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Table 12-1. U.S. residing employed doctoral scientists and engineers, by field of doctorate and sector of employment: 2015

Field All employed 4-year educational institutiona Other educational institutionb Private, for-profitc Private, nonprofit Federal government State or local government Self-employedd Othere
Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE
All fields 787,250 1,900 323,200 2,250 28,300 725 266,650 2,150 52,200 1,050 50,200 1,000 16,200 625 45,600 1,025 4,900 350
Science 597,050 1,975 262,500 2,050 26,100 700 171,200 1,775 42,550 975 38,500 875 13,050 525 39,500 950 3,700 300
Biological/agricultural/environmental life sciences 195,050 1,075 89,650 1,100 7,100 375 55,500 1,075 16,400 650 14,700 475 3,900 250 7,100 425 750 125
Agricultural/food sciences 18,050 400 7,550 300 600 125 6,100 300 750 125 1,450 150 400 75 1,100 175 150 50
Biochemistry/biophysics 28,050 425 11,800 500 900 175 10,600 450 1,950 250 1,600 225 350 125 750 125 D D
Cell/molecular biology 23,300 350 10,100 425 900 175 7,550 425 2,500 325 1,400 200 250 100 500 150 D D
Environmental life sciences 8,400 225 3,050 175 300 75 1,550 175 800 125 1,450 150 750 75 400 75 100 25
Microbiology 12,950 350 5,500 300 400 100 4,150 350 1,150 200 1,100 175 300 100 350 100 * *
Zoology 7,750 250 4,250 250 400 100 1,200 175 250 75 750 150 400 100 550 125 D D
Other biological sciences 96,550 625 47,400 775 3,650 275 24,300 725 9,000 375 6,950 350 1,400 125 3,500 300 350 100
Computer/information sciences 24,600 325 9,000 350 250 75 13,050 375 950 150 750 125 200 100 400 125 D D
Mathematics/statistics 35,950 550 20,350 600 1,450 200 10,200 500 1,350 200 1,500 225 100 50 800 125 150 75
Physical sciences 131,550 950 46,700 850 5,400 350 55,100 1,050 6,900 400 10,450 450 1,900 225 4,350 300 700 175
Astronomy/astrophysics 5,350 150 2,850 175 200 50 1,000 150 650 100 450 75 D D 150 50 D D
Chemistry, except biochemistry 65,700 600 20,050 575 2,950 275 33,100 750 2,400 225 3,750 300 900 150 2,050 250 450 125
Earth/atmospheric/ocean sciencesf 21,050 250 9,350 275 800 100 5,600 275 1,200 100 2,600 175 600 100 850 125 150 50
Physics 39,450 550 14,500 525 1,450 225 15,450 550 2,700 275 3,650 300 350 125 1,300 200 100 50
Psychology 114,200 750 38,150 825 7,000 450 24,600 725 10,500 500 5,800 375 4,450 350 23,000 775 650 175
Social sciences 95,650 950 58,600 950 4,850 350 12,750 500 6,400 425 5,250 350 2,450 275 3,850 325 1,400 175
Economics 25,900 500 13,500 450 400 125 5,400 375 1,850 250 2,100 225 650 175 850 150 1,100 150
Political sciences 21,750 450 13,900 475 1,250 225 2,950 300 1,300 200 1,100 200 500 150 700 150 100 50
Sociology 14,950 300 10,200 350 900 150 1,250 150 1,250 175 450 100 350 125 500 100 D D
Other social sciences 33,100 500 21,000 475 2,350 250 3,150 250 2,050 200 1,650 175 950 150 1,800 225 150 50
Engineering 151,900 925 40,300 925 1,350 175 88,100 1,025 5,700 350 8,800 425 2,000 225 4,600 400 1,050 175
Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering 6,400 175 1,400 175 D D 3,300 250 500 125 700 150 D D 250 100 D D
Chemical engineering 17,500 375 3,450 300 150 75 11,700 450 750 175 750 175 200 75 400 150 D D
Civil engineering 13,550 350 5,250 350 S S 5,600 325 350 100 700 150 850 175 550 150 200 100
Electrical/computer engineering 44,100 500 10,450 475 250 75 28,550 525 1,050 150 1,950 250 200 100 1,300 225 300 100
Materials and metallurgical engineering 15,300 275 2,800 250 100 50 10,350 350 600 125 700 125 S S 600 125 S S
Mechanical engineering 22,150 450 5,850 400 350 100 13,250 525 600 175 1,400 225 D D 450 150 200 100
Other engineering 32,900 400 11,100 350 350 75 15,300 450 1,750 175 2,550 200 600 100 1,050 125 200 75
Health 38,350 475 20,400 475 850 150 7,400 400 4,000 325 2,950 250 1,150 200 1,500 175 150 50
Codes used in data tables: * = suppressed when population estimate < 25. D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information. S = suppressed for reliability; coefficient of variation exceeds publication standards.
SE = standard error.
a Includes 4-year colleges or universities, medical schools (including university-affiliated hospitals or medical centers), and university-affiliated research institutes.
b Includes 2-year colleges, community colleges, or technical institutes, and other precollege institutions.
c Includes those self-employed in an incorporated business.
d Self-employed or business owner in a nonincorporated business.
e Includes employers not broken out separately.
f Includes other physical sciences.
NOTES: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 50. Standard errors are rounded up to the nearest 25. Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Residence location is based on reported living location on 1 February 2015.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2015.