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Table 32-2. Involuntarily out-of-field rate among U.S. residing doctoral scientists and engineers, by occupation: 2017

Occupation Involuntarily out-of-field rate
Percent SE
All occupations 3.1 0.15
Science occupations 2.1 0.15
Biological/agricultural/other life scientists 1.3 0.20
Agricultural/food scientists 0.7 0.30
Biochemists/biophysicists 1.9 0.60
Biological scientists 0.8 0.35
Forestry/conservation scientists D D
Medical scientists 1.5 0.35
Postsecondary teachers, agricultural/other natural sciences 1.2 0.50
Postsecondary teachers, biological sciences 0.2 0.10
Other biological/agricultural/life scientists 3.3 0.65
Computer/information scientists 9.0 0.70
Computer/information scientists 10.4 0.80
Postsecondary teachers, computer science D D
Mathematical scientists 3.1 0.55
Mathematical scientists 5.2 1.00
Postsecondary teachers, mathematics/statistics 1.0 0.35
Physical scientists 1.5 0.25
Chemists, except biochemists 2.3 0.60
Earth/atmospheric/ocean scientists 0.6 0.25
Physicists/astronomers 2.7 0.75
Postsecondary teachers, chemistry 0.5 0.30
Postsecondary teachers, physics D D
Postsecondary teachers, other physical sciences D D
Other physical scientists 4.1 1.05
Psychologists 0.1 0.10
Psychologists. D D
Postsecondary teachers, psychology S S
Social scientists 0.7 0.15
Economists 1.4 0.65
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 S S
Sociologists/anthropologists D D
Other social scientists 2.3 0.75
Engineering occupations 2.3 0.25
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering 2.5 1.05
Chemical engineers 4.1 1.35
Civil/architectural/sanitary engineers 2.5 1.00
Electrical engineers 1.3 0.45
Industrial engineersa S S
Mechanical engineers 2.5 0.85
Postsecondary teachers, engineering S S
Other engineers 3.8 0.60
S&E-related occupations 4.5 0.35
Health occupations, except postsecondary teachers and managers 6.6 0.55
Postsecondary teachers, health and related sciences 0.4 0.15
S&E managers, including health 3.7 0.60
S&E precollege teachers 2.4 0.85
S&E technicians and technologists 12.1 2.25
Other S&E-related occupations 15.2 5.90
Non-S&E occupations 5.8 0.35
Arts/humanities-related occupations 11.3 1.70
Management-related occupations 9.0 0.75
Non-S&E managers 3.0 0.35
Non-S&E postsecondary teachers 0.7 0.30
Non-S&E precollege/other teachers 12.0 2.10
Sales/marketing occupations 13.1 1.80
Social service–related occupations 2.9 0.90
Other non-S&E occupations 9.9 1.25
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.
S&E = science and engineering; SE = standard error.
a From 1999 to 2008, data for Industrial engineers were mislabeled as “Materials/metallurgical engineers.” For all years, data in this category have included only industrial engineers. For all years, data on Materials/metallurgical engineers have been included only in Other engineers.
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 2017.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Doctorate Recipients, 2015.