There is this common PhD misconception that once you finish your PhD, the possibilities for work keep increasing. Typically, the most popular careers in the USA after completing a PhD are academic careers; however, depending on the field, around 45% of PhD graduates do not start their careers in academia, they choose alternative careers or transition to industries after their PhD. For example, in the field of Arts and Humanities, around 80% of PhD graduates do so.
In the US, around 1 billion dollars is spent every year on research and development in various fields. This expenditure comes in the form of university stipends, tuition fee waivers, research facilities, and equipment. This has led to an increased demand for highly qualified professionals with PhDs, creating a range of exciting career opportunities. Hence, it is safe to say that there are a variety of career options for PhD holders in the USA to choose from.
However, doctoral training at a research institute or a university does not fit everybody’s skills and ambitions. About half of the PhD graduates in the United States are overqualified for their first job position. As stated above, careers in academia top the list of careers for PhD holders. Some popular options include professors, researchers, and consultants in various fields. Here is a list of 10 career paths that PhD graduates can pursue in the US. Do not consider that these are the only options, but rather a clue to complement the knowledge and information of possible alternative career paths.
- University Professor
- Research Scientist (Industry)
- Data Scientist
- Government Researcher
- Consultant (Specialized Fields)
- Policy Advisor/Analyst
- R&D Manager (Industry)
- Patent Examiner/Patent Attorney
- Entrepreneur/Startup Founder
- Medical Science Liaison (MSL)
Places to Look for Jobs as a PhD Graduate
Now, let us look extensively at these career paths for PhD graduates in the USA to know why we consider them at the top of the list.
#1. University Professor
- Field: Academia
- Role: Conducting research, publishing papers, and teaching undergraduate or graduate courses.
- Salary: $84,380–$200,000+ per year
- Growth Potential: Opportunities for tenure and leadership positions.
Teaching at a university is the most obvious career option for a doctorate degree holder in the USA. After completing the doctorate of philosophy, the next aim of the majority of students is to get a job that will give them respect and will pay more. University professors are responsible for teaching, conducting research, and working closely with students in a variety of settings, including classrooms, lecture halls, as well as traveling to locations relevant to their field of study. Their professional duties are also tied to their scientific work, and they are always in demand at institutions of higher learning.
#2. Research Scientist (Industry)
- Field: Pharmaceuticals, Biotech, Tech, Engineering
- Role: Leading research and development projects in industries such as healthcare, technology, and more.
- Salary: $90,000–$160,000
- Growth Potential: Senior research scientist, R&D director, or project leader.
Taking a career as a research scientist before or after earning your doctorate allows you to conduct experiments and analyses, interpret results, and ensure that critical case, device and system requirements are met. Although you can work as a research scientist without a PhD, getting a PhD makes you one of the highest earners in the field automatically. You can seek a career in a fast-paced research and development environment in a growing company or organization.
Related: Why You Should Leave Academia After Your PhD
#3. Data Scientist
- Field: Technology, Finance, Healthcare
- Role: Analyzing complex datasets to inform business decisions using statistical methods and machine learning.
- Salary: $108,000–$184,000+
- Growth Potential: Chief Data Officer or Senior Data Scientist.
Data Scientists are part mathematician, part computer scientist, and part trend-spotter. A Data Scientist’s job is to discover innovative solutions to business problems, formulate strategies, and bring products to real life. They use tools like R, Hivem Pig, SAS, and Python for analyzing data and applying statistics to come up with business solutions. There are currently 202,900 jobs in the United States for Data Scientists, with Job Outlook, 2023-33 at 36% (Much faster than average).
#4. Government Researcher
- Field: National Labs, Federal Agencies (e.g., NASA, NIH)
- Role: Conducting research on national priorities in science, health, and technology.
- Salary: $82,360–$233,000
- Growth Potential: Management roles or lead scientist positions.
