Back to Data Tables
Excel icon Download to excel

Table 15-2. U.S. residing employed doctoral scientists and engineers, by fine field of doctorate and primary work activity: 2017

Field of study All employed Research and development Computer applications Management, sales, or administration Professional services Teaching Othera
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 815,100 1,400 338,500 2,150 159,200 1,850 90,250 1,225 23,500 725 65,550 1,225 39,700 1,050 153,550 1,625 97,450 1,500 153,450 1,725 32,450 900
Science 612,450 1,500 236,700 1,750 114,550 1,425 79,000 1,275 9,550 525 33,600 875 26,050 850 112,400 1,425 85,250 1,350 128,200 1,400 23,850 675
Biological, agricultural, and environmental life sciences 206,900 925 99,150 1,100 45,850 900 39,250 800 1,600 200 12,400 575 4,350 375 40,450 775 23,300 725 30,700 825 9,000 475
Agricultural and food sciences 16,350 275 7,600 325 4,750 250 1,250 175 150 50 1,500 175 350 100 4,350 275 800 125 2,300 175 950 150
Agricultural sciences 1,000 75 400 75 200 50 S S * * 100 50 D D 200 50 100 75 150 50 50 25
Animal sciences 4,400 150 1,900 150 1,050 125 350 75 S S 400 100 50 25 1,150 125 350 100 700 100 250 75
Food sciences and technology 3,550 175 1,900 150 1,100 125 250 75 * * 550 125 D D 1,050 150 100 50 250 75 250 100
Plant sciences 5,300 200 2,500 200 1,750 150 400 100 D D 350 100 100 50 1,500 175 150 50 800 125 200 50
Soil sciences 2,150 125 950 100 650 75 200 75 * * 100 50 100 50 500 100 50 25 350 75 200 75
Biochemistry and biophysics 28,250 425 14,450 475 5,250 375 6,650 375 200 75 2,350 275 900 150 5,950 375 2,550 250 3,450 275 1,000 150
Biochemistry 23,400 425 11,750 450 4,250 350 5,200 350 200 75 2,100 250 600 125 5,200 350 1,950 250 3,000 275 900 150
Biophysics 4,850 150 2,700 175 950 125 1,450 150 D D 250 75 300 100 750 125 600 125 450 100 100 50
Cell, cellular biology, and molecular biology 29,850 375 13,900 475 4,800 325 7,200 425 150 75 1,750 250 550 150 5,450 350 4,400 350 4,200 300 1,300 225
Microbiological sciences and immunology 22,200 350 10,750 425 4,900 325 4,450 300 150 75 1,250 175 150 75 4,550 325 3,350 275 2,550 250 850 150
Immunology 8,150 200 4,200 275 2,000 200 1,550 200 S S 550 125 D D 1,600 200 1,450 175 600 125 200 75
Microbiological sciences 14,100 300 6,500 325 2,900 250 2,850 250 S S 700 150 100 50 2,950 225 1,900 200 1,950 225 650 150
Natural resources and conservation 8,550 225 3,700 225 2,600 175 500 75 150 75 500 100 300 100 2,200 175 300 75 1,500 100 550 100
Fish, fisheries, wildlife and wildlands science and management 2,250 125 1,100 100 900 100 100 50 D D 100 50 D D 600 100 100 75 300 50 100 50
Forestry 2,600 150 1,200 125 800 100 150 50 S S 150 75 150 75 600 100 100 25 450 50 150 50
Natural resource conservation, research, management, and policy 3,700 150 1,450 150 900 125 250 75 50 50 200 75 100 75 1,000 125 100 50 750 100 300 75
Zoology 7,450 250 2,950 250 1,850 200 850 150 D D 250 100 150 75 1,700 200 600 125 1,700 150 350 100
Other biological sciences 94,200 625 45,800 775 21,800 675 18,450 550 750 150 4,850 325 1,900 175 16,200 550 11,250 475 15,000 550 4,000 275
Biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology 4,400 75 3,050 125 2,000 125 600 75 50 25 400 75 450 75 350 75 200 75 300 50 50 25
