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| Table 68. Median annual salaries of full-time employed doctoral scientists and engineers, by occupation and years since doctorate: 2010 |
| (Dollars) |
| Occupation | All full-time employed | ≤ 5 | 6–10 | 11–15 | 16–20 | 21–25 | > 25 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median salary | SE | Median salary | SE | Median salary | SE | Median salary | SE | Median salary | SE | Median salary | SE | Median salary | SE | |
| All occupations | 100,000 | 500 | 70,000 | 1,000 | 89,000 | 1,500 | 102,000 | 1,500 | 108,000 | 2,000 | 115,000 | 2,000 | 124,000 | 2,500 |
| Science occupations | 90,000 | 500 | 63,000 | 1,500 | 80,000 | 1,000 | 92,000 | 2,000 | 100,000 | 1,000 | 103,000 | 2,000 | 110,000 | 2,500 |
| Biological/ agricultural/ other life scientists | 84,000 | 1,500 | 49,000 | 500 | 75,000 | 2,500 | 90,000 | 1,000 | 100,000 | 1,000 | 109,000 | 3,500 | 118,000 | 4,000 |
| Agricultural/ food scientists | 91,000 | 3,000 | 75,000 | 3,500 | 89,000 | 7,500 | 90,000 | 4,500 | 95,000 | 4,000 | 95,000 | 5,000 | 120,000 | 5,500 |
| Biochemists/ biophysicists | 78,000 | 4,000 | 44,000 | 1,000 | 83,000 | 5,000 | 112,000 | 4,500 | 108,000 | 6,500 | 113,000 | 15,000 | 134,000 | 18,500 |
| Biological scientists | 74,000 | 2,000 | 46,000 | 1,500 | 74,000 | 5,000 | 89,000 | 4,500 | 103,000 | 6,000 | 128,000 | 8,000 | 120,000 | 7,000 |
| Forestry/ conservation scientists | 82,000 | 4,500 | 46,000 | 9,000 | 82,000 | 6,500 | 80,000 | 8,500 | D | D | D | D | 108,000 | 19,000 |
| Medical scientists | 96,000 | 2,000 | 49,000 | 1,500 | 90,000 | 4,000 | 119,000 | 3,000 | 124,000 | 6,000 | 137,000 | 6,000 | 142,000 | 5,000 |
| Postsecondary teachers, agricultural/ other natural sciences | 87,000 | 2,500 | 67,000 | 2,500 | 78,000 | 4,000 | 78,000 | 7,500 | 88,000 | 5,500 | 93,000 | 2,500 | 101,000 | 5,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, biological sciences | 79,000 | 1,500 | 54,000 | 2,000 | 64,000 | 2,000 | 70,000 | 2,000 | 83,000 | 3,500 | 94,000 | 4,500 | 104,000 | 3,000 |
| Other biological/ agricultural/ life scientists | 74,000 | 4,500 | 52,000 | 4,000 | 81,000 | 11,000 | 82,000 | 9,000 | 116,000 | 24,000 | 120,000 | 12,500 | 120,000 | 36,000 |
| Computer/ information scientists | 110,000 | 500 | 95,000 | 1,500 | 105,000 | 5,000 | 119,000 | 2,000 | 113,000 | 7,000 | 120,000 | 3,500 | 120,000 | 2,500 |
| Computer/ information scientists | 115,000 | 2,000 | 100,000 | 3,000 | 116,000 | 4,500 | 120,000 | 3,500 | 119,000 | 3,000 | 123,000 | 4,500 | 122,000 | 3,000 |
| Postsecondary teachers, computer science | 92,000 | 2,500 | 81,000 | 4,000 | 88,000 | 3,500 | 96,000 | 4,500 | 93,000 | 3,500 | 111,000 | 13,000 | 107,000 | 9,500 |
| Mathematical scientists | 91,000 | 2,500 | 75,000 | 4,500 | 82,000 | 3,500 | 99,000 | 6,000 | 95,000 | 6,500 | 96,000 | 4,000 | 107,000 | 4,000 |
| Mathematical scientists | 110,000 | 2,500 | 90,000 | 3,000 | 116,000 | 6,000 | 120,000 | 4,500 | 126,000 | 6,500 | 127,000 | 9,500 | 130,000 | 9,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, mathematics/ statistics | 79,000 | 2,000 | 59,000 | 2,000 | 69,000 | 2,000 | 74,000 | 5,500 | 80,000 | 3,500 | 86,000 | 4,500 | 97,000 | 5,000 |
| Physical scientists | 92,000 | 1,500 | 64,000 | 1,500 | 82,000 | 2,500 | 97,000 | 4,000 | 100,000 | 3,000 | 103,000 | 3,000 | 119,000 | 4,000 |
| Chemists, except biochemists | 103,000 | 2,000 | 75,000 | 2,000 | 100,000 | 2,000 | 108,000 | 3,000 | 118,000 | 4,000 | 118,000 | 4,500 | 119,000 | 5,500 |
| Earth/ atmospheric/ ocean scientists | 100,000 | 2,000 | 69,000 | 4,000 | 81,000 | 2,500 | 108,000 | 7,500 | 114,000 | 10,500 | 112,000 | 15,000 | 139,000 | 5,500 |
