Searches for life beyond Earth and studies how life began.
You might study microbes in boiling hot springs or Antarctic ice to learn where life can survive, then design instruments to look for signs of life on Mars or Saturn's moon Enceladus.
Based on biological scientists; varies by employer.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in biology, chemistry, geology, or planetary science.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Planetary Science.
Growing much faster than average (about 9% over 10 years).
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.
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.