Science Salaries
The average Science salary is
£23,424.
Working in Science you can earn between
£550 and
£42,500.
The starting salary for junior Science jobs is £550.
The hourly pay range for Science jobs is £0.26 to £20.43.
Quick Links
- Science Overview
- Core responsibilities in Science
- Core Science skills
- What to expect from a career in Science
- How to earn more in Science roles
A career in science offers an opportunity to work in some of the most advanced businesses and research centres in the country. There are over 5.4 million people working across the many branches of science and pharmaceuticals, so job role choice is vast.
With everything from private sector clinical research roles to a job in forensic science, the choice of career paths in science is unlimited. There are also many jobs relating to the commercial areas of the science industry, such as working in finance, IT, and human resources, so you can easily find a role suited to your skills.
The average science salary can be a lot higher than in other industries due to the training required for some roles. Graduates can start a science career in their chosen field or a general area and specialise as they work to gain further qualifications. A forensic science technician job can provide a salary of around £27,200.
You may wish to go into a certain sector of science such as clinical studies or healthcare sciences. Specialist science careers and pharmaceutical jobs can give you a significantly higher earning potential. A clinical scientist with the relevant education and some experience can expect a salary of £40,000 and upwards to £100,000.
Core responsibilities in Science
As the industry is varied and covers many subjects, your responsibilities will depend on the science career path you choose. Working in clinical science and other research roles can involve working on complex problems and conducting studies to further medicine, forensic, or other scientific fields. Working in forensic science could mean you work with law enforcement or other agencies to collect information and evidence.
You can choose to go down an educational path as a science teacher and conduct classes for students of various ages. The field of science and pharmaceuticals is incredibly diverse allowing you to have an interesting career with lots of progression opportunities.
Core Science skills
You should possess excellent organisational and analytical skills as many science roles can involve very complex projects. A career in science will require you to be vigilant, have high attention to detail, and a drive to discover new things using methodical approaches.
If you are looking for a cutting-edge career with exciting new opportunities, then you will find it with a career in science.
What to expect from a career in Science
Careers in science will usually start at a graduate level, but you can also choose a commercial science role within the IT or HR departments of a pharmaceutical company. Many science roles will be carried out in clinical settings, such as laboratories or research institutes. Other jobs in the science sector can range from being a forensic technician collecting evidence to being a science teacher helping students understand scientific principles.
Depending on your chosen career path, you will need to be flexible as work may be required out of normal working hours or certain projects may require extensive time to complete.
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Science Salaries by Region
Compare Science salaries across different regions
| Region | Salary |
|---|---|
| East Midlands | £27,101.14 |
| Eastern | £37,336.89 |
| London | £43,862.11 |
| North East | £34,410.43 |
| North West | £16,534.13 |
| Northern Ireland | £39,383.79 |
| Scotland | £40,698.19 |
| South East | £36,701.17 |
| South West | £34,829.36 |
| Wales | £39,494.17 |
| West Midlands | £35,606.63 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £36,031.06 |
Top Paying Locations for Science Jobs in the UK
The average salary for Science professionals in the United Kingdom is significantly influenced by location. The general region and area will affect your base salary in Science jobs. However, you are not alone if relocating is not something you want to consider, and it doesn't mean that you can't make a higher income.
For example, you could choose to work for a Science business that is city-based. While London leads the way, working for employers located in cities such as Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Reading, Leeds, and Cardiff will help you earn higher wages per year, compared to companies situated in smaller villages and towns.
Science Professional Development
The answer to 'how much do Science professionals earn?' can only be answered by considering where along the career path the individual and job title sit. The total year's experience in the Science sector will change what the employer is prepared to offer. An entry-level Science salary will be the lowest, followed by fully qualified workers, senior-level staff, and management.
While you can expect a starting salary for Science workers to be at the bottom of the pay scale, graduates with a relevant qualification have a higher worth, commanding a better starting salary. UK training opportunities are plentiful, so even if attaining a university degree is out of the question, increasing your skills through workshops and online courses will help you raise the money you can earn a year in your chosen role.
How much are Science professionals paid? Our data and graphs give you guidance on the wage range and earning per annum for junior, intermediate, and senior roles.
Science Work Experience
Gaining Science pre-entry work experience can be crucial in helping you secure employment and a decent rate per hour. Work placements, internships, apprenticeships, shadowing, and vacation work can all help you gain the experience you need. If you cannot find work experience in the Science industry, you might be able to show potential employers that you have acquired transferable skills elsewhere.
Science Working Hours
As with all business sectors, the working hours in Science will affect what you earned during the month. Small, medium, and larger firms may pay a higher overtime rate or offer more money if you work unsociable hours, such as evenings, nights, weekends, and national holidays.
Salaries of part-time, full-time, permanent, temporary, and contract staff all differ and will affect your decision on whether you are earning fair compensation.
Science Salary Negotiations
Before you enter salary negotiations with employers, hiring managers, or the head of HR, it pays to get prepared. Compare the salaries for the Science sector on this page to help determine what you are worth. You can perform a salary search for different job titles and locations.
It is worth remembering that you can profit from more than just financial benefits and performance-related commission. Is a high salary in the UK worth more than the freedom to work from home, have more paid holiday, a gym membership, or have private healthcare benefits?
Science Job Search
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