Botany and plant biology 6,450 200 2,650 175 1,250 125 950 100 D D 350 75 150 50 1,350 150 300 75 1,600 150 400 75
Epidemiology, ecology, and population biology 14,800 275 7,550 300 4,750 250 2,250 200 S S 450 125 250 100 2,350 250 450 125 3,600 250 550 125
Genetics 8,200 225 4,300 250 1,850 200 2,050 175 D D 400 100 300 100 1,150 150 950 150 1,050 125 450 100
Neurobiology and neuroscience 14,600 225 7,650 300 2,350 250 4,400 300 200 75 700 150 300 100 1,750 150 2,550 250 1,700 200 700 125
Nutrition sciences 3,800 150 1,750 175 1,150 150 400 100 D D 200 75 D D 900 125 350 100 650 100 150 75
Pharmacology and toxicology 12,200 250 5,700 275 2,750 250 2,150 225 150 50 650 125 50 25 2,950 225 2,000 225 1,150 150 350 75
Physiology, pathology, and related sciences 14,200 300 6,100 300 2,600 225 2,650 225 D D 800 125 150 75 2,250 200 2,850 225 2,250 200 650 125
Biological and biomedical sciences, general 10,950 250 5,050 300 2,300 250 2,100 225 D D 600 125 200 100 2,150 225 1,150 175 2,000 200 450 100
Biological and biomedical sciences, other 4,600 175 2,050 175 800 125 900 125 S S 300 75 S S 1,050 125 550 100 750 125 150 75
Computer and information sciences 27,550 300 10,900 425 5,050 350 2,100 225 1,050 200 2,650 250 7,700 450 4,000 275 450 125 4,000 275 500 100
Computer science 24,050 300 9,600 425 4,350 325 1,900 225 950 175 2,350 250 7,150 425 3,300 275 300 125 3,300 275 350 100
Information science, studies 2,150 125 800 100 500 100 100 25 100 50 150 50 250 75 450 75 S S 450 75 100 50
Computer and information sciences, other 1,350 50 500 50 200 50 100 25 50 25 150 50 300 50 250 50 S S 250 50 50 25
Mathematics and statistics 35,200 500 11,600 425 4,950 300 4,450 325 1,000 175 1,150 175 4,400 300 4,700 350 700 125 12,850 500 950 175
Applied mathematics 7,700 250 2,650 250 1,350 200 950 175 D D 250 100 1,200 200 1,050 200 150 75 2,450 275 D D
Mathematics 16,450 275 4,750 275 1,300 175 2,700 225 400 100 350 100 2,000 225 1,800 175 400 100 7,050 325 500 125
Statistics 7,000 225 3,000 225 1,800 225 500 125 300 125 450 125 750 150 1,200 200 D D 1,750 200 200 100
Mathematics and statistics, other 4,100 150 1,200 100 550 75 350 75 150 50 150 75 450 100 650 100 100 50 1,650 125 100 50
Physical sciences, geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 130,000 800 62,500 975 27,350 750 17,800 550 4,350 350 13,000 575 7,550 400 24,950 675 5,650 400 23,250 625 6,150 325
Astronomy and astrophysics 5,600 125 2,450 150 550 100 1,550 125 200 50 150 75 650 100 1,000 125 100 50 1,250 125 200 50
Chemistry, except biochemistry 63,550 525 30,000 750 13,650 600 6,700 375 1,150 150 8,500 475 1,400 200 13,800 500 3,200 300 11,550 475 3,600 275
Inorganic chemistry 8,450 200 3,300 250 1,550 200 600 100 D D 1,150 150 100 50 1,900 200 250 75 2,300 200 600 125
Organic chemistry 17,150 375 8,650 400 4,350 350 1,750 225 300 75 2,250 225 D D 3,550 300 950 175 3,200 300 750 150
Chemistry, other, except biochemistry 37,950 400 18,050 525 7,800 400 4,300 275 800 125 5,150 375 1,250 200 8,350 350 2,050 250 6,050 325 2,250 225
Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 21,000 250 10,200 300 5,350 250 3,750 175 300 75 750 100 1,000 100 3,700 200 800 125 4,250 200 1,050 100
Atmospheric sciences and meteorology 3,750 75 2,100 100 1,100 75 750 75 100 25 150 50 300 50 650 75 100 25 450 50 100 25
