Creating, designing, testing, improving, and packaging toys and games are just some of the many toy industry careers. Many different STEM skills are required to take an idea for a new video game or the latest super hero figure through to an actual product on a store shelf. If your dream is to be a scientist, don’t worry, the toy industry needs you. Want to be an engineer? You, too, can pursue a toy industry career. The surprising and high-paying toy industry careers listed below are just some of the many available in this exciting field.

1. Product Designer

Job Description:
In this toy industry career, product designers work designing all of the new toys and games at their company and improving the design of those toy favorites to work better or cost less to produce. They design toys for kids to enjoy and take into consideration the materials used, safety regulations, and age appropriateness.
STEM Type:
Designer
Median Salary:
$58,537
Education Required:
A bachelor’s degree in engineering is required for employment.
How to Prepare:
Technology, math, and art classes in high school will prepare high school students for this and many other toy industry careers.

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The term manufacturing often brings to mind assembly lines and mass production of anything from vehicles to computers. But there is much more to the field of manufacturing, especially in advanced manufacturing careers. There are many options for job-seekers, and careers in this field are available to both high school graduates open to on-the-job training and college graduates who are ready to apply their knowledge of technology to modern machinery, products, and designs. Read on to learn about five surprising advanced manufacturing careers.

1. Computer Hardware Engineer

Job Description:
Computer hardware engineers work in advanced manufacturing conducting research and development. Work also includes the design of hardware systems and parts, which must also be tested and put into production. This engineer must also update older systems to work with new software.
STEM Type:
Designer
Median Salary:
$115,120
Education Required:
A bachelor’s degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science is required. Knowledge of computer programming may also be required because work is normally done with computer software systems in this job.
How to Prepare:
Students preparing for this and other advanced manufacturing careers should study math, science, and computer science.

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High school graduates interested in the fast-growing field of health care have many options to choose from that connect them with both technical and service positions in the medical field. Whether you’re looking for an entry-level job or a long-term health care career, these opportunities are available in ever-increasing numbers. Consider the following five health care careers:

1. Pharmacy Technician

Job Description:
Workers in this health care career are under the supervision of a pharmacist. They take the necessary information from doctors or the pharmacy’s customers to fill prescriptions, which they prepare by counting pills and placing them or other medication into the appropriate containers. The pharmacy technician’s job also includes answering phone calls, processing payment from customers and insurance companies, and entering information into the pharmacy’s computer system.
STEM Type:
Advisor
Education Required:
High school graduates may train on the job in this health care career or complete a pharmacy technology program at a vocational or technical school, if required. Some states do require pharmacy technicians to be certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board or the National Healthcareer Association.
Median Salary:
$31,750
How to Prepare:
Students interested in this health care career should study math, technology, and chemistry.

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When buying school supplies, clothing, or even a new car, people don’t often think about how those things were designed, the machines used to manufacture them, or how much it cost to produce them. An advanced manufacturing engineer assumes those duties and responsibilities to make sure that the goods manufactured are of good quality, that adequate supplies are available, and that production costs are controlled to allow their employer to profit from the sales.

Job Description:

An advanced manufacturing engineer generally works to create the design and function of items such as equipment, tools, computers, and even robots, to allow the company they work for to increase production of products that are manufactured efficiently of high quality materials, but at a reasonable cost to allow the company to be competitive with other companies in the industry. Advanced manufacturing engineers may work at many different types of companies who manufacture a wide range of products such as chemicals, computers, or airplanes. Specific jobs done by an advanced manufacturing engineer are:

— Create quality standards and make sure the company attains them
— Set up and manage both manufacturing equipment and procedures
— Test efficiency of manufacturing operation
— Create budgets for operation based on labor, production time, resources required, and deadlines to be met
— Work with managers and production team to oversee progress and success
— Investigate manufacturing software to improve production

STEM Type:

Solver

Median Salary:

The median salary earned by an advanced manufacturing engineer is $71,879. Work schedules are typically five days per week, but can vary according to the type of industry and deadlines faced by the manufacturer.

Education Required:

The advanced manufacturing engineer must earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. In addition to a college degree, job candidates are expected to be good at math and problem-solving, but also skilled in communication and creative in approaching designs and solutions to production issues. Internships are often required when first hired by a manufacturer. A master’s degree in a related area can lead to advancement in the field.

How to Prepare:

High school students interested in a career as an advanced manufacturing engineer should take courses in math, calculus, economics, and technology.

