The Highest-Paying STEM Jobs In The PH That’ll Make You Rethink Your Career Path

Students deciding on what career to take should seriously consider a career in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Let the figures speak for itself.

Results of the 2022 Occupational Wages Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reveal that that the top ten highest-paying jobs in the country are classified as STEM professions.

Aircraft Pilots earn the highest salaries at P135,363, followed by Software Developers at the No. 2 spot with P70,595. Mathematicians and Actuaries rank third, receiving P69,654, while Production Supervisors and General Foremen are fourth with P63,017. Applications Programmers are fifth, earning P58,643. The sixth to tenth highest-paying occupations also fall within the STEM field: Specialist Medical Practitioners (P57,476); Statisticians (P51,607); Generalist Medical Practitioners (P51,251); Geologists (P49,059); and Accountants and Auditors (P48,982).

Aside from the competitive salary, high school students should consider a STEM-related path because this is a transformative on both personal and societal levels, said Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) Director IV Dr. Jayeel S. Cornelio.

“On the personal end, it builds essential skills such as creativity, critical thinking, futures-thinking, and problem-solving skills, among many others. Meanwhile, on the societal end, the field gives birth to innovations and research that shape our world for the better,” Dr. Cornelio said.

He added that the STEM field also offers important equal opportunities depending on one’s specific interests, and its demand is intertwined with other disciplines.

“For one, they can discover what is currently unknown through groundbreaking scientific research. They can also transform existing industries by introducing cutting-edge technologies through their inventions. They can also pave the way for emerging industries by pioneering studies in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, renewable energy, and space exploration, among many others,” Dr. Cornelio said.

Here is a list of common career paths that students may take in their undergraduate studies under the STEM field.

-Biologist

-Chemist

-Environmental Scientist

-Medical Scientist

-Pharmacologist

-Food Scientist

-Forensic Scientist

-Software Developer

-Data Scientist

-Cybersecurity Analyst

-Web Developer

-IT Auditor

-Computer Network Architect

-Civil Engineer

-Mechanical Engineer

-Electrical Engineer

-Chemical Engineer

-Biomedical Engineer

-Computer Engineer

According to DOST-SEI, there are various misconceptions about choosing STEM-related careers that affect the decision-making of students. One of these is that STEM is only for academically gifted students, and careers are limited to scientists and engineers. Some also said STEM courses are too difficult and require extreme intelligence.

“In fact, STEM courses, at its core, help develop the student’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills, as well as creativity. These are skills that are not limited to the STEM field but can also be found in other fields. What sets STEM apart is its deeper appreciation of the world’s intricacies that may or may not be seen by the naked eye,” DOST-SEI explained.

The agency also added that extracurricular activities such as Science fairs, robotics clubs, and research competitions are some of the many ways to help non-STEM students build their interest in the field.

To entice more students to enter the STEM field, the DOST-SEI is offering assistance and programs, promoting the importance of taking up STEM-related courses/tracks.

Some of these initiatives are the #Push4Science and NuLab programs, which are known as the targeted promotional and experiential programs in remote areas of the country.

The agency is also innovating ways to encourage basic education students to explore STEM through competitions like IndieSiyensya, a science filmmaking contest; Girls and Gears, a robotics competition for Filipina high school students; and Climate Science Youth Camp, a two-week program for basic education students in climate science.

For scholarships and assistance, the DOST-SEI is also offering undergraduate, master's, and doctorate scholarship programs both locally and internationally.

Data from the DOST-SEI in 2018 up to 2024 showed that a total of 263,000 undergraduate students were supported by the agency; 26,910 availed master’s scholarship programs; and 6,330 scholars got their doctorate through the assistance.

“At its core, STEM careers shape society. It helps drive technological progress, economic growth, and industrial innovations that propel the country toward development. Critical in this pursuit are the professionals’ contribution in addressing key fields in the country such as healthcare, energy, environment, and infrastructure among many others,” Dr. Cornelio said.