Science careers, US first, UK second
How to become a scientist, starting from where you are
Tell Erlen your field, your stage and what you are weighing up. Check the official pay numbers beside it.
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The usual route, and where people step off
Most careers do not follow the whole ladder, and each stage is a real exit into paid work. In 2023, only about 41% of employed US science doctorate holders worked at four-year colleges and universities.
- Bachelor's3 to 4 years
Your first real test of whether you like lab or field work. Environmental, food and forensic science can start here.
- Technician or master's1 to 2 years
Paid lab work or a taught degree. A good way to test the fit before a longer commitment.
- PhDMedian 5.7 years in the US
You learn to run research yourself. In the sciences it is usually funded, on a modest stipend. UK funding usually lasts three to four years.
- PostdocTemporary by definition
Mentored research after the PhD. In 2025, 42.5% of US science and engineering PhDs with a settled plan were going to one.
- Faculty, industry or governmentWhere you settle
Each has different pay, freedom and security. The decision is rarely final.
Sources: NCSES Survey of Doctorate Recipients 2023; NCSES Survey of Earned Doctorates 2025; all sources.
Pick a field
Each page gives the entry route, official US pay, the catch nobody mentions, and a UK note.
| Field | Median pay (US) | Middle 50% |
|---|---|---|
| Physicist | $172,250 | $111,720 to $222,760 |
| Computer research scientist | $140,300 | $103,570 to $188,700 |
| Astronomer | $128,820 | $99,920 to $166,000 |
| Biochemist | $127,410 | $95,000 to $163,460 |
| Materials scientist | $117,790 | $89,990 to $150,550 |
| Neuroscientist | $103,410 | $79,840 to $139,380 |
| Geologist | $101,920 | $75,110 to $139,380 |
| Atmospheric scientist | $99,070 | $73,350 to $129,960 |
| Biologist | $98,920 | $76,800 to $127,670 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $69,460 to $125,550 |
| Food scientist | $88,720 | $68,810 to $116,650 |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | $67,100 to $122,350 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $71,090 to $112,640 |
| Environmental scientist | $82,220 | $64,490 to $107,970 |
| Marine biologist | $76,780 | $61,180 to $96,100 |
| Forensic scientist | $72,060 | $57,830 to $94,520 |
The decisions that matter
Guides for the choices that shape a career, written around what you can check.
Getting in
The PhD decision
Common questions
What is Scientist.chat?
Scientist.chat (scientist.chat) is a career guide for people deciding whether and how to become a scientist. It explains the routes through each field, uses official pay and doctoral data, and includes Erlen, a mentor you can talk through your own situation with.
Is Erlen a real scientist?
No. Erlen is an automated mentor drawn as a flask. It has no degree, no lab and no personal experience. It can help you think through options and find the official numbers, and it can be wrong.
Do you need a PhD to be a scientist?
Not always. Environmental, food and forensic science commonly start with a bachelor's degree, while leading independent research in most fields takes a PhD. The field pages show the usual entry level for each job.
Where do the salary numbers come from?
From the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 figures, retrieved on 2026-11-03. The figures are national and cover all industries, so your own area and employer can differ.