Spatial awareness is a critical skill to possess in a variety of careers and is commonly used in the physical and social sciences, engineering, and health care. With advancements in technology, more and more occupations require spatial awareness skills and the ability to analyze, interpret, and respond to visual information. Whether you have an aptitude for mathematics, art, or design, there is a career path that can leverage your spatial skills.
In this blog post, we will discuss 24 careers that require spatial awareness and provide additional salary information. We will cover a variety of occupations, from engineers and architects to cartographers, animators, and videographers. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for a career change, this post will provide a comprehensive list of jobs that rely on spatial awareness and the associated salaries. We’ll also provide a few tips on how to hone your spatial awareness for success in these careers. So read on to learn more about these professions and how to
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Primary responsibilities: A chemical engineer develops and produces new goods like pharmaceuticals and foods using research. Additionally, they work with engineering teams to create new machinery for processing gases and liquids.
A marine biologist’s main responsibilities are to study the creatures and plants that live in water. They also pay attention to variations in the movement of the water, such as swell patterns and temperature anomalies.
A transportation planner’s main responsibilities include designing urban transportation systems like subways, trains, streets, and buses. Transportation planners aim to address issues like traffic congestion and direct repairs like road construction through their work.
An engineer’s main responsibilities are to identify and create solutions for technical problems that arise during the creation or design of machines or systems. Additionally, engineers can focus on particular engineering disciplines like electronics, chemistry, or architecture.
Researching the natural world and its environments is the main responsibility of an environmental scientist. Conservation and safeguarding the environment from commercial activity are some of their professional objectives.
Geologists study the earth’s natural resources to anticipate occurrences like volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. Additionally, they might plan experiments involving the extraction of substances from the Earth’s surface, like water and oil.
A wildlife biologist’s main responsibilities include studying plants and animals in their natural environments. Wherever they are conducting research, one of their duties is to evaluate how humans are affecting the local wildlife.
A cost estimator’s main responsibilities include analyzing data to calculate the costs of materials, labor, and time needed to complete projects. Cost estimators work to make sure that projects are completed on schedule and within a predetermined budget.
Primary duties: A cartographer designs, creates and updates maps. This could entail verifying the accuracy of current maps and creating new maps using satellite images.
An industrial engineer’s main responsibilities include developing systems that will increase the productivity of businesses that manufacture goods or provide services. Additionally, they strive to minimize waste during project completion and enhance any existing procedures.
A chemist is a scientist who conducts chemistry-related research and experiments as one of their main responsibilities. They help to develop products like vaccinations and medications.
A petroleum engineer’s main responsibilities are developing methods for digging up gas and oil from the ground. Additionally, they assist energy production companies by using the materials they collect.
A web developer’s main responsibilities include creating, designing, and programming websites, either on the front or back end of production. Web developers create web pages and work on websites’ interactive features and visual effects.
The main responsibilities of a computer systems analyst are to assist businesses in enhancing their computer systems and ensuring that their technology is current. An analyst of computer systems may work on initiatives to enhance computer security and communication.
The main responsibilities of a biologist are to study the physical characteristics of living things. Biologists gather and examine data from the scientific and medical fields to discover how the anatomy of people, animals, plants, and bacteria functions.
Among their main responsibilities, marine engineers design and assist in building marine structures, including boats, ships, and other structures. Any stage of the process, including design, construction, and testing, is open to them.
An environmental engineer’s main responsibilities are to create solutions based on environmental scientists’ research to enhance processes like waste disposal and water quality. Additionally, they plan for the effects of engineering projects on the environment.
An IT manager’s main responsibilities include supervising technology systems, evaluating technological risks, and installing system updates. IT managers may work on a team in an office or for several different companies.
A civil engineer’s primary responsibilities include working on construction projects like roads and bridges. Their job involves designing, building and repairing large structures.
A nuclear engineer’s main responsibilities are designing devices and systems that utilize radiation and nuclear energy. They also monitor safety procedures at nuclear power plants.
An information security analyst’s main responsibilities are to safeguard a company’s or organization’s computer networks. They could protect a company from cyberattacks such as hackers and data breaches.
