annual wage of database administrators (DBAs) was $77,080 in May 2012. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,930, and the top 10 percent earned more than $118,720.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/nuclear-technicians.htm
3. Bachelor’s Degree: Database Administrators
One of the STEM careers that a student could obtain with a Bachelor’s Degree is that of a Database Administrator.
Locate this career in the Occupational Outlook Handbook which you opened in the other window (http://bls.gov/ooh/), and answer the following 5 questions in the space provided.
Question: What do they do?
Answer: Database administrators, often called DBAs, make sure that data analysts can easily use the database to find the information they need and that the system performs as it should. DBAs sometimes work with an organization’s management to understand the company’s data needs and to plan the goals of the database. Database administrators often plan security measures, making sure that data are secure from unauthorized access. Many databases contain personal or financial information, making security important. Database administrators are responsible for backing up systems in case of a power outage or other disaster. They also ensure the integrity of the database, guaranteeing that the data stored in it come from reliable sources.
Question: How do you become a worker in this field?
Answer: Database administrators (DBAs) usually have a bachelor’s degree in an information- or computer- related subject. Before becoming an administrator, these workers typically get experience in a related field.
Question: What are some important qualities that a worker in this field should possess?
Answer: Analytical skills. DBAs must be able to monitor a database system’s performance to determine when action is needed. They must be able to evaluate complex information that comes from a variety of sources.
Communication skills. Most database administrators work on teams and must be able to communicate effectively with developers, managers, and other workers.
Detail oriented. Working with databases requires an understanding of complex systems, in which a minor error can cause major problems. For example, mixing up customers’ credit card information can cause someone to be charged for a purchase he or she didn’t make.
Logical thinking. Database administrators use software to make sense of information and to arrange and organize it into meaningful patterns. The information is then stored in the databases that these workers administer, test, and maintain.
Problem-solving skills. When problems with a database arise, administrators must be able to diagnose and correct them.
Question: What is the job outlook for this occupation between 2012-2022?
Answer: Employment of database administrators (DBAs) is projected to grow 15 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. Rapid growth in data collection by businesses will contribute to the growth of this occupation. Database administrators will be needed to organize and present data in a way that makes it easy for analysts and other stakeholders to understand. Additional job growth will occur as database security needs grow and as DBAs are called on to implement information security measures.
Employment growth for database administrators is expected in healthcare industries because, as the use of electronic medical records increases, more databases will be needed to keep track of patient information.
Question: What was the median pay for this occupation in 2012?
Answer: The median annual wage of database administrators (DBAs) was $77,080 in May 2012. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,930, and the top 10 percent earned more than $118,720.
http://bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/database-administrators.htm
4. Master’s Degree: Statistician
One of the STEM careers that a student could obtain with a Master’s Degree is that of a Statistician.
Locate this career in the Occupational Outlook Handbook which you opened in the other window (http://bls.gov/ooh/), and answer the following 5 questions in the space provided.
Question: What do they do?
Answer: Statisticians use mathematical techniques to analyze and interpret data and draw conclusions. Many economic, social, political, and military decisions rely on the work of statisticians. Statisticians design surveys, experiments, and opinion polls to collect data. Some surveys, such as the U.S. census, include data from nearly everyone. Statisticians explain the limitations of the data to prevent inaccurate conclusions from being drawn, and they identify trends and relationships. Statisticians use computers with specialized statistical software to analyze data. Some statisticians help to create new statistical software packages to analyze data more accurately and efficiently.
Statisticians write reports to explain their findings and the data’s limitations. Statisticians work in many fields, such as education, marketing, psychology, and sports: any field that requires collection and analysis of large amounts of data. In particular, government, health, and manufacturing employ many statisticians:
Question: How do you become a worker in this field?
Answer: Most statisticians enter the occupation with a master’s degree in statistics, mathematics, or survey methodology, although a bachelor’s degree is sufficient for some entry-level jobs. Because statisticians use and write computer programs for many calculations, a strong background in computer science is helpful. Training in engineering or physical science is useful for statisticians working in manufacturing on quality control or productivity improvement. A background in biology, chemistry, or health sciences is useful for work involving testing pharmaceutical or agricultural products.
Question: What are some important qualities that a worker in this field should possess?
Answer: Critical-thinking skills. Statisticians use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Problem-solving skills. Statisticians must develop techniques to overcome problems in data collection and analysis, such as high nonresponse rates, so that they can draw meaningful conclusions.
Speaking skills. Because statisticians often work in teams, they must be able to orally communicate statistical information and ideas so that others will understand.