Working in a research role for the government can provide job security, stability, a competitive salary, and other numerous benefits. Many American PhD graduates opt to pursue careers in ministries and departments, federal, state, or local government and many federal government employees are part of a labor union and receive collective bargaining perks. With a PhD, you can expect to pursue a career as a Government researcher in the USA.
#5. Consultant (Specialized Fields)
- Field: Management Consulting, Technical Consulting (e.g., McKinsey, BCG)
- Role: Offering expert advice to corporations and governments on specialized topics.
- Salary: $172,280–and above
- Growth Potential: Partner or Principal Consultant.
For any corporate or business matter, consultants’ expertise is very important. Therefore, with a doctoral degree, corporate or business sector employers are ready to pay a hefty sum to a PhD holder who has the aptitude to solve problems or provide best practices. This not only makes the consulting career one of the top careers in the USA after completing a PhD, but also one of the highest-paid PhD careers in USA.
#6. Policy Advisor/Analyst
- Field: Government, NGOs, Think Tanks
- Role: Shaping and advising on policies related to science, technology, healthcare, education, etc.
- Salary: $183,500 and above
- Growth Potential: Senior advisor, Director of policy.
At any level of government, there is a need for bright and talented individuals to formulate sound public policy and analyze its likely consequences. PhD degree holders are especially well-equipped for this type of work, given the breadth of background they possess in their areas of specialization. Careers in policy analysis also offer a rare opportunity to work on some of the most interesting and challenging problems that face us as a nation—problems like improving education, dealing with our growing dependence on foreign oil, protecting our environment, promoting economic growth, and making our health care system more efficient.
See Also: Career Opportunities and Advancement with a PhD in Information Security
#7. R&D Manager (Industry)
- Field: Technology, Healthcare, Engineering
- Role: Managing research and development teams to drive innovation in products or processes.
- Salary: $120,000–$180,000
- Growth Potential: Director or Vice President of R&D.
PhD graduates who want to lead a research team or wish to work in the field of applied research might consider becoming a research and development manager. A majority of industries maintain a research and development department. In companies, the R&D manager directs these departments and ensures that new product development and research projects comply with the company’s goals. The salary for R&D managers varies from $120,000 to $180,000 depending on the company making the R&D Manager Career amongst the best-paying PhD careers in USA, hence, research and development managers receive a high level of satisfaction from their work.
#8. Patent Examiner/Patent Attorney
- Field: Legal, Intellectual Property
- Role: Examining patent applications or helping inventors and companies secure intellectual property.
- Salary: $180,000+
- Growth Potential: Senior patent attorney or partner at a law firm (with JD).
Patent attorneys advise and assist their clients in obtaining patents for their inventions, providing advice about legal and business matters, in addition to preparing and filing patent applications. In contrast, patent examiners work for the government to review and process applications submitted to the Patent and Trademark Office. Their goal is to determine whether or not an invention is unique and new so a patent can be issued. The earnings of a patent attorney are very high as far as the approximate salary is concerned, this is on par with general lawyers making it a very good career to pursue after the completion of their PhD.
#9. Entrepreneur/Startup Founder
- Field: Tech, Healthcare, Biotech
- Role: Starting a company based on innovative research or technologies developed during the PhD.
- Salary: Varies (potentially high rewards)
- Growth Potential: CEO, CTO, or board member.
Entrepreneurship can be a great career for graduates, and while a PhD might not seem essential for launching a startup, having a PhD could enhance your appeal to potential venture capitalists. A PhD signifies a strong blend of leadership and problem-solving capabilities, which can be advantageous when managing a limited budget and working within interdisciplinary teams. An academic background typically enhances analytical and critical thinking skills, which are often overlooked in many business programs.
#10. Medical Science Liaison (MSL)
- Field: Pharmaceuticals, Biotech
- Role: Acting as a bridge between pharmaceutical companies and the medical community, providing scientific expertise.
- Salary: $120,000+
- Growth Potential: Senior MSL, Medical Director.