Primary responsibilities: A mechanical engineer designs, builds, and tests mechanical devices for use in a variety of industries. They can also fix devices like combustion engines, elevators, and refrigerators.
An organization’s or business’s security protocol is planned and implemented by a cybersecurity analyst. They are responsible for defending digital data and shielding businesses from hackers, data breaches, and technological errors.
A database administrator’s main responsibilities include creating databases for a business and monitoring their output. They might also update current systems or install new database software.
A statistician’s main responsibilities are to gather data, analyze it, and use the results to help businesses and organizations maximize profits and reduce risk. They can help with business and investment decisions and spot market and occupation-specific trends.
An aeronautical engineer’s primary responsibilities include designing and testing aircraft, such as airplanes, helicopters, and missiles. They specialize in maintaining aircraft inside Earth’s atmosphere and can also fix machinery.
Primary responsibilities: A psychologist is a doctor who focuses on mental health. They consult with patients in person and help them create treatment plans that frequently include psychotherapy.
Primary responsibilities: A physician assistant closely collaborates with doctors to provide patients with medical care and diagnoses. Their duties include performing physical examinations, gathering medical histories, and supporting surgical staff during procedures.
Primary duties: A software developer designs computer programs. Software developers frequently work on mobile applications or contribute to the creation of the interactive portions of websites.
Primary duties: An actuary manages financial risks for businesses. In order to assess and analyze data in order to reduce risks and increase productivity, they use math and statistics skills.
A nurse practitioner’s primary responsibilities include providing medical care, including approving procedures, writing prescriptions, and conducting physical examinations. Although they occasionally collaborate with doctors, nurse practitioners are licensed to work independently and without supervision.
Primary responsibilities: Pediatricians are doctors who focus on treating infants, kids, and teenagers. Pediatricians who treat infants and young children keep track of their patients’ growth and development and can give parents tips on how to keep track of important milestones in their children’s health at home.
Primary duties: A physician is a licensed medical doctor. Medical care is given to patients by doctors, who also conduct physical examinations and diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries. A physician can also prescribe medication.
The main responsibilities of a dentist are to treat conditions involving teeth. They provide patients with dental care, such as teeth cleaning, cavity filling, root canals, and dental examinations.
Primary responsibilities: An orthodontist is a specialist dentist who works with patients to realign their teeth or jaws. Orthodontists can recommend treatments like applying headgear or braces, and they occasionally run their own practices.
Primary responsibilities: An optometrist is a medical professional who focuses on identifying and treating eye conditions. They can conduct eye examinations and diagnose ongoing care, including the use of glasses or contact lenses.
A gastroenterologist is a medical professional with a focus on identifying and treating conditions of the digestive system and liver. They might treat a patients stomach, liver, colon or intestines.
Dermatologists are doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions. They can perform physical examinations and issue prescriptions for medications or cosmetic treatments.
Primary responsibilities: A cardiologist is a doctor who focuses on diseases of the cardiovascular systems. They carry out diagnostic procedures and identify illnesses like heart attacks and heart murmurs.
Anesthesiologists’ main responsibilities include giving patients painkillers during surgery and keeping an eye on them to make sure they’re stable both during and after it. Anesthesiologists are licensed to use tools like IVs and can administer anesthesia for both invasive and non-invasive procedures.
12 high-paying anthropology jobs
Here are 12 anthropology positions with annual salaries of at least $60,000:
Please click on the links below to view the most recent Indeed salaries:
Principal responsibilities: A compliance officer promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion and assists organizations in implementing multicultural practices. They keep an eye out for and combat workplace discrimination based on gender, race, sexual orientation, and other categories.
Additionally, these experts use their strong interpersonal abilities to create and distribute compliance strategies across the entire organization. A compliance officer upholds high moral standards and advocates for equality at work.
A brand manager’s main responsibilities are to gather information on market trends and consumer behavior. They provide easy-to-understand interpretations of the data to business owners and employees.
Additionally, these experts assist other executives in an organization in making crucial selections regarding the goods and services to offer and their prices. Brand managers may also forecast future sales and decide what adjustments a business can make to stay competitive with rival companies.
