Salary
Average Salary: $75,160
Expected Lifetime Earnings: $3,138,000
The money varies depending on the particular strain (to use a biological science term) of scientist you are.
Biochemists and biophysicists are the highest paid—around $90,000-$100,000 a year—while zoologists and wildlife biologists are more in the $60,000-$65,000 range (source). But what’s a difference of $30,000 when you get to chill with a bunch of goats and monkeys?
You'll just have to use your imagination to picture the goats.
The money also varies widely depending on whether you work in the private sector, for the government or for a college or university. Those working for the government, in scientific research and development services, and for pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing firms make $25,000 more on average than professors or those employed by hospitals (source).
On the other hand, if you work entirely for yourself in your mother's basement, you may not make much money, but at least you get to live rent-free.