STEM careers — those that focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics — require special skills, and many of the workers in these fields are highly skilled in their areas.

In the new edition of his book “150 Best Jobs for Your Skills,” Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., says that STEM careers include “work that discovers, collects and analyzes information about the natural world; applies scientific research findings to problems in medicine, the life sciences, human behavior and the natural sciences; imagines and manipulates quantitative data; and applies technology to manufacturing, transportation and other economic activities.”

Here are the top five jobs for people interested in a STEM career:

1. Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
Top skills: communication, science, thought-processing
Annual earnings: $85,270
Percent growth: 15.1 (projected percent increase from 2008 to 2018)
Annual openings: 4,000

2. Computer network architects
Top skills: equipment use/maintenance, science, technology/programming
Annual earnings: $75,660
Percent growth: 53.4
Annual openings: 20,830

3. Civil engineers
Top skills: management, mathematics, science
Annual earnings: $77,560
Percent growth: 24.3
Annual openings: 11,460

4. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
Top skills: mathematics, science, thought-processing
Annual earnings: $76,700
Percent growth: 40.4
Annual openings: 6,620

5. Environmental engineers
Top skills: mathematics, science, thought-processing
Annual earnings: $78,740
Percent growth: 30.6
Annual openings: 2,790