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STEM Career information

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STEM Career Information

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In January, 2013, imt career journal noted that STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) jobs were being created at three times the rate of other jobs. The US Commerce Department reports that the average salary of a STEM worker is about $70,000. A job like Petroleum Engineer can bring in more than $100,000 a year. Microsoft reports that there will be a shortage of STEM workers. Given that, studying in a STEM field should be a good career preparation choice. There are lots of scholarships available to students studying in a STEM field and I have included some of them on this page.

There are a number of websites that give information about STEM careers. STEMCareers is one of them. It provides up to date information and gives helpful resources to begin planning a career. STEM graduates can even think outside of the box. Jobs like "Music Data Journalist" and "NASA Curiosity Driver" are just two of the many jobs available to STEM graduates.

A STEM job normally requires some education beyond high school. Interestingly, An Associate's degree in a STEM field can often bring in more money than a Bachelors degree in a liberal arts field. As an example, STEM jobs requiring an Associate's Degree averaged just under $50,000 a year in the Tampa area.

A Bachelor's degree in a STEM field is a great investment. Almost 30% of the jobs in the Washington DC area are STEM jobs. The same source points out that over 20% of the jobs in the Norfolk area are STEM jobs. While you may not go to UVA or Virginia Tech for engineering, there are many programs across the country to choose from including some online programs. Check the UVA and VT sites out to see what admission requirements are and what is expected of students in the program.

STEM education does not need to end with a Bachelor's degree. Many of the programs referenced above offer a Master's degree or a Ph.D. As a rule of thumb, the higher the degree, the more you can get paid. A Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering can command a salary above $100,000 a year.

Scholarships

These are just a sample of the many scholarships that are available.

National Science Foundation

http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5257

Thermo Scientific Pierce

http://www.pierce-antibodies.com/PierceScholarship/

Blackberry Scholars Program (for women)

http://global.blackberry.com/campaigns/scholarship/scholars-2013/overview.html

ASCO Numatics Industrial Automation Engineering College Scholarships

http://www.asconumatics.com/LiteratureRequest/ASCO-Numatics-Scholarship.aspx

Society of Women Engineers

http://societyofwomenengineers.swe.org/index.php/scholarships#activePanels_