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Table 33. U.S. residing doctoral scientists and engineers, by occupation and sex: 2017

Occupation Total Male Female
Number SE Number SE Number SE
All occupations 967,150 1,200 628,950 1,075 338,150 850
Science occupations 546,550 2,425 346,100 2,050 200,450 1,425
Biological/agricultural/other life scientists 171,850 1,500 102,200 1,225 69,700 950
Agricultural/food scientists 12,550 475 8,600 375 3,950 275
Biochemists/biophysicists 19,700 650 12,400 525 7,300 425
Biological scientists 25,900 700 15,400 600 10,500 425
Forestry/conservation scientists 2,500 200 1,650 175 850 125
Medical scientists 40,250 925 21,900 675 18,350 600
Postsecondary teachers, agricultural/other natural sciences 7,850 375 5,550 325 2,350 175
Postsecondary teachers, biological sciences 38,650 1,025 23,950 750 14,650 500
Other biological/agricultural/life scientists 24,450 775 12,700 625 11,750 450
Computer/information scientists 62,900 1,200 51,850 1,050 11,050 425
Computer/information scientists 53,300 1,100 44,150 975 9,150 425
Postsecondary teachers, computer science 9,650 475 7,700 450 1,900 175
Mathematical scientists 44,750 900 32,650 800 12,100 425
Mathematical scientists 22,100 700 15,950 625 6,200 325
Postsecondary teachers, mathematics/statistics 22,650 550 16,700 500 5,950 300
Physical scientists 101,000 1,150 78,550 1,125 22,450 575
Chemists, except biochemists 25,500 725 20,000 675 5,550 300
Earth/atmospheric/ocean scientists 11,850 350 9,250 350 2,550 150
Physicists/astronomers 15,250 525 13,450 500 1,850 175
Postsecondary teachers, chemistry 17,950 625 12,150 575 5,800 275
Postsecondary teachers, physics 12,350 500 10,300 450 2,050 175
Postsecondary teachers, other physical sciences 9,300 325 6,700 275 2,600 175
Other physical scientists 8,750 450 6,750 400 2,000 200
Psychologists 87,400 925 36,000 875 51,450 850
Psychologists. 64,050 900 25,050 775 39,000 800
Postsecondary teachers, psychology 23,350 675 10,900 525 12,450 450
Social scientists 78,600 1,025 44,900 850 33,700 600
Economists 10,650 450 7,700 375 2,950 250
Political scientists 2,200 275 1,350 225 850 150
Postsecondary teachers, economics 11,650 400 8,800 350 2,800 225
Postsecondary teachers, political science 11,950 475 8,450 450 3,500 275
Postsecondary teachers, sociology 9,650 425 4,500 300 5,150 275
Postsecondary teachers, other social sciences 18,700 575 9,050 450 9,650 400
Sociologists/anthropologists 4,400 275 1,700 200 2,700 200
Other social scientists 9,450 375 3,350 275 6,100 275
Engineering occupations 122,700 1,400 104,100 1,275 18,600 500
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering 8,150 475 7,350 500 800 125
Chemical engineers 8,700 450 6,950 450 1,750 200
Civil/architectural/sanitary engineers 6,150 375 5,350 375 800 125
Electrical engineers 24,850 750 22,050 700 2,800 250
Industrial engineersa 1,300 200 1,000 175 300 75
Mechanical engineers 12,700 500 11,550 475 1,150 150
Postsecondary teachers, engineering 26,600 925 22,200 900 4,400 275
Other engineers 34,200 925 27,700 850 6,500 325
S&E-related occupations 116,750 1,500 67,900 1,150 48,850 900
Health occupations, except postsecondary teachers and managers 39,550 900 19,950 650 19,600 625
Postsecondary teachers, health and related sciences 24,900 800 10,300 525 14,600 525
S&E managers, including health 35,250 825 25,450 700 9,750 450
S&E precollege teachers 7,150 400 4,150 300 3,000 275
S&E technicians and technologists 8,700 450 7,000 425 1,700 175
Other S&E-related occupations 1,250 175 1,000 150 200 50
Non-S&E occupations 181,150 1,975 110,900 1,550 70,250 1,100
Arts/humanities-related occupations 10,000 450 4,350 350 5,650 275
Management-related occupations 30,850 875 18,300 700 12,550 550
Non-S&E managers 71,050 1,125 49,800 1,100 21,300 525
Non-S&E postsecondary teachers 22,400 625 12,450 475 10,000 425
Non-S&E precollege/other teachers 7,300 350 2,900 250 4,400 300
Sales/marketing occupations 12,400 625 8,050 500 4,350 325
Social service–related occupations 8,400 475 3,600 300 4,800 325
Other non-S&E occupations 18,650 775 11,450 600 7,200 400
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: 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. If respondent was not employed during survey reference period, occupation when last employed was reported. Excludes 350 individuals who reported never having worked so could not be classified by occupation. 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.