Pay is highest in industrial companies. Work abroad is often better paid and may include accommodation. Wide salary range reflects the wide range of job types. Laboratory and fieldwork can frequently involve weekends. Overseas work often entails long hours, and is uncomfortable, stressful and isolated.
Most scientists work in small, interdisciplinary teams.
The work provides high job satisfaction. Laboratory work is fairly predictable. Fieldwork and advisory work are event driven and difficult to control. Career breaks are possible, but part-time work is uncommon and only in laboratories. There is a fairly even balance of women and men.