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Table 15-2. U.S. residing employed doctoral scientists and engineers, by field of doctorate and primary work activity: 2015

Field All employed Research and development Computer applications Management, sales, or administrationa Professional services Teaching Otherb
Any R&D Applied research Basic research Design Development
Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE
All fields 787,250 1,900 326,350 2,150 156,000 1,525 93,650 1,400 19,550 650 57,150 1,200 34,000 875 143,300 1,700 95,800 1,400 152,800 1,725 35,050 950
Science 597,050 1,975 229,550 1,925 108,850 1,350 83,400 1,275 7,700 475 29,650 850 22,250 725 105,000 1,350 85,450 1,275 127,550 1,525 27,200 800
Biological/agricultural/environmental life sciences 195,050 1,075 92,850 1,100 41,250 875 40,150 800 1,300 175 10,200 525 3,400 300 35,650 900 22,000 700 31,250 775 9,900 475
Agricultural/food sciences 18,050 400 8,950 350 5,750 325 1,500 175 150 75 1,500 175 300 75 4,050 250 900 150 2,700 225 1,150 150
Biochemistry/biophysics 28,050 425 13,800 450 5,050 350 6,650 350 150 75 1,950 250 650 150 5,600 425 2,900 300 3,900 325 1,150 200
Cell/molecular biology 23,300 350 11,300 500 4,100 400 6,000 425 D D 1,200 225 350 125 4,150 325 3,400 325 2,850 300 1,250 275
Environmental life sciences 8,400 225 3,500 175 2,600 175 400 75 100 50 350 75 150 50 2,250 200 350 75 1,500 125 700 150
Microbiology 12,950 350 6,000 300 2,200 250 3,000 225 S S 650 150 50 50 2,850 250 1,650 200 1,800 175 600 125
Zoology 7,750 250 2,650 225 1,400 150 1,050 150 D D 200 75 200 100 1,800 200 450 125 2,200 200 450 100
Other biological sciences 96,550 625 46,650 775 20,150 575 21,550 650 650 125 4,300 325 1,700 200 14,950 600 12,300 500 16,350 550 4,600 300
Computer/information sciences 24,600 325 9,500 425 4,850 300 2,350 250 800 150 1,550 200 6,550 400 4,100 300 150 75 3,950 275 400 100
Mathematics/statistics 35,950 550 12,900 475 6,100 375 4,650 325 1,100 175 1,050 175 3,550 275 4,650 400 900 175 13,050 475 900 150
Physical sciences 131,550 950 63,200 1,050 27,400 775 19,400 675 3,200 325 13,200 575 6,850 400 24,950 650 6,600 400 23,250 750 6,800 400
Astronomy/astrophysics 5,350 150 2,700 175 550 100 1,750 150 200 75 200 75 450 100 750 125 150 75 1,150 125 200 75
Chemistry, except biochemistry 65,700 600 30,650 725 14,400 575 7,300 400 1,150 175 7,800 400 1,700 225 14,350 550 3,800 325 11,400 525 3,800 325
Earth/atmospheric/ocean sciencesc 21,050 250 10,550 300 5,500 225 4,000 200 350 100 700 100 900 125 3,550 175 600 100 4,250 225 1,200 150
Physics 39,450 550 19,300 600 6,950 425 6,400 425 1,500 200 4,500 400 3,800 350 6,300 375 2,100 225 6,400 450 1,600 250
Psychology 114,200 750 20,800 575 12,600 500 5,450 350 650 125 2,100 250 900 150 18,000 650 50,700 1,025 19,300 600 4,550 375
Social sciences 95,650 950 30,350 725 16,700 575 11,450 475 650 125 1,600 175 1,050 175 17,650 650 5,100 400 36,800 825 4,650 400
Economics 25,900 500 11,600 475 7,450 400 3,550 275 300 75 350 100 500 125 4,650 325 1,450 200 6,750 375 950 200
Political sciences 21,750 450 5,950 375 2,750 275 2,600 250 200 100 350 125 D D 4,700 375 1,150 200 8,700 475 1,200 225
Sociology 14,950 300 4,350 275 1,900 200 2,150 225 D D 250 75 200 100 2,350 225 600 125 6,700 300 700 150
Other social sciences 33,100 500 8,450 375 4,600 250 3,100 225 150 75 600 100 300 75 5,950 300 1,900 250 14,700 450 1,800 200
Engineering 151,900 925 82,200 1,050 35,800 925 8,900 525 11,700 525 25,800 850 11,500 500 30,850 925 5,450 425 15,650 650 6,300 400
Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering 6,400 175 3,550 200 1,450 150 400 100 450 125 1,250 200 550 125 1,450 175 100 75 500 125 200 75
Chemical engineering 17,500 375 8,950 400 3,950 275 1,000 175 1,100 200 2,900 250 950 175 4,500 350 950 200 1,350 225 850 175
Civil engineering 13,550 350 6,300 350 2,850 250 650 125 2,050 250 750 175 550 125 3,250 275 650 150 2,150 275 650 125
Electrical/computer engineering 44,100 500 25,300 625 9,700 500 2,550 300 3,400 250 9,650 425 5,900 350 6,450 425 1,150 200 4,050 350 1,250 200
Materials and metallurgical engineering 15,300 275 9,000 350 3,600 300 900 175 650 125 3,850 300 400 125 3,700 275 400 100 900 150 850 150
Mechanical engineering 22,150 450 12,950 525 5,650 500 1,350 250 2,200 250 3,750 400 1,200 225 3,800 325 600 175 2,700 300 850 200
Other engineering 32,900 400 16,200 425 8,650 350 2,000 175 1,850 200 3,700 275 1,900 200 7,700 375 1,600 175 3,950 225 1,600 175
Health 38,350 475 14,600 425 11,300 375 1,400 175 200 75 1,700 200 250 100 7,450 425 4,900 350 9,600 425 1,500 200
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 Administration includes accounting, finance, contracts, and human resources.
b Includes production, operations, maintenance, and other activities not broken out separately.
c Includes other physical sciences.
NOTES: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 50. Standard errors are rounded up to the nearest 25. 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.