General Science Technologies Major

General science technologies/technicians is a major that typically falls into the Science Technologies category.

There are 7 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in science tech, 3 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 1 that offer a master’s degree.

Who Is Getting a Science Tech Degree?

This is a less frequently chosen major. Only 0 students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in general science technologies/technicians in 2017. This major tends to be male dominated. About 93.6% of recent graduates are men.

Racial Distribution

At the countrywide level, the racial distribution of science tech majors is as follows:

• Asian: 2.1%
• Black or African American: 34%
• Hispanic or Latino: 6.4%
• White: 51.1%
• Non-Resident Alien: 2.1%
• Other Races: 4.3%

Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in science tech. About 2.1% of those graduating in 2017 were international students. The most popular countries sending science tech majors to the U.S. are China, Saudi Arabia and India.

What Will You Learn as a General Science Technologies Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to science tech to rate how important certain subject areas were to their job. The following are some of the results of that survey. Importance was rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.

Knowledge Areas for Science Tech Majors

This major prepares you for careers in which these knowledge areas are important:

Skills for Science Tech Majors

When studying science tech, you’ll learn many skills that will help you be successful in a wide range of jobs - even those that do not require a degree in the field. The following is a list of some of the most common skills needed for careers associated with this major:

Abilities for Science Tech Majors

A major in science tech will prepare for your careers in which the following abilities are important:

What Can You Do With a Science Tech Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with science tech:

Careers Related to General Science Technologies

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Quality Control Analysts	9.7%	$49,670
Precision Agriculture Technicians	9.7%	$49,670
Remote Sensing Technicians	9.7%	$49,670

General Science Technologies Major Salary

Average salaries range from $53,000 to $53,000 for careers related to science tech. This range includes all degree levels, so you may expect those with a more advanced degree to make more while those with less advanced degrees will typically make less.

To put that into context, the typical high school graduate makes between $29,000 and $57,000 a year. The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $44,000 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,000 and $120,000.

Your salary will be largely dependent on the career path you follow and what area of the country (or world) you work. Getting a graduate degree may open up more options with higher salary potential.

Amount of Education Required for General Science Technologies Major Jobs

Some careers associated with science tech may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. In general, the more advanced your degree the more career options will open up to you. However, there is significant time and money that needs to be invested into your education so weigh the pros and cons.

How much education do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to science tech have obtained the following education levels.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With General Science Technologies

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	0.8%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	13.3%
Post-Secondary Certificate	3.4%
Some College Courses	11.2%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	10.2%
Bachelor's Degree	54.3%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	3.8%
Master's Degree	3.6%
Post-Master's Certificate	0%
First Professional Degree	0%
Doctoral Degree	0%
Post-Doctoral Training	0%

Online General Science Technologies Programs

There are 3 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in general science technologies/technicians, with 1 of them offering at least some courses online.

Online learners must listen or watch video lectures, participate in group chats or forums, submit papers and assignments electronically, take tests, and meet deadlines.

Getting your degree online is not easy and includes watching and listening to hours of lectures, participating in group charts, submitting papers by the appropriate deadline and taking tests. Some online programs will also feature internships or in-person clinical hours.

Is a General Science Technologies Major Worth It?

The median salary for a science tech grad is $53,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 36% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $280,800 after 20 years!

Related Majors

• General Science Technologies
• Biology & Biotech Lab Technician
• Nuclear & Radiological Technology
• Physical Science Technicians
• Other Science Technologies

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics
National Center for Education Statistics
O*NET Online
Image Credit: Chrissy Cuttita, 45th Space Wing Public Affairs via License