Physical Science Technicians Major

Physical science technicians is a major that typically falls into the Science Technologies category.

There are 75 programs available throughout the country that offer an associate’s degree in physical science tech, 2 that offer a bachelor’s degree, and 0 that offer a master’s degree.

Who Is Getting a Physical Science Tech Degree?

Physical science technicians is one of the least chosen majors in the country, ranked #335 in popularity. About students graduated with a bachelor’s degree in the field in 2017.

Racial Distribution

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

• Asian: NaN%
• Black or African American: NaN%
• Hispanic or Latino: NaN%
• White: NaN%
• Non-Resident Alien: NaN%
• Other Races: NaN%

What Will You Learn as a Physical Science Technicians Major?

An O*NET survey asked people with careers related to physical 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 Physical Science Tech Majors

Physical science tech majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

Skills for Physical Science Tech Majors

The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to physical science tech:

Abilities for Physical Science Tech Majors

Physical science tech majors often go into careers where the following abilities are vital:

What Can You Do With a Physical Science Tech Major?

Below is a list of occupations associated with physical science tech:

Careers Related to Physical Science Technicians

Job Title	Job Growth Rate	Median Salary
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	12.1%	$46,170
Quality Control Analysts	9.7%	$49,670
Chemical Technicians	4%	$48,160
Precision Agriculture Technicians	9.7%	$49,670
Chemical Plant and System Operators	-9.3%	$62,060
Remote Sensing Technicians	9.7%	$49,670
Industrial Engineering Technicians	0.6%	$55,460
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders	-5%	$48,770

Physical Science Technicians Major Salary

Physical science tech majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $51,000 to $59,000. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.

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 Physical Science Technicians Major Jobs

Some careers associated with physical 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 physical science tech have obtained the following education levels.

Education Levels for Careers Associated With Physical Science Technicians

Level of Education	Percentage of Workers
Less Than a High School Diploma	1.7%
High School Diploma or Equivalent	23.3%
Post-Secondary Certificate	3.1%
Some College Courses	11.5%
Associate's Degree or Equivalent	17%
Bachelor's Degree	37.8%
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate	2.4%
Master's Degree	2.8%
Post-Master's Certificate	0%
First Professional Degree	0%
Doctoral Degree	0.5%
Post-Doctoral Training	0%

Online Physical Science Technicians Programs

There are 2 colleges that offer a bachelor’s degree in physical science technicians, with 0 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.

Many learners are drawn to online programs due to the ease of use and flexibility. Students should be warned that those who enroll in online programs can take longer to graduate than average and are more likely to drop out.

Is a Physical Science Technicians Major Worth It?

The median salary for a physical science tech grad is $52,000 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.

This is 33% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $255,400 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: NASA via License