Bachelor of Science jobs are so varied that you may feel a little overwhelmed at first. But embracing this wealth of opportunities can also be incredibly exciting.
If you’re passionate about health, ecosystems, or animals, there are many science degree jobs you can pursue. Whether guiding people toward healthier lifestyles, protecting environments, or studying wildlife behaviour, your science skills will be in demand.
So, if you’re wondering what type of science-related professions are open to you, read on to discover what your future career could look like.
There are a huge range of careers you can pursue with a Bachelor of Science, depending on your major. The following are just a sample. Explore UQ’s Bachelor of Science majors to discover what other career paths are open to you with this degree.
Nutritionist
What does a nutritionist do?
A nutritionist uses scientific knowledge of nutrients, food science, and human biology to help people and communities make healthier food choices. You could work one-on-one with clients, in community health campaigns, or in the food industry helping to evaluate and improve products.
According to Jobs and Skills Australia, employment for nutrition professionals is expected to grow by 15.1 per cent by 2028.
As a nutritionist, you can expect to:
- assess clients’ dietary habits and nutritional needs
- design nutrition plans for general wellness or specific goals
- educate groups on healthy eating through workshops or public programs
- research and analyse food quality or nutritional data.
Nutritionist skills
To excel as a nutritionist, you’ll need:
- a strong understanding of human biology, metabolism and nutrient function
- the ability to interpret and apply scientific research
- clear, practical communication skills
- empathy and strong interpersonal skills
- behaviour change and goal-setting capability
- analytical skills to assess dietary intake and health data.
Where would a nutritionist work?
Hospitals and clinics, community health organisations, government health programs, private practice, universities, and the food and beverage sector are all potential employers.
How a Bachelor of Science helps
While you may associate a career in nutrition with a health degree, this is one of many jobs that involve science.
A strong understanding of human metabolism, dietary requirements, research design and evidence-based practice is essential in this field, and majoring in Food Science and Nutrition helps you build that foundation.
In Australia, the term “nutritionist” isn’t legally protected, so many practitioners join professional groups like the Nutrition Society of Australia to demonstrate their qualifications and credibility. (Source: Nutrition Society of Australia)
I get to contribute to enhancing the quality of life and the wellbeing of Singapore people by working with food and beverage operators to educate them on nutrition.
Environmental scientist
What does an environmental scientist do?
Environmental scientists apply scientific knowledge to understand and solve environmental problems. This can mean studying ecosystems, analysing pollution, or helping organisations and governments make decisions that protect natural resources.
As an environmental scientist, you can expect to:
- collect environmental data in the field (e.g., water quality, soil samples)
- conduct lab analysis and interpret results
- prepare reports and recommendations for policy, conservation, or industry compliance
- advise on environmental impact assessments and sustainability strategies.
Environmental scientist skills
To excel as an environmental scientist, you’ll need:
- strong fieldwork and sampling skills
- strong data collection, management and statistical analysis skills
- environmental impact assessment knowledge
- an understanding of environmental legislation and policy
- technical report writing and documentation
- risk assessment and compliance monitoring knowledge and skills.
Information sourced from Pay Scale, Your Career and Jobs and Skills Australia.
Where do environmental scientists work?
Environmental scientists can work for government agencies, consulting firms, research bodies, non-profits, or industry. You’ll have the chance to influence how natural resources are managed, conserved, and restored.
How a science degree helps
Majoring in Environmental Science during your Bachelor of Science builds skills in ecology, chemistry, statistics, field methods and critical thinking, all of which are valuable in environmental science careers.
Many roles also encourage interdisciplinary experience. Communication, GIS (geographic information systems) and data analysis skills are often embedded in science training and are highly valued in this field.
Meet Bachelor of Science graduate, Chris
Chris graduated from UQ’s Bachelor of Science, majoring in ecology and geographical sciences in 2016. He then went on to complete a Master of Environmental Management in 2018.
Chris worked as an environmental officer at Brisbane City Council from 2021-2023, where he assessed projects such as park redevelopments through to large scale road infrastructure upgrades against federal, state and local legislation.
“This ensures thorough environmental due diligence of each project and that all necessary permits and approvals have been obtained to lawfully conduct work that also meets high public standards,” says Chris.
“During construction phases of projects, I also assessed compliance by conducting site audits to ensure the on-ground works were occurring in accordance with all relevant permits and plans.”
Before this, Chris worked as an ecologist with sustainability consultancy, Environmental Resources Management (ERM), where he had the chance to conduct extensive fieldwork.
