Back to Data Tables
Download to excel

NCSES RCG 2010 DST 42 SAS Output
Table 42. Employment sector and median salary of full-time employed recent graduates with master's degrees in science, engineering, or health, by major field of degree: October 2010
(Dollars)

Major field              All full-time employed Educational institutiona Governmentb Private industry and businessc
Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE
All fields 62,000 1,500 47,000 500 60,000 1,000 68,000 1,000
Science 54,000 2,000 45,000 500 55,000 3,000 60,000 1,000
Biological/ agricultural/ environmental life sciences 50,000 500 40,000 1,500 50,000 1,000 53,000 3,000
Agricultural/ food sciences 49,000 7,000 D D D D 57,000 13,500
Biological sciences 50,000 500 40,000 2,000 50,000 3,000 53,000 3,000
Environmental life sciences 51,000 11,000 D D D D 51,000 4,500
Computer/ information sciences 69,000 3,000 59,000 4,000 53,000 3,500 70,000 1,000
Mathematics/ statistics 65,000 2,500 46,000 2,000 * * 72,000 14,500
Physical and related sciences 52,000 3,500 44,000 1,500 45,000 1,500 67,000 11,000
Chemistry, except biochemistry 41,000 4,500 37,000 2,000 * * 61,000 3,000
Earth/ atmospheric/ ocean sciencesd 54,000 1,500 51,000 5,500 * * 58,000 6,500
Physics/ astronomy 56,000 24,500 45,000 3,000 * * 87,000 6,500
Psychology 42,000 1,000 42,000 1,500 50,000 2,500 40,000 1,000
Social and related sciences 53,000 3,000 45,000 2,500 62,000 1,500 52,000 4,500
Economics 62,000 3,500 * * * * 62,000 6,000
Political and related sciences 58,000 4,000 41,000 13,000 64,000 3,000 52,000 3,500
Sociology/ anthropology 42,000 1,500 42,000 5,500 42,000 5,000 39,000 4,000
Other social sciences 47,000 2,500 43,000 3,500 57,000 12,500 47,000 7,500
Engineering 73,000 3,500 54,000 3,000 78,000 2,500 72,000 4,500
Chemical engineering 72,000 1,000 * * * * 75,000 500
Civil/ architectural engineering 60,000 500 * * 66,000 3,500 60,000 1,000
Electrical/ computer engineering 78,000 3,000 * * 80,000 3,000 78,000 4,500
Industrial engineering 70,000 500 * * * * 70,000 500
Mechanical engineering 71,000 5,000 * * * * 70,000 6,000
Other engineering 72,000 3,000 54,000 4,000 79,000 1,000 72,000 1,000
Health 63,000 6,000 50,000 2,500 59,000 8,000 70,000 4,500

* = value < 500; D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information.
SE = standard error.
a Educational institution includes elementary and secondary schools, 2-year and 4-year colleges and universities, medical schools, university-affiliated research organizations, and all other educational institutions.
b Government includes local, state, and federal government; military; and commissioned corps. However, it does not include those reported as educational institutions.
c Private industry and business includes all private for-profit and private not-for-profit companies, businesses, and organizations, except those reported as educational institutions. It also includes persons reporting they were self-employed.
d Other physical sciences is included in earth, atmospheric, and ocean sciences.
NOTES: Salaries are rounded to the nearest $1,000. Standard errors for salaries are rounded up to the nearest $500. Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Estimates are from recent college graduates who received bachelor's or master's degrees in science, engineering, or health fields in the 2008 and 2009 academic years; estimates may differ from degree counts published elsewhere. Salary data are for principal job only. Full-time employed persons are those working at least 35 hours per week at their principal job. Self-employed persons and full-time students are excluded from salary data.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, National Survey of Recent College Graduates, 2010.
Data from survey cycle 2010, as of September 19, 2012.