It’s National Dinosaur Day and we’re celebrating the best way we know how – with STEM careers
Are you a dino fan from way back, like digging (literally) into the past, or just want a job that’s about gathering and sharing fascinating information? Sounds like a career with dinosaurs is right up your pre-historic alley.
And because we’re all about STEM careers here, we’ve sussed out five that also include a splash of science, tech, engineering and maths. This will make sure you’re super employable while doing a job you love. Check out the careers with dinosaurs (and STEM!) below.
Careers with dinosaurs
Anything is fossible when you mix STEM with your passion for dinos. Which one suits you most?
1. Palaeontologist
A palaeontologist study fossils to learn about non-human life (like dinosaurs) in the past. They spend lots of time in the field finding and digging up the fossils, and also have stints in the lab where they clean and prepare their specimens.
Average salary: $125,833
Study: A Bachelor of Science (majoring in Geology, Earth Science, or Zoology). Flinders University also has Australia’s only undergraduate palaeontologist degree, the Bachelor of Science (Palaeontology).
2. Museum curator
These professionals are responsible for acquiring, managing, researching and exhibiting collections relevant to their workplace (museums, art galleries and cultural institutions). Curators at the following Australian museums, centres and sites all get to work with dinosaur skeletons, bones, fossils and models:
- Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum (Winton, QLD)
- Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum (Bathurst, NSW)
- Australian Museum (Sydney, NSW)
- Australia’s Dinosaur Trail (Winton, Hughenden, Richmond, QLD)
- Eromanga Natural History Museum (Eromanga, QLD)
- Flinders Discovery Centre (Hughenden, QLD)
- Kronosaurus Korner (Richmond, QLD)
- National Dinosaur Museum (Nicholls, ACT)
Average salary: $85,000 to $105,000
Study: A Bachelor of Science (majoring in Geology, Earth Science, or Zoology), a Bachelor of Science (Palaeontology), or a Bachelor of Arts (History).
3. Fossil preparator
A fossil preparator is a skilled technician who frees (dinosaur) fossils from rocks and gets them ready for further research or for display in exhibitions.
Average salary: $62,932
Study: No formal degree is needed, but you can train at certain museums (like the Eromanga Natural History Museum, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum, and Kronosaurus Korner).
4. Animatronics technician
OK, OK. This one is a bit cheeky. You won’t get to work with dino fossils, but you will get to work with giant (fake) T-Rexes and triceratops. These tech legends build, maintain and repair lifelike robotic figures in museums, theme parks and even movies (Jurassic World, anyone?).
Average salary: $106,224
Study: A Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical) or a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics).
5. Primary school teacher
Perfect for anyone who loves STEM + education and knows a thing or two about dinosaurs! Primary school teachers, especially those working with the younger years, often teach students about local dinosaur finds, how fossils are formed, and the environments dinos lived in.
Average salary: $100,000 to $110,000
Study: Bachelor of Education (Primary) or a Bachelor of Science with a Diploma of Education.
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