| Physicists/ astronomers | 109,000 | 1,500 | 61,000 | 2,500 | 100,000 | 9,500 | 120,000 | 2,000 | 123,000 | 6,000 | 125,000 | 17,000 | 137,000 | 9,000 |
| Postsecondary teachers, chemistry | 71,000 | 2,000 | 54,000 | 1,000 | 60,000 | 1,000 | 65,000 | 3,500 | 77,000 | 3,000 | 81,000 | 4,000 | 93,000 | 5,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, physics | 78,000 | 2,500 | 57,000 | 3,000 | 65,000 | 2,000 | 75,000 | 3,500 | 78,000 | 6,500 | 91,000 | 5,000 | 99,000 | 8,000 |
| Postsecondary teachers, other physical sciences | 81,000 | 2,500 | 61,000 | 2,500 | 67,000 | 3,500 | 76,000 | 3,000 | 90,000 | 4,500 | 94,000 | 4,500 | 117,000 | 14,000 |
| Other physical scientists | 101,000 | 9,000 | 76,000 | 4,500 | 98,000 | 12,500 | 107,000 | 18,500 | D | D | D | D | 154,000 | 14,000 |
| Psychologists | 83,000 | 1,500 | 65,000 | 1,500 | 80,000 | 2,000 | 79,000 | 2,500 | 84,000 | 2,500 | 95,000 | 4,500 | 100,000 | 1,500 |
| Psychologists | 90,000 | 1,500 | 69,000 | 2,000 | 90,000 | 2,000 | 89,000 | 6,000 | 89,000 | 3,000 | 99,000 | 1,500 | 101,000 | 4,000 |
| Postsecondary teachers, psychology | 73,000 | 2,000 | 59,000 | 1,500 | 63,000 | 1,500 | 70,000 | 2,500 | 74,000 | 2,500 | 84,000 | 4,000 | 97,000 | 3,500 |
| Social scientists | 85,000 | 1,000 | 67,000 | 1,500 | 74,000 | 2,000 | 84,000 | 4,000 | 86,000 | 3,500 | 95,000 | 3,500 | 110,000 | 2,000 |
| Economists | 126,000 | 5,500 | 99,000 | 2,500 | 123,000 | 13,000 | 135,000 | 12,000 | 138,000 | 20,000 | 156,000 | 17,000 | 152,000 | 7,000 |
| Political scientists | 101,000 | 8,500 | 70,000 | 10,500 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Postsecondary teachers, economics | 95,000 | 4,500 | 80,000 | 3,000 | 84,000 | 3,500 | 91,000 | 16,000 | 99,000 | 6,500 | 109,000 | 19,000 | 110,000 | 4,000 |
| Postsecondary teachers, political science | 75,000 | 2,000 | 57,000 | 2,500 | 64,000 | 2,500 | 71,000 | 5,500 | 86,000 | 12,000 | 77,000 | 2,500 | 100,000 | 7,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, sociology | 72,000 | 2,000 | 56,000 | 2,000 | 67,000 | 3,000 | 68,000 | 6,000 | 75,000 | 10,000 | 85,000 | 4,500 | 93,000 | 6,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, other social sciences | 71,000 | 2,000 | 58,000 | 2,000 | 64,000 | 2,000 | 72,000 | 3,500 | 74,000 | 4,000 | 90,000 | 3,000 | 100,000 | 5,000 |
| Sociologists/ anthropologists | 80,000 | 4,500 | 59,000 | 9,000 | 82,000 | 8,000 | 78,000 | 10,000 | 88,000 | 15,000 | 101,000 | 12,000 | 116,000 | 30,000 |
| Other social scientists | 96,000 | 3,000 | 80,000 | 5,000 | 92,000 | 14,500 | 100,000 | 6,000 | 101,000 | 19,000 | 110,000 | 38,000 | 134,000 | 9,500 |
| Engineering occupations | 110,000 | 500 | 90,000 | 1,000 | 101,000 | 2,500 | 120,000 | 1,000 | 120,000 | 1,500 | 130,000 | 1,000 | 131,000 | 4,500 |
| Aerospace/ aeronautical/ astronautical engineers | 125,000 | 5,000 | 94,000 | 5,000 | 117,000 | 8,500 | 131,000 | 7,000 | 118,000 | 7,000 | 136,000 | 4,500 | 150,000 | 5,500 |
| Chemical engineers | 112,000 | 4,500 | 92,000 | 2,000 | 99,000 | 3,500 | 118,000 | 5,000 | 132,000 | 9,500 | 125,000 | 3,500 | 142,000 | 6,500 |
| Civil/ architectural/ sanitary engineers | 93,000 | 4,000 | 70,000 | 3,000 | 93,000 | 4,000 | 113,000 | 7,000 | 109,000 | 8,500 | 124,000 | 4,500 | 95,000 | 7,500 |
| Electrical engineers | 120,000 | 1,000 | 102,000 | 2,500 | 116,000 | 4,500 | 134,000 | 3,000 | 138,000 | 4,000 | 146,000 | 8,000 | 142,000 | 5,000 |