An operations manager’s main responsibilities include understanding a company’s plans and assisting it in achieving its short- and long-term objectives. They aid the company in putting changes into practice and enhancing the effectiveness of all operations. They also exchange tactics with other managers to help the business retain talented workers and boost revenue growth.
A recruiting manager’s main responsibilities are to identify the skills a company needs to hire people with in order to achieve its objectives. They make sure staff members are familiar with industry rules and adhere to quality standards. These managers can also hire personnel who work in extremely specialized fields like accounting or IT if they have experience in that field.
Planning communities to make them more effective and pleasant places to live and work is one of an urban planner’s main responsibilities. They are aware of a society’s needs and put forth initiatives to benefit the neighborhood as a whole.
They employ a variety of anthropologically relevant skills, such as data analysis, presentation, and research. A specialist in urban design, transportation planning, or historic preservation could be an urban planner.
An anthropologist’s main responsibilities are to study everything about humans, including their history, development, societies, linguistics, and culture. They examine the evolution of human behavior and values and how these changes have impacted society as a whole.
An anthropologist can choose to focus on a specific area of anthropology, such as linguistics, biology, or archeology. They might also research how people interact within a specific area of the world, like an entire continent, a particular nation, or a city.
A human resources manager’s main responsibilities include orienting new hires and explaining benefit plans to them. Additionally, they deal with disputes and disciplinary matters, and they keep up with the most recent employment laws in their state.
While some businesses only have one HR manager in charge of overseeing all aspects of human resources, others have multiple HR managers who are each focused on a particular area, such as hiring or labor relations
A writer/editor’s main responsibilities are to produce and edit content, such as novels, articles, and blog posts. Anthropology-trained writers and editors may possess the abilities to thoroughly comprehend their audience, conduct effective research, and communicate effectively.
A writer or editor may also produce informal content for TV scripts and social media posts, as well as formal written content for research papers. Their written contributions can be of great value to employers due to their increased knowledge of a particular period or subject in human history.
A lawyer’s main responsibilities are to assist clients in getting the best results for their legal cases. They write contracts, understand and apply local laws, and bargain agreements.
They may practice law for defendants or plaintiffs in civil or criminal courts, or they may focus on a particular area, such as business law. An anthropology background can assist a lawyer in advising clients, conducting in-depth research, developing legal strategies, and writing motions that are persuasive legally.
Principal responsibilities: A director of communications oversees all written and verbal communications for a company. They help an organization’s communication both internally and externally.
A communications director is in charge of upholding a company’s reputation through the content they create. They make sure the delivery, voice, and tone of every message a business sends are up to par.
The main job of a historian is to inform the public about various historical subjects through storytelling, communication, and research. To share information about the past, they write content, direct programs, and create presentations.
Most historians focus on a particular era, occasion, or area. To determine their past or present influence, they might look at artifacts or ancient documents.
A chief marketing officer’s main responsibilities are planning media campaigns for both traditional and digital formats. They use knowledge from a variety of fields, such as marketing and the visual arts.
They conduct studies to better comprehend market possibilities and consumer behavior. They also plan incentives to increase an organizations sales. A chief marketing officer typically works for a single company and frequently answers to the CEO.
Click on the provided links to access Indeed’s most recent salary data.
Many employers administer spatial ability tests to assess candidates when filling jobs that require high spatial intelligence. According to Psychometric Success, architects and interior designers, for example, should excel on spatial aptitude tests, or they’re likely to have a difficult time understanding blueprints, mentally rotating shapes and developing building plans.
Numerous positions require visual-spatial intelligence in the broad field of engineering. In industries like manufacturing, aerospace, transportation, biomedicine, nuclear power, and computers, engineers design industrial equipment, systems, and products. When building machines, components, and assembly processes, engineering technicians consult engineering blueprints.
Painters, sculptors, photographers, illustrators, printmakers and graphic designers are examples of artistic careers that use visual-spatial intelligence. Fine artists tap their visual-spatial intelligence to imagine how they might use color, shapes, textures, lines and space to create a work of art. The BLS indicates that craft and fine artists earned a median annual salary of $49,120 in 2020.
