Careers
Careers
The STO Program was developed in significant part to meet the career-ladder needs for advanced degrees by Extension agents. Many of our students are already full-time employees in the Kentucky Extension Service and are expected to continue with their employer following degree completion. Students interested in obtaining employment as an Extension agent would be expected to value the training this program provides. Other STO graduates may seek other professional employment related to their expertise and credentials, including positions in the private sector in agriculture, food and environment.
Featured Careers in Science Translation & Outreach
Extension Agent
Job Outlook:
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth for agricultural positions should be about as fast as the average for all careers from 2008 to 2018.
Individuals with advanced degrees, such as a Master’s or Ph.D., will continue to have the best opportunities for advancement in the field.
Average Salary:
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service, the average salary for extension agents holding a Bachelor’s degree was $44,293 in December 2010. Extension agents holding a Master’s degree averaged $57,889 in 2010.
Description:
Agricultural extension agents travel throughout their region or district to provide the latest industry information to farmers, ranchers, community groups, and youth groups.
They may present information on scientific advances, farm and natural resource management, marketing, production, and other topics that are relevant to agricultural businesses operating in their area.
Science/Technical Writer
Job Outlook:
Employment of technical writers is projected to grow 8 percent from 2018 to 2028, faster than the average for all occupations.
Employment growth will be driven by the continuing expansion of scientific and technical products.
Average Salary:
The median annual wage for technical writers was $71,850 in May 2018. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $43,110, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $114,930.
Description:
Technical writers, also called technical communicators, prepare instruction manuals, how-to guides, journal articles, and other supporting documents to communicate complex and technical information more easily.
They also develop, gather, and disseminate technical information through an organization’s communications channels to maximize communication efforts throughout the organization.
In addition to Extension Agent and Technical Writer, other expected professional opportunities would include:
- Evidence-Based Advocacy Specialist
- Program Evaluator
- MEL Specialist (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning)
- Technical Outreach Specialist
- Other positions with a focus on analysis and communication of information
- Operations Research Analyst
- Science Reporter
