Only 23 colleges in the country offer Science Technologies/Technicians, which means graduates enter the workforce from a smaller, more specialized pool. Median earnings four years out: $96,876.
This page covers Science Technologies/Technicians as a course of study: what it costs, where it is taught, and what graduates go on to earn. It sits inside the wider field of Science Tech and how it pays overall, which is the better comparison if you are still choosing between subjects.
Science Technologies/Technicians is a focused area of study within Science Tech. Pick this and you can expect to earn around $96,876 four years out, a strong return for a focused credential. You will not have trouble finding it: 23 colleges offer this program, from community colleges to research universities. About 88 students complete it each year, most walking away with a associate's. Coursework leans technical and quantitative, with lab or project work common.
Median Earnings · 1yr
$71,144
Median Earnings · 4yr
$96,876
Colleges Offering
23
Graduates / Year
88
Avg Net Price / yr
$17,887
How Much Do Science Technologies/Technicians Graduates Earn?
Four years after finishing Science Technologies/Technicians, a typical graduate earns $96,876, well above average for college graduates. Half of earners land somewhere between $74,230 and $117,253, so where you end up depends on the job and the employer. Do not judge the field on a starting paycheck alone: pay tends to jump in the first few years, climbing from $71,144 at one year out to $96,876 by year four. Source: College Scorecard.
Earnings grow steadily as you advance past entry-level roles. The four-year figure is a better long-term target.
$96,876
4-Year National Median
Well above average for college graduates.
$100,209
4-Year Institutional Median
Median of per-school medians. Each reporting college counts equally, regardless of size.
Earnings Range
Not every Science Technologies/Technicians graduate ends up in the same place. Earnings spread out widely, so know what pushes people to one end or the other. Sector is the biggest factor. Tech companies and finance firms tend to pay significantly more than government, education, or nonprofit employers in this field.
$74,23025th pct.
$96,876Median
$117,25375th pct.
Why This Program Pays Off Fast
Strong ROI. At median 4-year earnings of $96,876 against an estimated $71,548 four-year net cost, most graduates break even against baseline wages in under two years.
Based on outcomes from 7 schools.
Colleges with fewer than 30 graduates are excluded from national averages.
Who Studies This? Credential Breakdown
Of the 88 students who complete Science Technologies/Technicians programs each year, the majority (65%) earn a associate's degree.
The breakdown below shows the full credential distribution.
65%27%
Associate's65%
Bachelor's27%
Certificate5%
What Can You Do With a Science Technologies/Technicians Degree?
This degree does not lock you into one job. Science Technologies/Technicians graduates show up in 1 different occupations, and Geological Technicians pay the most at $53,350/yr median. Expand any card below to see daily responsibilities, in-demand skills, and 10-year growth projections.
Assist scientists or engineers in the use of electronic, sonic, or nuclear measuring instruments in laboratory, exploration, and production activities to obtain data indicating resources such as metallic ore, minerals, gas, coal, or petroleum. Analyze mud and drill cuttings. Chart pressure, temperature, and other characteristics of wells or bore holes.
Test and analyze samples to determine their content and characteristics, using laboratory apparatus or testing equipment.
Collect or prepare solid or fluid samples for analysis.
Compile, log, or record testing or operational data for review and further analysis.
Top Colleges for Science Technologies/Technicians
Only 9 colleges had enough verified data to appear here for Science Technologies/Technicians. They are sorted by graduate volume, not selectivity, so use them as a starting point rather than a ranking.
Ranked by Science Technologies/Technicians graduate volume. Scroll right to compare key stats.
Read our methodology →
Related Science Tech Programs
Science Technologies/Technicians is not the only path through Science Tech: 4 other specializations sit alongside it. The comparison below ranks them by 4-year median earnings so you can see where this one lands.
Decide with data, not guesswork. These tools turn the numbers on this page
into a personal plan. Estimate the real cost of a Science Technologies/Technicians program, compare colleges side-by-side, weigh the long-term payoff, and find
schools that match your profile.
The data on Science Technologies/Technicians shows 4 measurable strengths and 2 real trade-offs. All points are sourced from College Scorecard earnings, BLS projections, and IPEDS graduate counts.
PROS
Strong median salaryGraduates earn $96,876 nationally four years out, placing this field above most degree programs in the country.
Strong salary growthMedian earnings climb from $71,144 at graduation to $96,876 four years later, a clear sign of career momentum in this field.