Cartographers and photogrammetrists, two professions that are related to visual-spatial intelligence, are examples of such careers. The many different types of spatial maps that cartographers produce incorporate survey data, drone data, and satellite data. Planning aerial surveys and analyzing spatial data, such as distances between points and the elevation of a mountain range, enable photogrammetrists to contribute to the creation of digital and interactive maps.
Careers requiring visual-spatial intelligence are best suited for people with this skill set, who can quickly match shapes, spot patterns, and picture an object rotated or unfolded. No matter what your profession, having spatial ability is useful for drawing, following diagrams, using software, packing boxes, and navigating a route.
Work Environment About this section
Public relations specialists work in many different industries.
Public relations specialists held about 276,800 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of public relations specialists were as follows:
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 14% |
| Advertising, public relations, and related services | 13 |
| Government | 10 |
| Business, professional, labor, political, and similar organizations | 7 |
Public relations professionals are employed by a range of businesses, including universities, media companies, and trade associations. The majority of the time, they are office workers, but they also give speeches, go to meetings and community events, and occasionally they travel.
Most public relations specialists work full time. Some work more than 40 hours per week.
Occupations for creative workers
Most occupations involve some form of creativity. For instance, a retail salesperson might create a more interesting product pitch, and a physicist might come up with a brand-new theory of nature.
Creativity is a crucial component of the work in some professions. These jobs include those for designers, media and communication professionals, and artists and related professions. (See the box for a list of additional professions that may require creative abilities, including some you might not expect. ).
Artists and other creative professionals produce aesthetic works in an effort to express certain attitudes, sentiments, or ideas. For instance, a watercolor landscape of a summer day might be used by a painter to try to convey happiness. These workers typically develop a unique style.
This category includes jobs for art directors, craftspeople, fine artists, and multimedia creators.
Art directors. A product’s or piece of art’s vision is created by art directors. They select the forms and components of art to be used, and they manage the artists. Advertising, publications, video games, theater, and film are among the visual communications media that art directors primarily work in.
Craft artists. These artisans use a variety of raw materials, including wood, metal, and fabric, to create handmade arts and products. Craftspeople can earn commissions by selling their wares directly to customers, at craft fairs, or in art studios. Examples of these artists are quilters, woodworkers, potters, and jewelers.
Fine artists. Visual techniques are used by fine artists as a form of artistic expression. These artists study classical artistic techniques like painting and drawing. Fine artists exhibit and market their works at galleries and studios, either directly to customers or through a broker. Occupations include illustrators, painters, cartoonists, and sculptors.
Multimedia artists. These creators incorporate a variety of media, including sound, narrative, or animation, with visual art. Multimedia artists create video games, advertisements, music videos, and more with the aid of film, cameras, computers, and other tools. Special effects artists, 3D animators, and game designers are a few examples of jobs.
Designers make original creations that have practical or aesthetic purpose. Businesses in almost every sector rely on designers to develop and put into practice ideas for new goods or services. Designers may begin a project by making paper sketches or a digital prototype. The ideas are refined into a finished product with the assistance of feedback from customers and staff.
Commercial and industrial, fashion, floral, graphic, interior, and set and exhibit designers are among the design professions described.
Commercial and industrial designers. These designers pay close attention to how users interact with technical goods and services, like mobile devices and online shops. These workers enhance artistic design and usability, ensure integration with current goods or services, and gather information about consumer behavior and market needs.
Typically, engineers, managers, and other designers collaborate with commercial and industrial designers in teams.
Fashion designers. Fashion designers create clothing, accessories, and footwear. They select fabrics, hues, and designs that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing for each product. They may develop original designs or adapt fashion trends. Some items are created as a collection and have a recurring theme, like a similar color scheme or design.
The creation of the garments may be overseen by fashion designers, who make sure that seamstresses and other workers adhere to the designs. They frequently advertise their goods at trade shows and fashion shows for retailers and consumers.