Geological and earth sciences, geosciences 12,900 225 5,950 250 3,150 200 2,050 150 200 75 500 100 500 100 2,150 175 500 100 3,100 175 700 100
Ocean sciences and marine sciences 1,900 75 850 50 450 50 300 50 * * 50 25 50 25 450 50 50 25 400 50 150 50
Oceanography, chemical and physical 2,450 125 1,300 125 650 100 650 100 D D D D 100 50 450 100 150 75 300 75 100 50
Physics 39,850 500 19,900 500 7,800 350 5,850 375 2,700 275 3,550 275 4,500 350 6,450 425 1,550 200 6,200 375 1,250 175
Psychology 113,950 750 21,250 575 12,950 450 5,200 325 750 125 2,300 225 650 125 18,750 650 49,700 900 20,400 625 3,250 325
Clinical psychology 40,800 500 4,100 350 3,150 300 550 150 D D 300 125 D D 5,400 400 26,300 625 4,150 325 750 175
Counseling and applied psychology 15,200 250 800 150 550 125 150 75 S S S S D D 2,500 275 9,200 375 2,350 250 350 100
Educational and school psychology 13,650 300 2,550 250 1,550 200 450 125 D D 550 100 D D 2,400 225 4,900 300 3,050 250 750 150
Industrial and organizational psychology 4,950 150 1,200 150 700 125 S S 100 50 300 100 D D 2,200 225 650 125 800 150 150 75
Research and experimental psychology 27,500 325 10,050 350 5,300 250 3,500 250 400 100 850 125 450 75 4,200 250 4,100 250 7,900 275 850 125
Psychology, general 7,400 250 1,450 175 950 150 350 100 D D 100 75 D D 1,200 175 3,100 275 1,300 175 250 100
Psychology, other 4,450 175 1,150 150 750 125 100 50 100 50 150 50 D D 850 125 1,400 175 800 125 250 75
Social sciences 98,850 775 31,350 800 18,350 650 10,150 500 750 125 2,050 225 1,450 200 19,650 675 5,450 400 37,000 825 4,000 325
Economics 26,600 425 11,550 475 7,600 450 2,950 275 350 100 650 150 800 175 5,150 350 1,750 225 6,650 375 650 125
Political science and government 19,950 425 5,850 375 3,150 275 2,200 250 S S 400 125 D D 4,250 350 1,100 200 7,800 400 850 175
Political science and government 16,150 400 4,600 350 2,150 250 2,050 225 D D 350 125 D D 3,150 350 800 175 6,900 375 650 175
Public policy analysis 3,750 125 1,250 100 950 125 150 50 S S 100 50 D D 1,100 125 300 100 900 125 200 50
Sociology, demography, and population studies 15,150 325 4,800 300 2,500 175 2,000 225 S S 200 75 200 75 2,800 200 400 100 6,350 325 550 125
Other social sciences 37,200 450 9,150 375 5,100 300 3,000 250 200 75 800 125 300 100 7,400 350 2,200 200 16,250 450 1,950 200
Anthropology 11,550 250 2,950 225 1,600 200 1,100 175 D D 250 100 S S 2,050 225 700 150 5,000 300 700 125
Area, ethnic, cultural, gender, and group studies 3,450 125 500 75 150 50 250 50 D D 50 25 D D 700 100 200 50 1,850 125 200 50
Geography and cartography 4,600 150 1,350 150 800 125 350 100 D D 100 50 D D 800 150 100 50 2,100 175 200 75
International relations and national security studies 2,000 150 300 75 150 75 100 50 D D D D D D 600 100 100 50 900 125 150 50
Linguistics 5,050 225 1,150 175 450 125 500 100 D D 150 75 D D 950 175 250 75 2,500 200 200 75
Urban studies, affairs 1,500 100 400 75 350 75 50 25 D D D D D D 350 75 150 50 500 100 50 50
Social sciences, other 9,100 200 2,500 175 1,600 150 650 75 50 25 200 50 100 50 2,000 150 700 125 3,350 175 450 100
Engineering 164,650 850 88,800 1,150 35,950 825 9,550 475 13,700 525 29,600 850 13,350 550 33,450 750 6,650 400 15,250 625 7,150 425
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 6,500 175 3,900 225 1,550 175 500 125 700 125 1,200 150 450 100 1,350 175 50 50 550 100 250 100
