5 Awesome STEM Careers for Creative Thinkers

When we think of careers in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, creativity might not be the first thing that comes to mind; however, there are many great STEM careers out there that will let you flex your creative muscles and think outside the box. Here are some great STEM careers for creative thinkers, along with their salaries.

Front-End Developer

It takes a team of people to put together a functional, user-friendly website. A front-end developer is responsible for making a website visually appealing, while adhering to a company’s brand guidelines and messaging. These professionals work directly with back-end developers, who are responsible for how a website works.

Front-end developers are creative people who have a passion for providing an engaging, user-friendly experience. In many cases, the look of a company’s website can have a serious impact on its overall success. Those who are interested in this career will need a bachelor’s degree in web development, software development, or a related field. As a front-end developer, you can expect to make anywhere between $68,000 to $124,000 per year.

Product Designer

Product designers play a major part in new product rollouts, updates, and product line maintenance. Their responsibilities include user research and analytics, creating product prototypes, testing, and creating style guides for new products. Product designers often work closely with other designers and developers.

In order to get into a career in product design, you’ll be required to possess a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, product development, or a related field, while other studies such as psychology, finance, and sociology can also be beneficial. Product designers typically make anywhere between $68,000 and $152,000 a year.

Civil Engineer

There is no doubt that you’ve seen the work of a civil engineer in your day-to-day travels. In this role, you’ll be responsible for developing and designing building and infrastructure projects, while adhering to local regulations and codes. Civil engineers ensure that projects are economically feasible, and regularly visit construction sites to assess and oversee progress.

Those who are interested in becoming a civil engineer should seek to obtain a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering or a related field. This career requires strong mathematical skills, and your coursework will include subjects such as physics. In this role, you can expect to make anywhere between $80,000 and $130,000 per year.

Biomedical Illustrator

Also known as a biomedical animator, this career is perfect for those who are artists but also have an interest in the medical field. Biomedical illustrators are experts on human anatomy, and implement their artistic skills to create images, animations, and models to be used in medical publications, research, training, and consultation. They may also be involved in creating accompanying imagery for medical technology.

A bachelor’s degree in art with a minor in biological sciences will get your foot in the door; however, some employers might prefer biomedical illustrators who have a master’s degree. This role is currently in high demand, and a good portion of professional biomedical illustrators are self-employed. The average annual salary for biomedical illustrators is around $112,000, while the highest-paid professionals can make up to $260,000 per year.

Video Game Designer

While not as high-paying as some of the other jobs on this list, those who are interested in the inner workings of their favorite video games would probably enjoy a career as a video game designer. These professionals are involved in a game’s storyline and plot, its characters, and art direction, among other aspects.

If you want to start working on video games, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in graphic design or a related field. Certain colleges and universities may also offer a specialized program for video game design, so keep that in mind as you begin to apply to schools. As a video game designer, you’ll be making between $46,000 and $150,000 per year, depending on factors such as location, employer, and the project.

Creative thinking is an excellent skill to have, regardless of your chosen career path. The ways in which we engage with our creativity are limitless, and those who use their creative powers to provide a product or service to others often have exciting, fulfilling careers. With STEM jobs constantly in demand, now would be a great time to figure out how to apply your creativity to find yourself a great STEM career.