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Table 42. U.S. residing employed doctoral scientists and engineers, by occupation and sector of employment: 2017

Occupation
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 occupations 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 occupations 460,750 2,150 214,200 2,275 17,400 650 128,450 1,725 27,900 800 33,600 800 9,800 450 25,200 825 4,150 300
Biological/agricultural/other life scientists 144,550 1,425 73,600 1,250 3,900 325 36,550 800 10,250 475 13,250 500 3,100 250 3,150 325 650 125
Agricultural/food scientists 9,950 425 2,400 200 S S 4,700 300 250 75 1,650 200 300 75 600 125 D D
Biochemists/biophysicists 16,550 600 6,850 400 D D 6,850 425 1,150 150 1,100 175 200 75 350 125 D D
Biological scientists 21,750 625 9,000 425 200 75 4,350 325 2,150 225 4,350 300 1,150 150 400 100 150 50
Forestry/conservation scientists 1,900 200 400 100 D D 150 50 450 125 500 75 250 75 150 50 * *
Medical scientists 34,500 875 13,100 550 50 25 12,100 525 4,000 325 3,500 275 550 125 900 150 300 100
Postsecondary teachers, agricultural/other natural sciences 6,300 350 6,000 350 200 100 D D D D D D D D D D D D
Postsecondary teachers, biological sciences 32,850 1,025 29,050 925 3,350 275 D D 350 100 D D D D D D D D
Other biological/agricultural/life scientists 20,800 700 6,750 425 S S 8,400 425 1,900 200 2,150 250 650 125 750 150 100 50
Computer/information scientists 54,750 1,125 11,200 500 550 100 37,050 925 1,950 275 1,650 200 850 150 1,100 150 450 100
Computer/information scientists 46,600 1,050 3,450 275 150 75 37,050 925 1,900 250 1,650 200 800 150 1,100 150 450 100
Postsecondary teachers, computer science 8,200 475 7,750 475 350 100 D D D D D D D D D D D D
Mathematical scientists 38,350 900 19,700 600 1,850 275 11,550 550 1,900 225 2,000 200 350 100 650 125 350 100
Mathematical scientists 19,250 650 2,400 250 100 50 11,500 550 1,850 200 2,000 200 300 100 650 125 350 100
Postsecondary teachers, mathematics/statistics 19,100 550 17,350 550 1,700 275 D D D D D D D D D D D D
Physical scientists 83,300 1,075 39,150 950 4,200 300 23,900 675 3,750 275 8,400 375 1,450 175 1,600 225 850 125
Chemists, except biochemists 20,300 650 2,400 275 D D 13,350 550 850 125 2,250 225 400 100 850 150 150 75
Earth/atmospheric/ocean scientists 9,350 325 2,450 175 D D 2,800 175 750 100 2,150 150 500 75 400 100 300 75
Physicists/astronomers 12,200 450 3,150 250 D D 4,400 350 1,300 200 2,550 250 250 100 100 50 350 100
Postsecondary teachers, chemistry 15,550 575 13,100 525 2,400 250 D D D D D D D D D D D D
Postsecondary teachers, physics 10,700 475 9,600 450 1,000 175 D D D D D D D D D D D D
Postsecondary teachers, other physical sciences 7,850 300 7,250 300 550 100 D D * * D D D D D D D D
Other physical scientists 7,300 400 1,200 175 D D 3,300 300 750 150 1,400 150 300 75 200 75 50 25
Psychologists 74,150 875 24,300 725 4,150 325 14,800 575 6,000 450 4,550 375 2,700 275 17,300 650 350 100
Psychologists. 54,350 825 6,200 425 2,650 250 14,750 575 5,850 450 4,550 400 2,700 275 17,250 650 350 100
Postsecondary teachers, psychology 19,800 575 18,100 575 1,500 175 D D 100 75 D D D D D D D D
Social scientists 65,600 950 46,150 900 2,750 275 4,600 325 4,100 300 3,750 275 1,400 200 1,350 200 1,500 175
Economists 8,700 425 750 125 D D 2,300 225 1,450 200 1,950 200 500 125 450 125 1,250 150
Political scientists 1,550 225 450 125 D D 200 100 250 75 400 100 S S D D D D
