Orthopedic surgeons often earn more as some of their patients have had accidents in the workplace and workers compensation pays their fees. Plastic and cosmetic surgeons also get into some lucrative work. Many non-medical scientific jobs are in remote field locations. They are employed in 100 locations around Australia, from field stations to urban laboratory complexes. Jobs vary from pest control to research into plant and animal DNA and genetic modification of crops.
Museums also employ a broad range of scientists.
Jobs at the Australian Museum include collection managers, materials conservators, IT staff and scientific library staff. The upsurge in environmental awareness has meant a boom in jobs for scientists in the past decade. Five years ago, less than 5 per cent of our placements were environmental scientists. Environmental scientists work at the Environmental Protection Agency, small consultancies or in big mining and construction companies. People with scientific qualifications are better paid generally, says the Australian Bureau of Statistics.