Back to Data Tables
Excel icon Download to excel

Table 48. U.S. residing employed doctoral scientists and engineers, by fine field of doctorate and broad occupation: 2017

Field of study All employed Science occupations Engineering occupations S&E-related occupations Non-S&E occupations
Total Post-secondary teachers Other Total Post-secondary teachers Other Total Health occupations S&E managers Other Total Non-S&E managers Non-S&E teachers Other
Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE 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 1,400 460,750 2,150 164,750 1,950 296,000 1,825 107,900 1,250 24,450 875 83,450 1,150 97,650 1,375 55,250 1,025 30,350 750 12,050 575 148,800 1,775 61,150 975 20,200 575 67,400 1,475
Science 612,450 1,500 415,350 2,075 159,000 1,925 256,400 1,625 16,250 650 2,400 225 13,850 600 64,300 1,250 35,600 875 19,900 600 8,800 450 116,550 1,475 43,650 850 17,200 500 55,700 1,225
Biological, agricultural, and environmental life sciences 206,900 925 132,150 1,250 40,950 1,050 91,200 1,200 2,400 225 450 125 2,000 225 39,250 925 26,100 775 9,900 500 3,250 275 33,100 875 12,500 525 1,800 175 18,800 675
Agricultural and food sciences 16,350 275 11,400 350 3,650 275 7,800 275 200 75 * * 200 75 1,600 200 400 75 1,000 175 200 75 3,150 225 1,450 175 100 50 1,600 175
Agricultural sciences 1,000 75 650 75 250 75 400 75 D D D D D D 50 25 * * * * D D 300 75 50 25 50 25 200 75
Animal sciences 4,400 150 2,950 150 1,100 125 1,850 125 D D D D D D 400 75 200 75 200 50 * * 950 125 400 100 D D 550 100
Food sciences and technology 3,550 175 2,500 175 550 125 1,900 150 100 50 D D 100 50 500 125 100 50 350 125 D D 500 100 250 75 * * 200 50
Plant sciences 5,300 200 3,700 200 1,150 150 2,600 150 D D D D D D 500 100 50 25 350 100 150 75 1,050 150 550 125 D D 450 100
Soil sciences 2,150 125 1,600 125 600 100 1,000 100 S S D D S S 100 50 D D 100 50 D D 350 100 150 75 D D 200 75
Biochemistry and biophysics 28,250 425 18,850 450 5,100 350 13,750 475 450 125 D D 400 125 4,400 325 2,650 275 1,300 175 400 100 4,600 375 1,650 200 200 75 2,700 300
Biochemistry 23,400 425 15,650 450 4,250 325 11,400 475 250 100 D D 250 100 3,750 300 2,200 250 1,250 175 350 100 3,750 350 1,400 200 200 75 2,150 275
Biophysics 4,850 150 3,200 200 850 125 2,350 175 150 75 D D 150 75 600 125 500 100 50 50 100 50 900 150 300 100 D D 600 125
Cell, cellular biology, and molecular biology 29,850 375 17,850 525 5,650 375 12,150 475 450 150 S S 350 125 6,150 400 3,950 325 1,400 225 750 175 5,400 375 1,400 175 150 75 3,850 350
Microbiological sciences and immunology 22,200 350 14,000 425 3,450 300 10,550 425 S S D D D D 4,950 325 3,550 275 1,100 175 300 75 3,250 250 1,300 200 100 50 1,850 200
Immunology 8,150 200 4,950 275 850 150 4,100 275 D D D D D D 2,150 225 1,650 200 350 100 D D 1,050 175 450 125 D D 600 125
Microbiological sciences 14,100 300 9,000 325 2,600 225 6,450 300 S S D D D D 2,800 225 1,900 200 750 150 150 50 2,200 200 850 150 100 50 1,300 175
Natural resources and conservation 8,550 225 5,800 200 2,050 125 3,750 200 500 75 100 50 400 75 750 100 100 50 550 100 50 50 1,500 150 600 100 150 50 800 125
