There are some areas for which a PhD is a pre-requisite. I currently work at a synchrotron. Accelerator operators, engineers etc. do not all have PhDs, but when

There are some areas for which a PhD is a pre-requisite. I currently work at a synchrotron. Accelerator operators, engineers etc. do not all have PhDs, but when you get to the science side I think every single member of the science team has a PhD. A PhD is the most straightforward path towards involvement in science that needs big, expensive, sophisticated equipment.