A career in advanced manufacturing engineering rewards employees with the opportunity to be creative and use their skills to allow a company to improve and succeed. The challenge to increase productivity and decrease costs simultaneously is one that a good advanced manufacturing engineer can tackle and overcome, all in a day’s work.

Want to learn more about the changing and surprisingly advanced field of manufacturing? Check out these five top STEM manufacturing careers or getting involved in a Manufacturing Day event near you!

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Students interested in transportation careers should investigate the opportunities available to every STEM Type and at different education and training levels. Managing not only trains, planes, and automobile traffic, the transportation industry is responsible for the design, construction, maintenance, and logistics of all transportation systems. Just five of the many transportation careers worth exploring are as follows:

1. Logistics Engineer

Job Description:
Logistics is the system used for distributing all products and services from one place to another, using the transportation services available. The transportation career of logistics engineer is one in which mathematics and scientific principles are used to create the most successful and cost-efficient means of distribution. Responsibilities may include design of packaging for products or warehouses for storing shipments, as well as developing methods to purchase an inventory of goods and process orders received. Working with companies that produce goods and services, industries that distribute them, and the customers who buy them, the logistics engineer has an important job.
STEM Type:
Maker
Median Salary:
$69,357
Training Required:
A bachelor’s degree in logistics or industrial engineering is required. Certification in Transportation and Logistics (CTL) can be earned by passing exams given by the American Society of Transportation and Logistics.
How to Prepare:
Students may prepare for this and many transportation careers by taking math and science classes in high school.

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Of the many jobs available in the construction industry, the commercial electrician may be the most important because electrical power is required for almost everything that services the building equipment and provides lighting, heating, and air conditioning for the employees working within the commercial structure.

Job Description:

Commercial electricians read blueprints and follow technical drawings to install and maintain both electrical wiring and controls in a factory, industrial plant, airport, office, or other commercial building. The wiring is run through conduits to electrical panels, breakers, and relays according to local electrical codes. The safety of all of the electrical components is very important and tests are often performed to ensure all components are working correctly. Electrical problems such as breaks in the electrical system are also solved by the commercial electrician by repairing or replacing wiring as needed.

Median Salary:

The median annual salary for a commercial electrician is $54,100. Those working in this position normally work indoors and follow a regular schedule, but overtime or work on weekends or evenings is sometimes required in the event of a breakdown or to keep up with a construction schedule.

STEM Type:

Maker

Education Required:

Students interested in the position of commercial electrician must have a high school diploma or GED. Most entering this field complete an apprenticeship with an electrical contractor but training is also available through a technical school or community college. An associate degree can be earned by completion of study of a commercial electrical program in accordance with standards established by the National Electrical Code. Some states require both on-the-job training and classroom instruction. The next step is to successfully complete a journeyman examination which tests knowledge of building codes, safety procedures, materials, and tools in addition to the candidate’s knowledge of electrical theory. Many states require an electrician’s license. The position of commercial electrician can also be a step toward the position of electrical engineer for a student wishing to complete a four-year degree in the future.

High School Courses:

Calculations concerning the electrical load a circuit can handle are often done by a commercial electrician and algebra is an important high school course to take in preparation for this career. Computer skills are also helpful in this position. Knowledge of electrical circuits and the behavior of electricity is obviously helpful, making physics courses essential. The commercial electrician must be agile because climbing ladders, standing for long periods, and lifting heavy equipment are part of the job. Physical education and sports participation in high school will assure the strength and good health required.

The electrical component of commercial construction projects is critical for safe operation and efficient production. The commercial electrician career is complex, but offers high-paying job prospects.

Not sure whether commercial electrician is the right job for you? Check out these other STEM careers in construction.

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AmTrak has set passenger records in the past 11 years, according to the National Association of Railroad Passengers, and the U.S. Department of Commerce confirms that about 300,000 people are employed in the rail industry, with an additional one million jobs supported by this industry. The job of railroad conductor puts this worker on board both freight and passenger trains following high school graduation and short-term training.

Job Description:

A railroad conductor’s job on a freight train is to help make sure the train’s cargo is correctly and safely loaded and unloaded, review the paperwork and documents detailing the freight carried by the train, maintain accurate records regarding the train travel times, and operate both track switches and signals. Work is often outdoors and can be very physical. A passenger train railroad conductor is more customer oriented and is responsible for collecting tickets and supervising passenger safety and comfort by coordinating the lighting, heating, and air conditioning in the train cars.

Median Salary:

The median salary for a railroad conductor is $61,871 but candidates for this career will not have a standard 40-hour work schedule. Work hours will change according to the train schedule and travel route. Sometimes wages are based on the miles a railroad conductor has traveled and others may be paid hourly or based on an annual salary.