Fish, fisheries, wildlife and wildlands science and management 2,250 125 1,750 125 450 75 1,300 125 D D D D D D 200 50 D D 150 50 D D 250 100 100 50 D D 150 75
Forestry 2,600 150 1,600 125 650 75 950 125 200 75 S S 150 50 150 25 50 25 100 25 * * 700 100 250 75 50 25 350 100
Natural resource conservation, research, management, and policy 3,700 150 2,450 150 900 100 1,550 125 300 75 50 50 200 50 400 100 50 25 300 100 S S 550 75 250 75 50 25 250 50
Zoology 7,450 250 5,250 250 2,550 175 2,750 225 D D D D D D 850 125 350 75 350 100 150 75 1,300 175 450 100 D D 800 150
Other biological sciences 94,200 625 59,000 850 18,500 575 40,500 775 750 125 100 50 650 150 20,550 650 15,050 575 4,200 300 1,300 150 13,850 525 5,650 325 1,050 150 7,200 400
Biomathematics, bioinformatics, and computational biology 4,400 75 3,650 100 700 100 2,950 125 * * D D * * 350 75 200 75 100 50 50 25 350 75 150 50 100 75 50 25
Botany and plant biology 6,450 200 4,700 200 1,850 150 2,850 200 D D D D D D 600 125 50 25 350 100 200 75 1,150 125 450 100 150 75 550 100
Epidemiology, ecology, and population biology 14,800 275 10,250 300 4,400 250 5,900 275 200 75 D D 150 75 2,800 225 1,650 175 1,000 150 150 75 1,550 200 750 150 200 75 550 125
Genetics 8,200 225 5,650 250 1,700 150 3,900 225 D D D D D D 1,450 175 900 175 400 100 150 50 1,100 150 350 100 D D 750 125
Neurobiology and neuroscience 14,600 225 8,900 375 2,450 225 6,450 350 200 75 D D 200 75 3,400 275 2,750 250 400 125 250 100 2,100 250 550 150 S S 1,450 200
Nutrition sciences 3,800 150 1,500 150 250 75 1,250 150 D D D D D D 1,450 150 1,250 150 150 75 D D 850 125 350 100 100 50 400 100
Pharmacology and toxicology 12,200 250 6,750 300 1,150 150 5,600 275 S S D D S S 3,500 250 2,600 250 700 125 150 50 1,900 200 850 150 50 25 1,050 150
Physiology, pathology, and related sciences 14,200 300 7,700 325 2,550 225 5,150 250 50 50 D D D D 4,100 275 3,600 250 450 125 100 50 2,350 175 1,150 125 150 75 1,100 125
Biological and biomedical sciences, general 10,950 250 7,100 325 2,400 225 4,700 275 100 50 D D D D 1,950 225 1,450 200 350 100 150 75 1,800 200 650 150 150 50 1,000 175
Biological and biomedical sciences, other 4,600 175 2,800 175 1,050 125 1,750 150 100 50 S S 50 50 950 125 600 125 250 75 50 50 750 125 400 100 50 50 250 75
Computer and information sciences 27,550 300 21,350 425 6,000 375 15,350 400 1,150 175 350 100 800 150 2,050 225 150 50 1,200 200 650 125 3,050 250 1,500 175 650 100 900 150
Computer science 24,050 300 19,150 400 5,250 375 13,900 425 1,000 175 300 100 700 150 1,700 200 D D 1,050 175 600 125 2,200 200 1,250 175 250 75 650 150
Information science, studies 2,150 125 1,200 125 450 75 750 125 100 50 50 25 50 25 250 75 50 25 S S 50 50 650 100 200 50 300 75 200 50
Computer and information sciences, other 1,350 50 1,000 50 300 50 700 75 50 25 D D 50 25 100 25 50 25 50 25 50 25 200 50 50 25 50 25 100 50
Mathematics and statistics 35,200 500 28,450 525 17,000 500 11,500 450 900 175 150 75 700 175 1,700 175 250 50 350 100 1,050 150 4,150 325 1,750 250 850 125 1,550 200
Applied mathematics 7,700 250 6,200 300 3,300 275 2,900 275 400 125 D D 350 100 250 100 D D D D 200 75 800 175 350 125 D D 400 125
