Also called: Extremophile Microbiologist
Searches for signs of life beyond Earth by studying microbes that survive in extreme places.
Collects microbes from boiling hot springs in Yellowstone or ice in Antarctica, then tests whether they could survive Mars-like conditions in a lab chamber. Helps plan instruments for NASA missions.
Estimate; mostly NASA, universities.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in microbiology, biology, geology, or planetary science.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Microbiology, Planetary Science, Biology.
Growing about average (about 4% over 10 years). Estimate; tiny, competitive field.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. AI sifts mission and lab data; fieldwork in extreme places and designing life-detection instruments stay human.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Earth science, AP Physics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1029.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.