STEM Type:

A railroad conductor is an Integrator STEM type who works well with the train transportation team to solve problems and direct others in their work assignments.

Education Required:

Railroad conductors must have a high school diploma and are usually trained by the company for several months to learn the job. Some companies do require a more formal training program offered by a technical school or community college where railroad conductor technology certification is earned. Railroad conductor certification by the Federal Railroad Administration is required if you work for a regional, commuter, or national railroad. Although the formal training is important, railroad conductors often find that actual job experience is the best way to learn.

Relevant High School Courses:

Students preparing for a job as a railroad conductor should study reading comprehension, computer technology, math computation, and physical education to have the necessary skills to succeed in this career. It is important for the railroad conductor to be able to communicate with co-workers and passengers, be a good leader, and make good decisions.

This rail transportation industry career can be a demanding one, as a railroad conductor is part of the 24-hour operation of the freight and passenger trains traveling across the United States, but it offers travel and interesting workdays to these railway employees.

Want to be part of the transportation industry, but unsure whether this career is right for you? Check out other top STEM careers in transportation here.

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Choosing one of these construction careers means creating spaces to meet a variety of needs including housing, hospitals, schools, businesses, non-profit organizations, and government agencies. In this field, there are many construction careers for different levels of education from vocational school to graduate-level work. Find out more about some incredible STEM construction careers below.

1. Construction Manager

Starting with creating budgets for time and cost, you make sure all areas of a construction project go as planned. You work with architects, civil engineers, plumbers, electricians, and carpenters to make sure they all do their jobs according to expectation. This job also requires you to know all local building codes and safety regulations, and make sure all workers follow the rules.

STEM Type: Integrator
Median Salary: $91,370
Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in construction science, construction management, architecture, or engineering
Relevant High School Courses: Mathematics and statistics

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Because of the aging U.S. population, and the medical issues and necessary care that the elderly face, health care needs are also increasing. The availability of jobs in the health care field is growing to satisfy those needs. In an effort to reduce medical costs, imaging technology used by the diagnostic medical sonographer will be used before more expensive testing or surgery is performed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a growth of 23 percent is expected through 2026 for this profession.

Job Description:

A diagnostic medical sonographer works in a hospital, doctor’s office, or medical laboratory and uses ultrasound technology to help diagnose medical conditions. This technology uses sound waves which are projected into patients to create images of the body tissues and organs. Diagnostic medical sonographers usually specialize by focusing on an area of the body, such as the heart, abdomen, breast, nervous system, or musculoskeletal system. Their skill in both the operation of the equipment to ensure a clear image for a doctor’s review, and working with the patient to position them correctly and gain their cooperation, must be learned and exercised professionally during every test. Doctors work with the diagnostic medical sonographer to interpret the test results and expect to be able to rely on the sonographer’s ability and knowledge.

Median Salary:

A diagnostic medical sonographer earns a median salary of $65,620 in a full-time position.

STEM Type:

Advisor

Education Required:

Workers in this field must have an associate degree in sonography. Although there are many programs for training of diagnostic medical sonographers, some employers prefer their employees to have graduated from an accredited program with experience in a medical setting. These programs give students the ability to obtain certification through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography and an advantage in gaining employment. Registration must be renewed annually and 24 continuing education credits every two years are also required to maintain certification. Certification is available in more than one speciality, or area of the body, and diagnostic medical sonographers with several certifications have more employment opportunities as a result.

Relevant High School Courses:

High school classes that prepare students for a career as a diagnostic medical sonographer include anatomy, math, science, biology, and computer technology.

There are many employment opportunities in the health care field and students no longer have to choose between only nursing or physician careers. The combination of technology skills, medical training, and good communication with patients and co-workers will result in a successful diagnostic medical sonographer career.

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The words “job” and “career” are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference between the two. A job is a single position that someone works in, whether for a short or long period of time. A career is long term and consists of all the jobs a person had over the years. A career is often built by working in the same industry over many years and taking on more important jobs in a certain area as experience is gained.

Job Versus Career: Growth

Growth within a single job is often limited by how much you can learn doing that job. When you work within a single company, there are a limited number of promotions you can earn before you reach the top of your department or the highest job for which you are qualified. Those different positions and job titles are all important parts of your career.

Growing in both a job and career are possible, but you need success in one to get it in the other. When you succeed in a job and have learned all you can in that position, the time might be right to move on to find one that challenges you in a new. By learning in a job and moving onto one that is more challenging and continuing to do this throughout your life, you will build a career.

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