Mathematics 16,450 275 13,850 300 9,850 325 4,000 250 300 100 D D 250 100 900 125 100 50 50 50 750 125 1,400 150 600 100 100 50 700 125
Statistics 7,000 225 5,800 250 2,300 200 3,500 250 D D D D D D 350 100 D D D D D D 850 175 600 150 D D 250 100
Mathematics and statistics, other 4,100 150 2,650 150 1,550 150 1,100 125 200 75 50 25 150 75 150 50 D D 50 50 100 50 1,100 100 250 50 700 100 200 50
Physical sciences, geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 130,000 800 87,800 975 30,650 800 57,150 900 11,300 550 1,350 175 9,950 525 11,600 550 2,850 275 5,900 350 2,900 250 19,300 625 7,800 375 700 125 10,800 525
Astronomy and astrophysics 5,600 125 4,600 150 1,900 125 2,700 150 300 75 D D 300 75 350 100 100 50 150 50 100 50 350 75 200 75 D D 150 50
Chemistry, except biochemistry 63,550 525 42,050 825 13,700 550 28,350 750 3,550 325 300 100 3,250 325 6,500 400 1,700 225 3,350 300 1,500 200 11,400 475 4,200 250 350 75 6,900 425
Inorganic chemistry 8,450 200 5,550 250 2,500 200 3,100 250 500 125 D D 500 125 700 150 150 75 450 150 100 50 1,700 200 700 125 D D 950 175
Organic chemistry 17,150 375 11,650 475 3,750 325 7,900 450 400 125 D D 400 125 1,700 225 300 100 1,100 175 300 100 3,400 300 1,400 175 D D 1,950 225
Chemistry, other, except biochemistry 37,950 400 24,850 550 7,500 375 17,350 500 2,650 275 250 100 2,400 275 4,100 325 1,250 200 1,800 200 1,100 150 6,350 350 2,100 175 250 75 4,000 325
Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 21,000 250 16,050 275 6,100 250 9,950 300 1,050 125 200 50 900 100 1,300 125 100 50 900 100 300 75 2,600 175 1,100 125 100 50 1,400 150
Atmospheric sciences and meteorology 3,750 75 3,000 75 700 50 2,300 100 200 25 * * 150 25 250 50 * * 200 50 50 25 300 50 100 25 50 25 150 25
Geological and earth sciences, geosciences 12,900 225 9,850 225 4,300 225 5,550 250 700 100 150 50 550 100 700 100 50 25 500 75 150 50 1,650 150 700 100 50 25 900 125
Ocean sciences and marine sciences 1,900 75 1,450 75 450 50 1,000 75 50 25 * * 50 25 150 50 * * 50 25 50 25 250 50 100 25 D D 100 25
Oceanography, chemical and physical 2,450 125 1,700 125 600 100 1,150 100 100 50 D D 100 50 200 75 D D 100 75 50 25 450 75 200 50 D D 250 75
Physics 39,850 500 25,100 575 8,950 425 16,150 475 6,400 400 900 175 5,500 375 3,450 300 950 175 1,500 200 1,000 175 4,900 375 2,250 275 250 100 2,400 250
Psychology 113,950 750 81,900 800 21,500 575 60,400 825 150 50 D D 150 50 6,100 375 4,000 300 1,800 225 350 100 25,800 650 9,300 425 4,100 300 12,400 575
Clinical psychology 40,800 500 34,400 600 5,250 375 29,150 625 D D D D D D 1,450 225 650 150 700 150 D D 5,000 425 2,500 275 300 100 2,200 275
Counseling and applied psychology 15,200 250 10,750 350 1,950 200 8,800 350 D D D D D D 850 150 550 125 300 100 D D 3,600 250 1,200 150 350 100 2,050 200
Educational and school psychology 13,650 300 7,650 300 1,750 175 5,900 275 D D D D D D 800 125 600 100 100 50 100 50 5,200 300 1,350 175 2,000 225 1,800 200
Industrial and organizational psychology 4,950 150 2,150 175 850 125 1,300 150 D D D D D D 200 100 100 50 D D D D 2,600 200 800 125 250 75 1,550 175
