TL;DR
What this career is
Science domain. Research at the University Lab and the Space Agency — astronomy, biology, environmental work — climbing to the best-paid role in the game.
At a glance
Is Science right for your Para?
- Story fit
- Fits obsessive-genius arcs and observatory-centred night routines.
Editorial ratings from our own EA playthroughs — not official data.
Getting hired
How to land a Science job
Points come from the Astronomy and Biology skills plus research experience. The University Lab runs Environmental and Astronomy Researcher roles; the Space Agency tops out at a CEO that needs Biology, Science and Management together.
- 1
Open the job board. Click your Para, choose Use Phone then Find a job — or use any computer (the Town Hall and Library have public ones) or a Hiring poster around Melino.
- 2
Check the Application Points. Rank 1 listings need 0 points; every higher rank needs Application Points equal to its rank number — a Rank 12 job needs 12. Points come from leveled skills, sector work experience, the Charisma stat and certain Vibes.
- 3
Accept and set a schedule. Listings refresh every in-game day, you can hold multiple jobs if shifts don't overlap, and you tweak hours at the bottom of the Occupations tab. Applying internally adds +3 points; a Jester Vibe can roll a random +5.
Rank & pay
The rank ladder, entry to capstone
Pay scales with rank. Figures below are daily salaries cross-checked from the EA job tables — treat them as representative, not guaranteed, since patch 0.1.x can rebalance.
- Entry · Rank 1
Environmental Researcher (University Lab) — Rank 10, about $435/day, needs Science. The standard research entry once a science skill is leveled.
- Mid ranks
Astronomy Researcher (University Lab) — Rank 12 to 14, about $465 to $495/day. Build the Astronomy skill and lab experience to climb the research tiers.
- Senior / capstone
Mission Coordinator (Space Agency, Rank 20, ~$730) up to CEO (Rank 46, ~$2,850) — the Space Agency is the science capstone, and the CEO is the highest salary in EA, needing Biology, Science and Management.
Skills that feed it
What raises your Application Points
These are the player-leveled skills that count toward this domain's Application Points. Level them, or use a cheat to test a higher-rank listing.
Astronomy and Biology both count, and Biology doubles into Healthcare. Level them at the home telescope and lab props, or LEVELUPSKILL Astronomy to test a high-rank lab listing.
Perks & cheats
Upgrade points, perks and the console
Lab and agency shifts are rabbit-holes: bank salary and upgrade points, then spend them on perks that speed research or boost discovery payouts.
PRINTALLPOSSIBLEEXTRASFOROCCUPATION— lists every Occupation Perk for the current job.ENDWORKDAY— resolves the shift, pays salary and grants an upgrade point if performance held.CLEARSTRIKES— wipes disciplinary strikes before they get the Para fired.
Need the full command list? Open the cheats index for all 100+ Paralives cheats, categorised.
Common mistakes
Three pitfalls on this track
Applying with no science skill
Even the Rank 10 Environmental Researcher needs Science. Level Astronomy or Biology before browsing the lab board.
Treating Space Agency as early-game
The CEO sits at Rank 46 and needs three things at once. Plan a long Astronomy/Biology plus Management climb.
Letting performance slip
Same firing risk as any job. Arrive in a good mood; CLEARSTRIKES clears a bad streak.
Related careers
Adjacent tracks to consider
Careers that share skills, employers or Application-Point sources with this one.
Keep exploring
Continue the field guide
Wider reading from the rest of the Paralives field guide.
All 11 domains, the Application-Points system, the skill-to-career map and how a workday plays out — back to base camp.
Every player-leveled skill, what it unlocks, and the career it pays into. Level the right one before you apply.
100+ achievement-safe console commands. Career, skills, money and more — categorised and searchable.