High upside potentialTop earners (75th percentile) in this program reach $117,253, a strong ceiling for high performers.
Flexible credential pathsPrograms are available from certificate and associate levels through bachelor's and graduate degrees, giving students real options based on timeline and goals.
CONS
Advanced degree often expectedTop roles in this field typically expect a master's degree or higher. A bachelor's may be a starting point rather than a terminal credential for the most competitive positions.
Limited program availabilityOnly 23 colleges offer this program nationally, which may limit geographic flexibility when choosing a school.
How much do Science Technologies/Technicians graduates earn?
$96,876 four years after finishing the program. Half of graduates land between $74,230 and $117,253, so employer, role, and location move that number more than the degree itself. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the starting salary for a Science Technologies/Technicians degree?
$71,144 in the first year out. That grows to $96,876 by year four, so do not judge this field on the entry-level number alone. Most of the gain shows up once you clear the first few years and move past entry-level roles. Source: College Scorecard.
What jobs can you get with a Science Technologies/Technicians degree?
Geological Technicians are one path, and it pays a median of $53,350 a year. It is not the only one: the Career Paths section below lists every occupation graduates actually go into, with wages and 10-year growth for each.
How long does a Science Technologies/Technicians program take?
Two years full-time at a community college for a Science Technologies/Technicians associate degree. Many students use it as a stepping stone, transferring to a four-year school afterward to finish a bachelor's.
How many colleges offer Science Technologies/Technicians?
23 colleges and universities, so you are not short on options. That range runs from community colleges granting certificates and associate degrees to research universities with full doctoral tracks. Source: IPEDS.
Is a Science Technologies/Technicians degree worth it?
$96,876 median earnings four years out against $17,887 a year in average net price. That is a fast payback, and it holds up especially well at lower-cost schools. Use the Top Colleges section below to compare specific schools before deciding. Source: College Scorecard.
What is the difference between Science Technologies/Technicians and Science Tech?
Science Technologies/Technicians is the narrower of the two: Science Tech covers the full discipline, while this program limits the curriculum to Science Technologies/Technicians-specific courses, skills, and career tracks. Pick the specialization once you already know this is the direction you want; it gets you a more targeted credential, not a broader one.
What skills do employers look for in Science Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Coursework alone will not get you hired. Employers hiring Science Technologies/Technicians graduates consistently look for analytical thinking, technical proficiency, and data interpretation. Employers typically prioritize candidates who can demonstrate hands-on project or internship experience alongside their coursework. Build those into your coursework and internships now, and the job search later gets easier.
Is graduate school worth it for Science Technologies/Technicians graduates?
Usually worth considering. A master's in a STEM field can accelerate advancement into research, leadership, or senior engineering roles, and often adds $15,000 to $40,000 in long-term earning potential depending on specialization. Weigh that against your own career goals, the program's cost, and whether your target role actually rewards the advanced credential.
Related Science Tech Programs
Other programs in Science Tech. Compare earnings, credentials, and career paths before committing to a specialization.
Free, data-backed guides to help you decide, built on the same federal data as this profile.
H
How to Choose a Major Pillar
A decision framework for picking a college major using your interests, aptitudes, and federal earnings data to reach a defensible choice before applying.
Yes, most schools allow it, but the schedule math rarely works without either overlapping requirements or extra time. Here's when it actually fits in four years.
The real cost of a second major, when it pays back and when it doesn't, and why a focused single major with a relevant minor often beats a double major.
Original data analyses built on the same federal data as this profile. Rankings, outliers, and patterns, no opinions.
All 38 Majors, Ranked by What Graduates Earn
The highest-earning college major out-pays the lowest by a factor of two and a half. The full ranking of all 38 fields by median graduate earnings, with job growth alongside.
Major earnings
Highest paying majors
Job growth
STEM
Field of study
Does Engineering Tech Out-Earn Engineering? The Data Says No
A popular claim holds that the applied engineering-tech degree pays more than the theoretical one. Across every program, engineering wins by about $10,000.
Engineering tech
Engineering
Program earnings
Applied degree
Technician careers
STEM Is Not One Thing: The Pay Gap Within STEM
Across 88 STEM programs the top one out-earns the bottom by $65,000 a year. Operations research pays $122,531; environmental design pays $57,461.
STEM earnings
Engineering pay
Computer science
Program earnings
Major choice
Continue Exploring
Browse our full directory: every college, major, program, and career we track, all built from verified government data.
