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Careers In STEAM
Careers In STEAM
Tommorw's Jobs are in STEAM
They have low unemployment rates and increased demand. STEM, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math, doesn't necessarily only involve working in a laboratory or having a fancy degree. Many of the STEM careers are very diverse, including jobs like software developer, mechanical engineer and statistician. STEM jobs are often referred to as the jobs of the future. (Money Magazine Best STEM Jobs 2020)
Technology STEAM Careers
Software Developer
Software developers invent the technologies we sometimes take for granted. For instance, that app that rings, sings or buzzes you out of a deep sleep every morning? A software developer helped design that. And when you roll into the office and turn on your computer, clicking and scrolling through social media, music and your personal calendar – software developers had a big hand in shaping those, too.
You might spend your lunch shopping, and before you make that big purchase, you check your bank account balance using your phone. Later, you're cooking a new recipe from that great app your friend told you about. As you look over the course of your day, you come to see that software developers are the masterminds behind the technologies you now can't imagine living without.
The best software developers are creative and have the technical expertise to carry out innovative ideas. You might expect software developers to sit at their desks designing programs all day – and they do, but their job involves many more responsibilities.
Median Salary
$103,620
Unemployment Rate
1.6%
Number of Jobs
241,500
They could spend their days working on a client project from scratch and writing new code. But they could also be tasked with maintaining or improving the code for programs that are already up and running.
Software developers also check for bugs in software. And although the job does involve extreme concentration and chunks of uninterrupted time, software developers have to collaborate with others, including fellow developers, managers or clients. Developers are often natural problem solvers who possess strong analytical skills and the ability to think outside the box.
Software developers are employed in a range of industries, including computer systems design, manufacturing and finance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 25.6 percent employment growth for software developers between 2018 and 2028. In that period, an estimated 241,500 jobs should open up.
Web Developer
Web developers are responsible for creating websites. When these artists do their jobs well, everything about a site seems to fit together superbly, from the colors and graphics, to the images and special effects (or "animation," to those in the know), to the navigation.
The job includes meeting with clients and asking broad questions like, "What do you want your site to accomplish?" and more detailed questions like, "What features do you want your site to have?" After ascertaining a client's desires, web developers will start designing. At
Big Drop Inc., a web design and development company in New York City, this involves a multistep process, which includes innovating a new design, writing the code, adding animation if needed, checking for bugs and fixing them, presenting the client with a test site, and moving the site to the client's server. "We don't use any templates," says Garry Kanfer, president of Big Drop. "We start from a blank canvas, and the client has to approve everything, page by page."
Median Salary
$103,620
Unemployment Rate
1.6%
Number of Jobs
241,500
Although some web developers will design a website's front and back end, many web development companies split these responsibilities. For instance, some web developers will work in Photoshop to create the overall design, while others will be in charge of writing the code in programming languages such as HTML and CSS. Developers must take into account a client’s products or services as well as the target market to create a site that appeals to the client’s customers or intended audience. The job requires a knowledge of software programs, web applications and programming languages, as well as a solid understanding of design principles. Work environments for web developers vary from large corporations or governments to small businesses. Developers may be full-time employees or part-time consultants, or work on a contract basis as freelancers.
"The biggest shift in the industry is mobile technologies," says Andrew Ruditser, lead technology coordinator at Maxburst Inc., a web development company on Long Island. "We have to make sure our sites don't just look good on desktops, but also on Androids and iPhones." The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 13.0 percent employment growth for web developers between 2018 and 2028. In that period, an estimated 20,900 jobs should open up.
Engineering STEAM Careers
Mechanical Engineer
Mechanical engineers research, design, develop, build and test various devices.
They often have an innate curiosity about the way things work. For J. Robert Sims, former president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, this curiosity reared its head at age 10. "I repaired an old radio and used an old power supply to experiment with the electrolysis of water. I produced a small amount of hydrogen that I proceeded to ignite," he wrote in an email. "Good judgment is not inherent in the young – that comes later with experience."
An enthusiasm for solving problems is a vital trait of mechanical engineers, says Warren Seering, a professor of mechanical engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It takes creativity to shepherd a theoretical device into a practical reality.
Median Salary
$87,370
Unemployment Rate
1.8%
Number of Jobs
12,800
Computers have changed the way mechanical engineers do their work. Computing tools now "allow complex analyses to be performed in seconds that once required days or weeks of hand calculations," Sims writes.
Mechanical engineering is an exciting professional field, thanks to innovations like 3D printing and the development of new engineering materials like carbon fiber composites. And as a result of globalization, Seering says many mechanical engineers now work in teams and create designs for communities throughout the world.
Architecture, alternative energies, remanufacturing and nanotechnology are subsets of this profession that will have openings for candidates with the right education and experience.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.1 percent employment growth for mechanical engineers between 2018 and 2028. In that period, an estimated 12,800 jobs should open up.
Environmental Engineering Technician
Environmental engineering technicians execute the plans created by environmental engineers with the hopes of reducing environmental pollution. They are often based in laboratories where they might, for instance, test water samples and record their observations. Their job might also entail keeping the lab stocked with supplies. But an environmental engineering technician’s job can also take you out into the field, collecting air or water samples for pollution testing.
These professionals work in teams with other technicians and engineers, and are also involved in developing plans or creating devices to clean up pollution. Inspecting different facilities for compliance with environmental regulations can also be part of their work.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 8.6 percent employment growth for environmental engineering technicians between 2018 and 2028. In that period, an estimated 1,500 jobs should open up.
Median Salary
$50,560
Unemployment Rate
0.2%
Number of Jobs
1,500
Art STEAM Careers
Video Game Designer
Game designers combine creativity and technical skills. They usually work as part of a team to come up with concepts, characters, settings, stories and strategies.
Most video game designer jobs fall into one of three disciplines: game designer (create storylines and concepts), game developer (engine programming), and game artist (animation). Game designers must be creative and have knowledge of programming languages, software and 3D modeling
Architect
Median Salary
$79,380
Unemployment Rate
1.4%
Number of Jobs
11,200
Architecture is an influential profession, and undoubtedly a creative one. Architects are professionally trained designers who rely on math, engineering, technology, environmental awareness and science. They combine creative design with technical knowledge, pulling knowledge from almost every discipline.
