Exploring Lucrative Science Careers in Flint
The U.S. has long been a leader in investing in research and development, dominating with an impressive 37% of global scientific funding as of 2023. This considerable investment offers a hopeful future for anyone aiming to build a career in the sciences.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there’s an expected 12.8% growth rate for science jobs by 2033. However, the stark reality is that the Trump administration’s cuts to staffing and funding in early 2025 have thrown many science roles into jeopardy, creating significant job uncertainty. With proposed budget cuts aiming to slash funds for the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation by over 40% and 55% respectively, 2026 doesn’t appear to hold much promise either.
These funding cuts have forced many research projects to halt, making it even tougher to find available positions in the field. This trend has led to an 18% drop in job postings during early 2025. As a result, some scientists are even relocating to other countries like Canada, Australia, and Europe, seeking more academic freedom and opportunity.
Despite the shifting landscape, it’s important to remember that plenty of solid science jobs still exist across various sectors. Many of these roles do require specialized education—while certain positions like physicists and biochemists usually call for a doctoral degree, a lot of technician jobs can be snagged with just an associate’s degree. Popular fields such as food science, meteorology, environmental science, geology, and zoology typically expect candidates to possess a bachelor’s degree. Meanwhile, people aiming to become epidemiologists often need a master’s degree.
So, do you think you’ve got what it takes for a rewarding and potentially high-earning science role? Stacker has utilized BLS data to compile a list of the highest-paying science positions in Flint, filtering jobs to rank those with available compensation data from May 2024.
3. Urban and Regional Planners
– Median annual salary: $68,780
– Median hourly wage: $33.07
– Total number of jobs: 50 (0.37 per 1,000 jobs in the area)
2. Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
– Median annual pay: $76,110
– Median hourly wage: $36.59
– Total job count: 60 (0.46 per 1,000 jobs in the area)
1. Clinical and Counseling Psychologists
– Median annual compensation: $79,130
– Median hourly pay: $38.04
– Total employment count: 90 (0.64 per 1,000 jobs in the area)
This article features data collected and reported by Wade Zhou, with writing contributions from Jill Jaracz, as part of a data automation series covering 291 metropolitan areas.