Writing skills. Good writing skills are important for statisticians because they need to explain technical matters to persons without their level of statistical expertise.
Question: What is the job outlook for this occupation between 2012-2022?
Answer: Employment of statisticians is projected to grow 27 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Growth will result from more widespread use of statistical analysis to make informed decisions. In addition, the large increase in available data from the Internet will open up new areas for analysis.
Question: What was the median pay for this occupation in 2012?
Answer: The median annual wage of statisticians was $75,560 in May 2012. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $42,220 and the top 10 percent earned more than $121,890.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/statisticians.htm
5. Doctoral Degree: Biochemists and Biophysicists
One of the STEM careers that a student could obtain with a Doctoral Degree is that of a Biochemist and Biophysicist.
Locate this career in the Occupational Outlook Handbook which you opened in the other window (http://bls.gov/ooh/), and answer the following 5 questions in the space provided.
Question: What do they do?
Answer: Biochemists and biophysicists study the chemical and physical principles of living things and of biological processes such as cell development, growth, and heredity. Biochemists and biophysicists also use electron microscopes, lasers, and other laboratory instruments and equipment to carry out their research. Biochemists and biophysicists use advanced technologies to conduct scientific experiments and analysis. For example, they use computer modeling software to determine the three-dimensional structures of proteins and other molecules. Biochemists and biophysicists involved in biotechnology research use chemical enzymes to synthesize recombinant DNA.
Most biochemists and biophysicists work on teams. Research projects are often interdisciplinary, and biochemists and biophysicists frequently work with experts in other fields, such as physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering. Biochemists and biophysicists who do applied research develop products and processes that improve our lives. For example, in medicine, biochemists and biophysicists develop tests used to detect diseases, genetic disorders, and other illnesses. They also develop new drugs and medications, such as those used to treat cancer or Alzheimer’s disease.
Applied research in biochemistry and biophysics has many uses outside of medicine. In agriculture, biochemists and biophysicists develop genetically engineered crops that are more resistant to drought, disease, insects, and other afflictions. Biochemists and biophysicists also develop alternative fuels, such as biofuels-renewable energy sources from plants. In addition, they develop ways to protect the environment and clean up pollution.
Question: How do you become a worker in this field?
Answer: Biochemists and biophysicists need a Ph.D. to work in independent research and development positions. Most Ph.D. holders in biochemistry and biophysics have bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry or a related field, such as biology, chemistry, physics, or engineering. Many schools have bachelor’s degree programs in biochemistry, but few schools have bachelor’s degree programs in biophysics. In addition to completing required courses in biology and chemistry, students must typically take courses in mathematics, physics, and computer science. Courses in mathematics and computer science are important for biochemists and biophysicists, who must be able to do complex data analysis.
Question: What are some important qualities that a worker in this field should possess?
Answer: Analytical skills. Biochemists and biophysicists must be able to conduct scientific experiments and analyses with accuracy and precision.
Critical-thinking skills. Biochemists and biophysicists draw conclusions from experimental results through sound reasoning and judgment.
Interpersonal skills. Biochemists and biophysicists typically work on research teams and need to be able to work well with others toward a common goal. Many also serve as team leaders and must be able to motivate and direct other team members.
Math skills. Biochemists and biophysicists regularly use complex equations and formulas in their work, and they need a broad understanding of mathematics, including calculus and statistics.
Perseverance. Scientific research involves substantial trial and error, and biochemists and biophysicists must not become discouraged in their work.
Problem-solving skills. Biochemists and biophysicists use scientific experiments and analysis to find solutions to complex scientific problems.
Speaking skills. Biochemists and biophysicists frequently give presentations and must be able to explain their research to others.
Writing skills. Biochemists and biophysicists write memos, reports, and research papers that explain their findings.
Question: What was the median pay for this occupation in 2012?
Answer: Employment of biochemists and biophysicists is projected to increase by 19 percent from 2012 to 2022, faster than the average for all occupations. However, because it is a small occupation, the fast growth will result in only about 5,400 new jobs over the 10-year period. More biochemists and biophysicists are expected to be needed to do basic research that increases scientific knowledge and to research and develop biological products and processes that improve our lives.
Question: What is the job outlook for this occupation between 2012-2022?
Answer: The median annual wage of biochemists and biophysicists was $81,480 in May 2012. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $41,430, and the top 10 percent earned more than $147,350.
http://bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/biochemists-and-biophysicists.htm
Congratulations! You have completed this activity. We hope that you have learned about how different educational pathways can lead students into exciting STEM careers.
Also, remember that the Occupational Outlook Handbook, from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, is an excellent resource.