Chemical engineering 20,250 350 10,750 400 3,800 300 1,300 200 1,250 200 4,400 350 1,100 200 4,750 300 850 175 1,600 200 1,200 200
Civil engineering 17,900 350 8,750 350 3,650 275 1,100 200 2,800 250 1,200 175 950 175 3,950 300 1,300 200 2,100 200 900 150
Electrical and computer engineering 45,850 475 26,000 600 9,350 450 2,300 250 3,550 300 10,800 550 5,850 350 7,900 400 1,050 175 3,650 300 1,400 200
Computer engineering 6,000 175 2,700 200 1,100 150 350 125 400 100 850 125 1,400 150 1,200 150 100 50 500 100 100 50
Electrical, electronics, and communications engineering 39,800 450 23,300 525 8,250 425 1,950 225 3,150 300 9,950 525 4,450 325 6,700 375 950 150 3,150 275 1,300 200
Mechanical engineering 23,700 375 13,850 500 5,300 375 1,150 200 2,700 275 4,650 350 2,000 250 4,050 325 700 175 2,250 250 850 175
Metallurgical and materials engineering 15,400 275 8,750 350 3,650 250 900 150 750 150 3,500 275 350 125 3,800 300 500 125 1,050 150 850 125
Other engineering 35,050 400 16,750 500 8,600 400 2,350 225 1,950 175 3,850 300 2,650 225 7,700 375 2,200 200 4,050 275 1,750 225
Agricultural engineering 1,550 125 850 100 550 75 D D 150 50 100 50 100 50 300 75 D D 200 50 100 50
Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 11,600 175 6,100 300 3,050 250 1,150 150 450 125 1,450 200 450 100 2,450 200 1,200 175 1,000 175 450 125
Engineering mechanics, physics, and science 4,150 175 2,150 150 950 100 300 75 400 75 450 75 350 100 800 125 150 50 500 100 200 75
Industrial and manufacturing engineering 8,700 225 3,250 225 1,650 175 400 100 450 125 750 150 1,100 150 2,250 225 350 100 1,400 150 350 100
Nuclear engineering 2,750 125 1,550 150 900 125 200 75 150 50 300 75 200 75 600 100 100 50 150 50 100 50
Engineering, other 6,300 200 2,900 225 1,500 175 300 75 350 75 750 125 500 100 1,250 150 350 100 800 125 550 150
Health 37,950 425 13,000 450 8,750 425 1,700 175 200 100 2,350 225 300 75 7,650 375 5,550 375 10,000 425 1,450 200
Communication disorders sciences and services 3,400 125 650 125 450 100 150 75 D D D D D D 650 125 850 125 1,100 125 150 50
Hospital and medical administration services 1,700 125 650 100 550 100 S S D D 50 50 50 25 400 75 150 75 400 100 50 25
Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and administration 7,400 175 3,800 250 1,700 175 550 125 S S 1,400 175 100 50 1,550 175 600 125 800 125 550 125
Public health 7,100 175 3,350 200 2,700 200 300 75 * * 300 100 50 25 1,450 150 1,000 150 1,150 150 150 50
Registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research 8,900 275 1,350 225 1,050 200 D D D D 150 75 D D 2,000 250 1,500 225 3,800 325 250 100
Health sciences, other 9,450 200 3,200 175 2,350 175 500 75 D D 400 100 50 25 1,550 150 1,450 175 2,750 175 350 100
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 production, operations, maintenance, and other activities not broken out separately.
NOTES: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 50. Standard errors are rounded up to the nearest 25. Primary and secondary work activities were self-defined by respondent in response to the question: "On which two activities...did you work the most hours during a typical week on this job?" 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.