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Table 32-2. Involuntarily out-of-field rate among U.S. residing doctoral scientists and engineers, by occupation: 2015

Occupation Involuntarily out-of-field rate
Percent SE
All occupations 3.0 0.10
Science occupations 2.0 0.10
Biological/agricultural/other life scientists 1.3 0.20
Agricultural/food scientists 2.2 0.65
Biochemists/biophysicists 2.2 0.75
Biological scientists 0.8 0.30
Forestry/conservation scientists D D
Medical scientists 1.6 0.40
Postsecondary teachers, agricultural/other natural sciences D D
Postsecondary teachers, biological sciences 0.6 0.25
Other biological/agricultural/life scientists 1.6 0.50
Computer/information scientists 8.6 0.75
Computer/information scientists 10.3 0.90
Postsecondary teachers, computer science D D
Mathematical scientists 2.7 0.50
Mathematical scientists 4.8 0.95
Postsecondary teachers, mathematics/statistics 0.9 0.40
Physical scientists 1.4 0.20
Chemists, except biochemists 1.3 0.35
Earth/atmospheric/ocean scientists 1.3 0.50
Physicists/astronomers 2.4 0.75
Postsecondary teachers, chemistry 1.2 0.55
Postsecondary teachers, physics S S
Postsecondary teachers, other physical sciences D D
Other physical scientists 3.0 1.00
Psychologists 0.1 0.10
Psychologists 0.2 0.10
Postsecondary teachers, psychology D D
Social scientists 0.9 0.20
Economists 1.0 0.35
Political scientists D D
Postsecondary teachers, economics D D
Postsecondary teachers, political science D D
Postsecondary teachers, sociology D D
Postsecondary teachers, other social sciences D D
Sociologists/anthropologists D D
Other social scientists 4.0 1.35
Engineering occupations 2.1 0.25
Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineers 4.4 1.50
Chemical engineers 1.4 0.60
Civil/architectural/sanitary engineers 1.7 0.75
Electrical engineers 2.5 0.55
Industrial engineers S S
Mechanical engineers 2.0 0.85
Postsecondary teachers, engineering D D
Other engineers 3.1 0.40
S&E-related occupations 4.1 0.35
Health occupations, except postsecondary teachers and managers 5.5 0.65
Postsecondary teachers, health and related sciences 0.9 0.30
S&E managers, including health 2.8 0.55
S&E precollege teachers 5.7 1.45
S&E technicians and technologists 17.4 3.50
Other S&E-related occupations 14.8 6.15
Non-S&E occupations 6.6 0.35
Arts/humanities-related occupations 10.8 1.70
Management-related occupations 8.7 0.95
Non-S&E managers 3.3 0.45
Non-S&E postsecondary teachers 1.2 0.35
Non-S&E precollege/other teachers 12.2 2.65
Sales/marketing occupations 16.5 2.20
Social service–related occupations 3.2 0.85
Other non-S&E occupations 15.0 1.55
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.
S&E = science and engineering; SE = standard error.
NOTES: Involuntarily out-of-field rate is the percentage of employed individuals who reported, for their principal job, working in an area not related to their first doctoral degree at least partially because a job in their doctoral degree field was not available. 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.