Research and experimental psychology 27,500 325 19,300 350 9,600 325 9,750 325 50 25 D D 50 25 2,050 200 1,450 175 400 100 200 75 6,100 300 2,300 200 900 100 2,900 275
Psychology, general 7,400 250 5,250 300 1,400 175 3,850 275 D D D D D D 400 125 350 125 D D D D 1,750 200 600 125 150 75 1,000 175
Psychology, other 4,450 175 2,450 200 750 100 1,700 175 D D D D D D 350 100 250 75 150 75 D D 1,550 175 550 100 150 50 900 150
Social sciences 98,850 775 63,750 925 42,900 875 20,850 575 350 75 100 50 250 75 3,650 275 2,300 200 750 150 600 125 31,150 700 10,750 450 9,150 375 11,250 525
Economics 26,600 425 19,300 475 10,100 425 9,200 425 50 50 D D 50 50 300 75 150 50 S S S S 6,950 375 2,750 225 1,500 200 2,700 275
Political science and government 19,950 425 13,100 475 10,250 450 2,850 275 S S D D D D 800 150 450 100 200 75 S S 6,000 425 2,750 275 900 175 2,350 275
Political science and government 16,150 400 11,300 450 9,350 450 1,900 250 D D D D D D 300 125 D D D D D D 4,550 375 2,150 250 650 175 1,750 250
Public policy analysis 3,750 125 1,800 125 900 125 950 125 D D D D D D 450 100 350 75 150 75 D D 1,450 150 650 100 200 75 600 100
Sociology, demography, and population studies 15,150 325 10,750 350 8,100 325 2,650 225 D D D D D D 750 125 550 125 150 75 S S 3,600 250 1,550 175 800 150 1,250 175
Other social sciences 37,200 450 20,600 475 14,450 450 6,150 300 200 75 50 50 150 75 1,800 200 1,150 150 350 100 350 75 14,600 425 3,750 325 5,950 275 4,900 300
Anthropology 11,550 250 7,700 275 5,600 275 2,050 200 D D D D D D 700 125 450 100 150 75 50 50 3,150 250 1,050 175 500 100 1,600 200
Area, ethnic, cultural, gender, and group studies 3,450 125 800 100 650 100 200 50 D D D D D D S S S S D D D D 2,500 125 400 100 1,500 100 600 100
Geography and cartography 4,600 150 3,550 175 2,450 175 1,150 125 D D D D D D 200 75 100 50 D D 100 50 800 100 250 75 150 75 350 75
International relations and national security studies 2,000 150 1,350 150 1,050 125 300 75 D D D D D D D D D D D D D D 650 125 400 100 50 25 250 75
Linguistics 5,050 225 1,800 200 1,300 150 500 125 D D D D D D 250 75 150 75 D D D D 3,000 200 350 100 1,950 175 700 150
Urban studies, affairs 1,500 100 800 100 500 100 300 75 D D D D D D 100 50 100 50 D D D D 550 75 150 50 200 50 200 50
Social sciences, other 9,100 200 4,600 200 2,950 150 1,650 150 D D D D D D 500 75 300 75 100 50 50 50 4,000 200 1,100 150 1,700 125 1,200 125
Engineering 164,650 850 34,850 950 3,950 300 30,900 900 91,250 1,150 21,950 825 69,250 1,075 14,000 575 2,000 200 8,850 450 3,150 300 24,550 775 13,950 650 1,250 175 9,400 475
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 6,500 175 1,000 150 150 75 850 150 4,450 225 1,050 150 3,400 225 550 125 D D 400 100 D D 500 100 350 100 D D 150 75
Chemical engineering 20,250 350 4,000 325 150 75 3,850 325 10,550 325 2,100 225 8,450 350 2,000 225 150 75 1,300 200 550 125 3,700 350 1,900 250 D D 1,800 250
Civil engineering 17,900 350 1,850 200 300 75 1,550 200 12,050 400 3,900 325 8,150 350 1,400 225 50 25 1,250 200 100 50 2,600 250 1,650 225 150 75 800 125