| Industrial engineersa | 110,000 | 11,000 | 90,000 | 6,000 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Mechanical engineers | 104,000 | 2,500 | 86,000 | 2,500 | 100,000 | 3,000 | 117,000 | 8,000 | 119,000 | 4,500 | 125,000 | 8,500 | 135,000 | 10,000 |
| Postsecondary teachers, engineering | 100,000 | 1,000 | 80,000 | 1,500 | 84,000 | 2,500 | 95,000 | 3,500 | 109,000 | 3,500 | 118,000 | 4,000 | 123,000 | 5,500 |
| Other engineersa | 109,000 | 2,000 | 85,000 | 2,000 | 103,000 | 3,500 | 120,000 | 1,000 | 120,000 | 4,000 | 132,000 | 5,500 | 126,000 | 4,000 |
| S&E-related occupations | 115,000 | 2,000 | 72,000 | 2,500 | 96,000 | 4,000 | 120,000 | 2,500 | 123,000 | 5,500 | 135,000 | 5,000 | 150,000 | 1,000 |
| Health occupations, except postsecondary teachers and managers | 120,000 | 2,000 | 59,000 | 3,500 | 110,000 | 9,500 | 145,000 | 12,500 | 145,000 | 9,500 | 156,000 | 14,000 | 161,000 | 9,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, health and related sciences | 94,000 | 1,500 | 73,000 | 3,000 | 84,000 | 1,500 | 94,000 | 2,500 | 100,000 | 6,000 | 107,000 | 5,000 | 125,000 | 6,500 |
| S&E managers, including health | 140,000 | 2,500 | 93,000 | 6,000 | 110,000 | 5,500 | 134,000 | 3,500 | 139,000 | 9,000 | 152,000 | 4,000 | 159,000 | 4,500 |
| S&E precollege teachers | 60,000 | 2,500 | 56,000 | 8,000 | 54,000 | 2,000 | 62,000 | 2,500 | 63,000 | 4,500 | 64,000 | 10,500 | 60,000 | 8,500 |
| S&E technicians and technologists | 94,000 | 6,000 | 78,000 | 4,000 | 88,000 | 8,000 | 111,000 | 13,000 | 104,000 | 9,000 | D | D | 103,000 | 14,000 |
| Other S&E-related occupations | 118,000 | 10,000 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D |
| Non-S&E occupations | 116,000 | 3,000 | 78,000 | 2,500 | 93,000 | 3,000 | 114,000 | 5,000 | 125,000 | 3,500 | 128,000 | 4,500 | 139,000 | 4,500 |
| Arts/ humanities-related occupations | 72,000 | 4,500 | 67,000 | 7,500 | 73,000 | 9,000 | 91,000 | 5,500 | 75,000 | 8,500 | 87,000 | 36,500 | 50,000 | 9,000 |
| Management-related occupations | 115,000 | 3,000 | 96,000 | 5,000 | 108,000 | 4,000 | 116,000 | 6,000 | 125,000 | 7,000 | 126,000 | 7,000 | 125,000 | 8,500 |
| Non-S&E managers | 149,000 | 500 | 91,000 | 6,500 | 104,000 | 6,500 | 135,000 | 7,000 | 150,000 | 4,000 | 149,000 | 4,000 | 174,000 | 5,000 |
| Non-S&E postsecondary teachers | 80,000 | 2,000 | 61,000 | 3,000 | 68,000 | 2,500 | 75,000 | 3,000 | 87,000 | 6,000 | 100,000 | 4,000 | 106,000 | 4,500 |
| Non-S&E precollege/ other teachers | 56,000 | 4,500 | 48,000 | 11,500 | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | 70,000 | 15,500 |
| Sales/ marketing occupations | 113,000 | 6,500 | 89,000 | 17,500 | 112,000 | 12,500 | 125,000 | 6,000 | 118,000 | 12,500 | 107,000 | 39,000 | 96,000 | 17,000 |
| Social service–related occupations | 62,000 | 3,500 | 52,000 | 5,000 | 71,000 | 5,000 | 62,000 | 3,500 | 51,000 | 3,500 | D | D | 69,000 | 7,000 |
| Other non-S&E occupations | 99,000 | 6,500 | 80,000 | 7,000 | 97,000 | 3,000 | 108,000 | 8,000 | 98,000 | 27,500 | 105,000 | 20,500 | 70,000 | 16,500 |
| D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information. |
| S&E = science and engineering; SE = standard error. |
| a From 1999 to 2008, data for Industrial engineers were mislabeled as "Materials/metallurgical engineers." For all years, data in this category have included only Industrial engineers. For all years, data on Materials/metallurgical engineers have been included only in Other engineers. |
| NOTE: Median annual salaries are for the principal job and are rounded to the nearest $1,000. Standard errors are rounded up to the nearest 500. |
| SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2010. |
| Data from survey cycle 2010, as of August 21, 2013. |
