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Table 57-2. Median annual salaries of U.S. residing full-time employed doctoral scientists and engineers, by field of doctorate and primary work activity: 2015

(Dollars)

Field All full-time employed Computer applications Management, sales, or administrationa Professional services Any R&Db Teaching Otherc
Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE
All fields 106,000 1,000 122,000 3,000 134,000 2,000 110,000 1,000 110,000 500 76,000 500 100,000 2,000
Science 100,000 500 120,000 1,500 128,000 2,500 108,000 2,500 105,000 1,500 74,000 1,000 99,000 3,500
Biological/agricultural/environmental life sciences 100,000 1,500 99,000 1,500 120,000 3,500 153,000 7,000 96,000 1,500 71,000 1,500 93,000 4,500
Agricultural/food sciences 100,000 500 99,000 8,000 119,000 2,000 106,000 4,500 100,000 1,500 78,000 3,500 75,000 6,500
Biochemistry/biophysics 107,000 3,000 116,000 17,500 137,000 8,000 172,000 18,000 105,000 3,500 70,000 1,000 99,000 13,000
Cell/molecular biology 98,000 3,000 88,000 23,000 116,000 7,500 182,000 19,500 92,000 3,000 61,000 2,500 126,000 13,000
Environmental life sciences 90,000 2,500 96,000 14,000 106,000 6,500 86,000 29,000 90,000 4,000 68,000 2,500 93,000 17,000
Microbiology 100,000 2,000 S S 117,000 10,000 152,000 12,000 93,000 5,500 74,000 3,000 99,000 7,000
Zoology 90,000 2,000 D D 98,000 11,500 128,000 26,000 99,000 5,000 73,000 3,000 82,000 8,000
Other biological sciences 97,000 2,000 99,000 3,000 124,000 3,000 150,000 4,500 95,000 2,000 72,000 2,500 90,000 4,500
Computer/information sciences 130,000 1,500 134,000 6,500 160,000 9,000 136,000 22,500 139,000 4,000 90,000 2,500 116,000 11,500
Mathematics/statistics 100,000 3,500 128,000 5,500 140,000 7,500 131,000 15,500 115,000 4,500 75,000 1,500 91,000 18,000
Physical sciences 110,000 500 119,000 2,500 140,000 2,500 149,000 6,500 115,000 2,000 72,000 1,000 100,000 5,000
Astronomy/astrophysics 100,000 3,500 110,000 17,000 149,000 8,500 S S 100,000 4,500 72,000 3,500 93,000 13,500
Chemistry, except biochemistry 110,000 500 112,000 7,500 140,000 3,000 147,000 16,000 116,000 3,000 69,000 2,000 100,000 2,000
Earth/atmospheric/ocean sciencesd 102,000 2,500 100,000 6,500 129,000 5,000 98,000 15,000 109,000 2,000 76,000 3,000 91,000 6,000
Physics 120,000 1,500 125,000 4,500 150,000 2,500 163,000 22,000 120,000 3,500 79,000 3,000 109,000 7,500
Psychology 93,000 1,500 122,000 10,000 110,000 5,000 95,000 2,000 100,000 2,000 73,000 1,500 85,000 7,500
Social sciences 97,000 1,500 115,000 7,000 127,000 3,000 124,000 17,500 108,000 3,000 76,000 1,500 100,000 4,000
Economics 129,000 4,000 119,000 6,500 165,000 6,500 166,000 8,500 139,000 4,000 93,000 3,000 139,000 19,000
Political sciences 94,000 3,500 D D 126,000 6,000 82,000 16,000 98,000 4,500 77,000 3,000 98,000 14,500
Sociology 87,000 2,500 D D 126,000 14,000 100,000 12,500 100,000 2,500 69,000 1,500 113,000 20,500
Other social sciences 83,000 1,500 107,000 19,000 101,000 4,500 105,000 10,000 90,000 2,000 72,000 2,000 85,000 4,500
Engineering 125,000 2,000 127,000 4,000 150,000 500 148,000 2,500 120,000 1,000 92,000 2,500 113,000 5,000
Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical engineering 132,000 4,500 116,000 12,000 150,000 9,000 D D 128,000 3,500 98,000 6,000 D D
Chemical engineering 125,000 4,000 116,000 7,000 152,000 7,500 146,000 45,000 119,000 2,500 95,000 9,500 111,000 13,500
Civil engineering 110,000 3,000 103,000 6,000 144,000 5,000 134,000 11,500 106,000 4,500 90,000 4,000 101,000 15,500
Electrical/computer engineering 135,000 3,000 133,000 3,000 168,000 7,000 173,000 19,000 135,000 4,000 94,000 5,000 110,000 11,500
Materials and metallurgical engineering 122,000 5,000 146,000 18,000 141,000 6,000 123,000 32,500 119,000 1,500 90,000 5,500 119,000 4,000
Mechanical engineering 117,000 4,000 118,000 4,000 148,000 6,500 146,000 36,500 115,000 3,000 88,000 3,500 111,000 27,500
Other engineering 120,000 2,000 120,000 2,000 141,000 6,500 134,000 15,000 115,000 2,500 95,000 1,500 110,000 5,500
Health 100,000 2,000 89,000 40,500 125,000 5,000 105,000 7,000 107,000 3,500 80,000 1,500 116,000 9,000
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 R&D includes applied and basic research, design, and development.
c Includes production, operations, maintenance, and other activities not broken out separately.
d Includes other physical sciences.
NOTES: Median annual salaries are for principal job and are rounded to nearest $1,000. Standard errors are rounded up to the nearest $500. Designation of full-time and part-time employment status is based on principal job only, not on all jobs held in labor force. 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.