Electrical and computer engineering 45,850 475 12,000 475 1,450 175 10,600 425 25,050 600 5,200 375 19,850 550 3,250 250 300 100 2,000 225 950 150 5,550 400 3,600 325 150 75 1,750 250
Computer engineering 6,000 175 3,600 200 400 100 3,150 200 1,450 175 400 75 1,050 150 300 75 D D 200 50 50 25 700 125 500 125 D D 200 75
Electrical, electronics, and communications engineering 39,800 450 8,450 425 1,000 175 7,400 400 23,600 575 4,800 350 18,800 525 2,950 225 250 100 1,800 225 900 150 4,850 375 3,150 300 150 75 1,600 250
Mechanical engineering 23,700 375 3,150 300 150 75 2,950 300 16,150 450 3,850 350 12,300 475 1,550 250 S S 1,050 200 350 125 2,850 325 1,750 250 D D 1,050 200
Metallurgical and materials engineering 15,400 275 3,150 275 450 100 2,700 275 8,150 375 1,050 175 7,100 375 1,600 200 S S 1,050 150 450 150 2,500 250 1,350 175 D D 1,050 175
Other engineering 35,050 400 9,700 425 1,300 150 8,400 400 14,800 475 4,800 275 10,000 425 3,700 275 1,350 200 1,800 200 550 125 6,850 400 3,350 325 750 100 2,750 250
Agricultural engineering 1,550 125 350 75 50 25 300 75 800 75 350 75 450 75 150 50 D D 150 50 D D 300 75 200 75 D D 100 50
Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 11,600 175 3,650 275 400 100 3,250 250 4,300 250 1,250 150 3,050 225 1,850 225 1,050 175 550 125 200 100 1,800 200 1,050 175 D D 750 125
Engineering mechanics, physics, and science 4,150 175 850 100 150 50 700 100 2,300 150 600 100 1,700 150 400 100 50 25 300 100 100 50 550 100 250 75 50 50 250 75
Industrial and manufacturing engineering 8,700 225 2,800 225 400 100 2,400 225 2,900 225 1,350 175 1,500 200 550 125 50 25 350 100 150 75 2,450 200 800 125 500 100 1,150 175
Nuclear engineering 2,750 125 750 125 50 25 700 125 1,350 150 350 75 1,050 150 250 75 100 50 100 50 D D 400 75 200 75 D D 150 75
Engineering, other 6,300 200 1,300 150 250 75 1,050 125 3,150 175 900 100 2,250 175 550 125 S S 350 100 50 25 1,350 175 850 175 100 50 350 100
Health 37,950 425 10,550 325 1,800 175 8,700 300 400 100 50 25 350 100 19,350 525 17,600 500 1,600 175 150 75 7,700 375 3,600 250 1,750 225 2,350 225
Communication disorders sciences and services 3,400 125 400 75 200 50 200 75 D D D D D D 2,100 150 2,000 150 50 25 D D 900 125 350 100 300 75 200 75
Hospital and medical administration services 1,700 125 400 100 50 25 350 100 D D D D D D 850 125 800 125 50 25 D D 400 100 150 50 S S 200 75
Pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, and administration 7,400 175 4,300 250 450 100 3,850 225 S S D D D D 1,750 175 1,300 150 450 100 D D 1,250 150 700 150 S S 450 100
Public health 7,100 175 2,450 175 350 100 2,100 175 150 75 D D 150 75 3,150 225 2,700 200 400 100 D D 1,300 150 550 100 150 75 600 100
Registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research 8,900 275 350 100 150 75 200 100 D D D D D D 6,750 325 6,450 325 300 125 D D 1,800 275 1,050 200 400 125 350 125
Health sciences, other 9,450 200 2,600 200 550 100 2,000 175 150 75 D D 100 75 4,700 200 4,350 200 300 75 D D 2,000 175 750 100 700 125 550 100
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.
S&E = science and engineering; SE = standard error.
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.