Postsecondary teachers, economics 10,050 400 9,750 375 250 100 D D D D D D D D D D D D
Postsecondary teachers, political science 10,250 450 9,500 475 700 175 D D D D D D D D D D D D
Postsecondary teachers, sociology 8,050 375 7,300 350 800 175 D D D D D D D D D D D D
Postsecondary teachers, other social sciences 16,050 475 15,150 475 750 125 D D D D D D D D D D D D
Sociologists/anthropologists 3,150 225 850 125 D D 550 100 600 125 550 125 150 75 300 100 100 50
Other social scientists 7,800 300 2,400 200 150 50 1,500 200 1,750 175 800 100 650 125 450 100 150 50
Engineering occupations 107,900 1,250 31,100 975 300 75 61,000 1,050 3,500 300 6,800 425 1,750 250 2,150 225 1,350 175
Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering 6,650 400 400 100 D D 4,100 350 800 150 1,150 150 D D S S 100 75
Chemical engineers 7,450 400 300 75 D D 6,300 425 200 75 350 125 D D S S 150 75
Civil/architectural/sanitary engineers 5,350 325 700 150 D D 2,750 225 100 50 400 125 800 150 500 150 100 50
Electrical engineers 22,050 675 1,300 175 D D 17,900 625 600 150 1,350 150 100 50 350 75 400 125
Industrial engineersf 1,200 175 150 50 D D 900 175 S S 50 25 D D D D D D
Mechanical engineers 10,900 475 850 150 D D 8,150 450 400 125 1,100 175 D D 250 100 D D
Postsecondary teachers, engineering 24,450 875 24,150 875 200 75 D D D D * * D D D D D D
Other engineers 29,900 850 3,250 275 D D 20,850 775 1,300 200 2,400 275 750 150 900 150 450 100
S&E-related occupations 97,650 1,375 33,050 800 6,000 350 34,100 950 10,450 475 6,500 350 2,850 250 3,750 325 1,000 175
Health occupations, except postsecondary teachers and managers 33,850 850 8,200 450 250 50 12,600 525 6,200 400 2,250 225 1,000 150 2,850 275 500 125
Postsecondary teachers, health and related sciences 21,400 725 20,350 700 400 100 S S 350 100 100 50 D D D D D D
S&E managers, including health 30,350 750 3,450 300 200 100 16,850 650 3,450 275 3,900 275 1,500 200 500 125 450 125
S&E precollege teachers 5,250 350 100 50 5,100 350 S S D D D D D D D D D D
S&E technicians and technologists 5,750 400 900 150 D D 3,700 325 350 100 250 100 250 100 300 100 D D
Other S&E-related occupations 1,100 150 D D D D 850 125 D D D D D D 100 50 D D
Non-S&E occupations 148,800 1,775 41,100 825 6,100 375 65,400 1,350 13,300 525 5,050 400 3,150 250 13,600 525 1,200 150
Arts/humanities-related occupations 7,750 425 650 100 150 75 3,050 250 850 125 200 75 150 50 2,550 250 100 75
Management-related occupations 26,100 850 3,400 225 550 125 14,250 650 2,550 275 1,500 200 1,000 150 2,600 275 250 75
Non-S&E managers 61,150 975 16,750 575 2,000 225 30,550 850 6,300 300 1,800 225 1,100 150 2,000 200 600 125
Non-S&E postsecondary teachers 18,350 575 17,450 550 650 125 S S 100 75 D D D D 50 25 D D
Non-S&E precollege/other teachers 5,050 300 700 125 2,150 200 750 125 300 100 S S 100 50 900 150 D D
Sales/marketing occupations 9,750 575 150 75 D D 7,850 500 300 100 D D D D 1,400 225 D D
Social service–related occupations 6,400 425 850 150 450 100 1,300 175 2,000 225 250 100 200 75 1,300 175 100 50
Other non-S&E occupations 14,150 650 1,100 150 150 75 7,450 450 900 175 1,150 200 600 125 2,800 300 50 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 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.
f 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. 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.