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Table 12-1. U.S. residing employed doctoral scientists and engineers, by field of doctorate and sector of employment: 2017

Field of study 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 815,100 1,400 319,400 2,925 29,800 875 288,950 2,775 55,150 1,175 51,950 1,075 17,550 575 44,650 1,100 7,650 375
Science 612,450 1,500 258,700 2,475 26,950 800 183,900 2,150 44,900 1,025 39,600 850 14,150 575 38,700 1,025 5,550 350
Biological, agricultural, and environmental life sciences 206,900 925 90,500 1,250 7,250 375 62,600 1,125 16,750 575 15,950 525 5,300 325 7,400 425 1,200 150
Agricultural and food sciences 16,350 275 6,350 325 550 100 6,150 275 600 75 1,200 125 600 125 850 125 100 50
Biochemistry and biophysics 28,250 425 11,100 425 950 175 11,700 525 1,650 200 1,400 175 400 100 850 150 200 75
Cell, cellular biology, and molecular biology 29,850 375 13,250 500 1,050 175 9,250 475 2,850 275 1,900 225 450 125 950 200 S S
Microbiological sciences and immunology 22,200 350 8,750 400 500 100 7,600 350 2,400 250 1,500 200 450 100 850 175 150 75
Natural resources and conservation 8,550 225 3,250 200 250 75 1,600 200 650 100 1,500 150 900 125 350 100 100 25
Zoology 7,450 250 3,500 200 350 75 1,600 200 250 75 800 125 350 100 600 125 D D
Other biological sciences 94,200 625 44,300 825 3,550 275 24,700 575 8,400 400 7,600 400 2,150 225 3,000 275 550 100
Computer and information sciences 27,550 300 8,800 425 350 75 15,650 475 1,050 200 650 125 150 75 650 125 200 100
Mathematics and statistics 35,200 500 18,800 550 1,850 275 10,450 475 1,650 225 1,150 175 150 75 850 150 300 100
Physical sciences, geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 130,000 800 44,150 1,000 6,000 350 55,500 975 7,100 425 10,000 425 1,900 200 4,300 325 1,100 150
Astronomy and astrophysics 5,600 125 2,750 150 200 75 1,200 125 700 100 550 100 D D 100 50 100 50
Chemistry, except biochemistry 63,550 525 18,600 650 3,300 300 32,100 675 2,500 250 3,500 275 800 150 2,450 275 300 100
Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 21,000 250 9,150 275 800 100 5,100 250 1,150 100 2,750 150 800 125 950 150 350 75
Physics 39,850 500 13,700 550 1,650 250 17,050 550 2,750 300 3,200 300 300 100 800 150 400 125
Psychology 113,950 750 37,200 775 6,850 375 26,400 700 11,150 575 6,250 425 4,250 350 21,250 725 650 125
Social sciences 98,850 775 59,300 950 4,650 350 13,400 500 7,200 425 5,650 325 2,350 225 4,250 300 2,100 225
Economics 26,600 425 12,750 450 400 100 6,200 350 1,850 225 2,400 225 550 125 950 150 1,500 200
Political science and government 19,950 425 12,750 475 1,100 200 2,400 275 1,300 175 850 150 600 125 750 150 150 75
Sociology, demography, and population studies 15,150 325 10,050 350 900 150 1,150 150 1,500 200 550 100 200 75 650 100 150 75
Other social sciences 37,200 450 23,750 475 2,300 200 3,650 275 2,550 225 1,800 150 950 150 1,900 200 300 75
Engineering 164,650 850 40,900 975 1,800 200 96,650 1,250 6,450 400 9,900 500 2,600 250 4,500 400 1,850 225
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 6,500 175 1,700 200 D D 3,400 200 400 100 800 125 D D 150 50 S S
Chemical engineering 20,250 350 3,550 300 250 100 13,800 450 650 150 1,050 200 300 75 400 125 200 100
Civil engineering 17,900 350 6,250 375 100 50 7,500 400 550 125 1,150 175 1,250 175 800 175 250 75
Electrical and computer engineering 45,850 475 9,650 450 600 125 30,600 550 1,400 200 2,050 225 250 100 900 175 450 100
Mechanical engineering 23,700 375 5,500 350 250 75 14,850 525 850 150 1,550 225 D D 300 100 300 125
Metallurgical and materials engineering 15,400 275 2,650 200 200 75 9,850 375 800 150 950 150 200 100 600 125 S S
Other engineering 35,050 400 11,600 400 350 100 16,650 450 1,850 200 2,350 200 500 100 1,300 175 500 100
Health 37,950 425 19,800 525 1,050 200 8,400 375 3,750 275 2,500 250 750 150 1,450 175 250 75
Codes used in data tables: * = suppressed when population estimate < 25. D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information. na = not applicable. 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.
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 2017.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients: 2017.