16 Science Majors (And Related Careers) to Consider

When you major in science, you can build a broad base of knowledge to draw from across various subjects, including biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology, medicine, engineering, computing, and many others. Depending on which subject you choose, you could work in areas like health care, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, food production, environmental protection, energy, manufacturing, IT, education, law, finance, marketing, management, and more.

Explore the common science majors, what they do, and some careers related to each major. 

Common science majors

While the exact list of available science majors will typically vary from one university to the next, you’re likely to find some common majors at most four-year universities. Some of the most common science majors include:  

1. Agriculture: Study of growing crops and raising livestock 

2. Astronomy:  Study of celestial objects and the physical universe 

3. Biology: Study of life 

4. Biochemistry: Study of chemistry as it relates to living organisms

5. Biophysics: Study of physics as it relates to biological phenomena

6. Cellular biology: Study of cells 

7. Chemistry: Study of matter

8. Earth science: Study of the planet Earth  

9. Ecology: Study of the relationship between organisms and their environments

10. Genetics: Study of genes and heredity in living organisms

11. Kinesiology and exercise physiology: Study of human movement

12. Meteorology: Study of the atmosphere and weather forecasting

13. Microbiology: Study of microscopic organisms 

14. Physical science: Study of nonliving materials  

15. Physics: Study of matter and its motion and behavior 

16. Zoology: Study of animals  

Majoring in science can open you up to hundreds of careers across all industries. Some of the most common science majors [1] and the types of jobs you could pursue with a degree in the field include the following.  

*All salary data represents the median annual base pay in the United States according to Glassdoor as of December 2024.

Biology

As a biology major, your career options include becoming a biologist, going to medical school, and the following roles: 

• Medical manager: $66,932

• Food scientist: $81,856 

• High school teacher: $72,234 

• Forensic science technician: $50,281  

• Clinical laboratory technician: $54,919

• Health educator: $56,092

• Biological technician: $48,513

Kinesiology and exercise science

If you’re interested in a career where you can help people reach their potential or improve their quality of life, a kinesiology and exercise science degree could be a good fit. As you learn more about the movement of the human body, you’ll build a foundation for careers like:

• Health services manager: $83,546 

• Exercise physiologist: $59,794

• Physical therapist assistant: $79,631

• Athletic trainer: $64,131 

• Health education specialist: $54,704

• Recreational therapist: $65,849 

• Massage therapist: $111,743

Chemistry 

We’re surrounded by matter, so studying chemistry opens up a world of possibilities for career options, both inside and outside of a lab environment. Careers you might pursue as a chemistry major include:  

• Chemical engineer: $95,845

• Toxicologist: $165,665

• Chemist: $70,512

• Chemical technician: $53,345

• Environmental science and protection technician: $48,442

Earth science  

These days, as more and more focus shifts to the environment, you may find that one of these potential careers for earth science majors interests you: 

• Atmospheric scientist: $82,871 

• Geoscientist: $94,837

• Environmental engineer: $85,671 

• Hydrologist: $88,898

• Environmental scientist: $73,350 

• Seismologist: $71,695

• Conservation scientist: $77,158

Outlook for jobs with science degrees

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that careers in life, physical, and social science will grow by 148,400 openings annually between 2023 and 2033 [2]. Careers in biomedical research and environmental protection will remain in high demand.  

According to the BLS, health care jobs, which often require a science degree, will also likely be in high demand. The United States is expected to add almost 2 million new health care positions between 2023 and 2033, more than any other industry [3]. 

Next steps for science majors on Coursera

Studying a science major is an important first step in getting a job in one of the many science fields. Take a course from a top university to experience firsthand if it’s a good fit. Once you sign up for Coursera, you can explore more than 7,000 courses, many of which are free to audit. Consider these popular courses to get you started:

• The Science of Well-Being from Yale

• Introduction to Genetics and Evolution from Duke University

• Chemistry from the University of Kentucky