I've been contracting for three years at a well-known agriscience company in the USA. Almost everyone here is a contractor, which means I'm stuck with low pay, no PTO, and no benefits. It feels like this job is just a way to get cheap labor while pretending to help us build experience for our careers. Unfortunately, I've been relegated to custodial positions in the three labs I've worked at, which don’t require any scientific skills or knowledge. I see other contractors who have been here for 3, 5, and even 8 years, and they haven't gained much from it besides small raises. I'm starting to question if this is worth it. The job market for STEM in my state is limited to this company, a university, or a hospital, which would require a Master's or additional licensing. A coworker of mine has a Master's and is making the same as I am, which makes me think this was a poor choice. I'm also debating whether I should leave this contracting role for an admin position. Would I be able to break back into STEM later? I hold a BA, but I've been told it's not as competitive as a BS. It's a tough situation, especially since I’d like to have a more stable income and eat more regularly.