The position of a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) offers a lucrative career prospect for persons with a PhD. This profession is known for its elevated degree of job satisfaction. MSL positions are among the highest-paying entry-level roles for Ph.D. graduates, offering an average compensation of $120,244. The principal role of a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is to elevate the reputation of the affiliated pharmaceutical firm through direct scientific discourse with healthcare professionals.
10 Most Lucrative Doctoral Careers
Key Skills and Qualifications for Post-PhD Careers in the USA
Your career path after acquiring a PhD in the USA will require you to be proficient in some key skills. With these skills, you should be ready for a post-PhD profession that allows you to develop your team-building abilities. You’ll be more equipped for today’s competitive job market with these skills, opening you many chances in your future. Some of the key skills and qualifications for post PhD careers in the USA include:
– Transferable skills
- Adaptability
- Commercial awareness
- Communication
- Creative and critical thinking
- Leadership
- Organizational skills
- Problem-solving
- Self-assessment
- The ability to integrate constructive feedback and lessons learned
– Training and Expertise Skills
- Research
- Leadership
- Entrepreneurship
- Collaboration
These skills will help you become trained and capable of dealing with different problems and finding various solutions with the help of many tools. They will also increase your knowledge to find new jobs and allow you to continue your career in new fields even without a job. Professionals require the right skills to understand and use the knowledge they have to solve a problem or to bring in new knowledge to their business.
10 In-demand Transferable Skills for PhD Holders
How To Increase Your Chances Of Getting A Job In USA after Completing a PhD
Getting a job in the USA after completing your PhD can be quite challenging. However, there are many things that you can do to boost your chances of success. Here are a few things you can do to increase your chances of getting a job in the USA.
- Be open-minded and flexible
- Expand your job search techniques
- Tailor your application materials
- Maintain connections with your graduate school
Job searching can take time, so try not to get discouraged! Keep an open mind, maintain a good attitude, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. In the end, persistence will be key to ensuring success. Keep going!
Conclusion
As the educational and economic landscapes of the USA transform, so do the traditional career paths taken by individuals after obtaining a doctorate. Also, the niche field specialization usually required to obtain a PhD degree limits the availability of general job openings, leading to competition among other almost equally qualified PhD holders. So, the demand for post-PhD hiring for tenure-track academic positions, such as assistant professor, significantly exceeds the supply of available positions for the same.
Consequently, there exists a growing awareness of and increased focus on post-PhD careers essentially outside academia for newly graduated PhD holders. There is no perfect fit nor the best career; instead, the key is to pursue those roles that motivate you and stimulate your creativity. If you are happy, your employer is happy. Take the time to match your skills, abilities, education, and passion with every single career option that interests you.
FAQs
What is the Average Salary for PhD in the USA?
The average salary for individuals holding a PhD in the USA varies significantly based on the field of study, industry, and geographic location, but it generally ranges from $70,000 to over $200,000 annually. PhD holders in high-demand fields such as engineering, health sciences, and technology tend to earn higher salaries than their counterparts in arts and humanities.
What Is The Career Outlook For PhD Holders?
The career outlook for PhD holders is positive, with many opportunities available in both academia and industry. PhDs are highly sought after in research-intensive industries such as biotech, pharmaceuticals, and technology. While academic tenure-track positions are competitive, industry roles in research and development, consulting, and data analysis offer a strong career outlook, with growth projected in various sectors
Is It Easier To Find A Career Opportunity With A PhD Degree?
Obtaining a PhD degree often provides a competitive edge in the job market, as it signifies a high level of expertise and dedication to research. This makes it easier to find career opportunities in specialized fields, particularly in research, academia, and highly technical industries. Many employers view a PhD as an indication of critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to conduct independent research, which are highly sought after in various industries. This perception can significantly enhance a candidate’s employability, as companies often prioritize applicants who possess advanced degrees.
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