Floral designers. These designers use live and dried flowers and foliage to create arrangements. They must take into account the occasion, such as a wedding or birthday, as well as the client’s needs, budget, and preferences for each arrangement.
Designers of floral arrangements can buy flowers from wholesalers or grow their own. They must become knowledgeable about the characteristics of each flower, such as its season, colors, and meanings, as well as how to take care of it.
Graphic designers. For advertising or promotional purposes, graphic designers use visual communication to convey ideas and messages. These designers create posters, logos, packaging, and other products by manipulating style elements like color and typography using words, s, and symbols.
Typically, graphic designers work directly for a client or an art director. They might also collaborate closely with others in the marketing, communication, and advertising fields.
Interior designers. The interiors of residential, commercial, and industrial spaces are planned and furnished by these designers. Along with the client’s requirements and budget, they take into account each space’s appearance, safety, and functionality.
To specify design elements like lighting fixtures, furniture, and flooring, interior designers create a plan. The plan also estimates the project’s cost and timeline.
Interior designers often work with architects, engineers, and builders. They might be experts in a particular aesthetic or industry, like kitchen design, renovation, or sustainability.
Set and exhibit designers. Designers of sets and exhibits create and outfit venues and displays for performances in theater, movies, museums, and industry events. They collaborate with clients and take into account the design’s timeline, budget, and purpose.
Workers in charge of lighting, special effects, props, and construction work together with designers. A finished set or exhibit is inspected to make sure that it adheres to their design, and they consult with experts to understand elements from a particular style or time period.
Media and communication professionals use words or s to communicate ideas and information. Some people create fictional works, while others record information or real-world occurrences, like breaking news.
Editors, photographers, technical writers, and writers and authors are some of these creative professions.
Editors. Editors plan, review, and revise written material for publication. They work together with writers to develop ideas, make plans, and uphold style guidelines. Editors review and revise drafts in an effort to maintain the author’s voice while confirming information, improving grammar, and rearranging content to make it easier to read. Examples include technical and managing editors.
Photographers. Cameras, lenses, computers, and other tools are used by photographers to create s Depending on their area of expertise or the type of project they are hired for, they may photograph people, landscapes, architecture, food, merchandise, or other subjects.
Many photographers are independent contractors, but some work for publications like newspapers or magazines. By the kinds of images they produce, photographers are frequently categorized. Examples are news, medical, and portrait photographers.
Technical writers. These writers communicate complex information to a general audience. They produce supporting materials, instruction manuals, and other types of explanatory text. In order to increase readers’ comprehension, they increasingly use graphics, sound, and video in electronic resources.
Technical writers frequently work together with other professionals, including product designers, engineers, and customer service representatives. These additional staff members provide feedback on drafts and the finished product, as well as aid writers in understanding the product and gathering information for charts and diagrams.
Writers and authors. Authors and writers produce content for print and online publications, movies, television programs, commercials, and more. They might produce scripts, novels, or articles as well as fiction or nonfiction writing.
To get started, writers often research their subject matter. Additionally, they generate concepts to produce an outline that gives their draft structure. A draft is revised by authors, writers, and editors until it is prepared for publication.
Screenwriters, biographers, playwrights, novelists, copywriters, and bloggers are some examples of writers and authors.
FAQ
What jobs require good spatial awareness?
- Architects and Interior Designers. When filling positions that require a high level of spatial intelligence, many employers conduct tests of candidates’ spatial abilities.
- Engineers and Engineering Technicians. …
- Cartographers and Photogrammetrists. …
- Visual Artists and Graphic Designers.
What jobs use spatial visualization?
Since reading blueprints and maps is essential in the fields of architecture, engineering, and carpentry, these professions all benefit from strong spatial visualization abilities. Medicine, applied health or physical sciences, and even interior or landscape design are other fields where spatial visualizers excel.
What are people with high spatial intelligence good at?
The capacity to think in three dimensions is a trait of those with spatial intelligence. They are skilled at manipulating objects mentally, enjoy creating art or drawings, enjoy designing or building things, and are excellent at mazes.
Is spatial intelligence rare?
Since few people are born with spatial intelligence, Gardner pointed out that most of us must work to improve it.