“At ERM, I worked broadly across Queensland as an ecologist on the coast and out west on renewable energy projects,” Chris says.
“This would see me take part in hands-on ecological fauna and flora surveys assessing various vegetation types, spotlighting for nocturnal species, and conducting trapping surveys to name a few assessments. This was a great way to see Australian wildlife up close and personal!”
Chris explains that having a mix of office-based and fieldwork skills has been beneficial to his career.
While my roles have differed between field-orientated and office-orientated positions, having the mix of skills necessary to perform both is the ideal outcome.
"It gives you an appreciation for the crews on the ground and the environmental values you're seeking," says Chris.
“At the same time, having office focused skills allows you to interpret and apply those findings well. The combination of both gives you an edge and keeps more career doors open.”
The broad range of subjects available in UQ’s Bachelor of Science is what Chris believes helped to shape his career.
“The program is very flexible and it allowed me to narrow my interests as my studies progressed,” he says.
“From ecology courses to environmental law and even plant identification, you can tailor the degree to suit your career path.”
Data scientist
Data science is quickly evolving as one of the most in-demand career paths for skilled professionals. In a nutshell, a data scientist knows how to extract meaning from and interpret complex data with the help of specific tools and methods from statistics and computer science.
With a full understanding of the data science life cycle, data scientists transform massive amounts of data into actionable insights that can have a profound impact for organisations, their customers, stakeholders, and the public in general.
Do you need a PhD to be a data scientist?
No. But postgraduate studies in data science, such as a Master of Data Science, can greatly increase your likelihood of landing a job, and may even boost your salary, too – see the table below as a guide.
UQ science and mathematics graduates
| Study level | Median recent UQ science and mathematics graduate income |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $68,400 |
| Postgraduate | $91,300 |
In terms of science careers that pay well, data scientist is definitely up there. While an entry-level data scientist salary in Australia is around $78K, data scientists with 10-19 years of experience earn on average $128K in Australia, according to Pay Scale.
Depending on the company hiring, you may obtain a higher starting salary with a postgraduate qualification. In saying this, many data scientists start out as data analysts and work their way up the ladder to a promotion and pay rise.
What does a data scientist do?
In this role, you can expect to:
- design data modelling processes to create algorithms and predictive models, and perform custom analyses to mine stores of big data
- analyse data to identify potential trends or patterns and interpret that data to discover solutions or opportunities
- collect large sets of data from different sources and clean and validate that data to ensure its accuracy, completeness, uniformity, and relevance
- communicate your findings to stakeholders.
Important skills for data scientists
To become a data scientist, you’ll need:
- a keen interest in, and knowledge of, programming and machine learning techniques
- strong skills in statistical analysis and mathematics
- structured thinking skills
- data visualisation and reporting skills
- competent and clear communication skills for reporting your findings to stakeholders.
Keen to start developing your data science skills? UQ’s Bachelor of Science – Computer Science major can get you there.
Zoologist
What do zoologists do?
When it comes to careers with a science degree, zoology may be one of the most unique (and arguably most exciting!).
Zoologists study animals, their behaviour, physiology, evolution, and how they interact with ecosystems. This work blends field observations, lab research, data analysis, and science communication.
Core responsibilities:
- observing animals in natural or controlled environments and collecting biological data
- analysing behaviour, population dynamics and species interactions
- conducting experiments and research studies
- publishing findings, writing reports, and communicating with scientists, policymakers or the public.
Zoologist skills
- wildlife observation and species identification
- fieldwork skills in diverse or remote environments
- experimental design and research methods
- data collection and statistical analysis
- knowledge of animal behaviour and ecology
- understanding of environmental regulations and conservation policy.
Information sourced from Salary Expert, Your Career and Jobs and Skills Australia.
Where can a zoologist work?
Universities, research institutes, wildlife parks, conservation groups, government departments, and zoos. Some zoologists specialise in conservation, behavioural ecology, wildlife management or animal care.
How a science degree helps
A Bachelor of Science with a major in Zoology gives you essential grounding in animal science and research skills. Many zoologists also continue into postgraduate study to work on specialised research or leadership roles.
Your degree, your direction
Studying science prepares you for a broad range of careers with genuine impact. By choosing majors or electives in areas like nutrition, environmental science, computer science or zoology, you can shape your degree around the career you’re aiming for. Adding research projects or industry placements means you’ll graduate with practical experience, not just theory, and a clearer sense of where you want to go next.
Want to know more about the types of careers you can pursue with a university degree in science?
