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Table 57-2. Median annual salaries of U.S. residing full-time employed doctoral scientists and engineers, by field of doctorate and primary work activity: 2017

(Dollars)

Field of study
All full-time employed
Computer applications
Management, sales, or administrationa
Professional services
Any R&Db
Teaching
Otherc
Median salary
SE
Median salary
SE
Median salary
SE
Median salary
SE
Median salary
SE
Median salary
SE
Median salary
SE
All fields 110,000 500 129,000 2,500 136,000 2,500 115,000 2,000 115,000 500 79,000 1,000 106,000 3,000
Science 104,000 1,000 126,000 3,500 130,000 500 110,000 2,000 110,000 1,000 76,000 1,500 99,000 1,500
Biological, agricultural, and environmental life sciences 100,000 500 105,000 6,000 125,000 2,500 152,000 7,500 100,000 500 75,000 1,000 99,000 2,500
Agricultural and food sciences 106,000 3,000 100,000 16,000 135,000 10,500 120,000 12,500 101,000 3,500 84,000 4,500 88,000 10,500
Biochemistry and biophysics 109,000 2,000 116,000 6,500 135,000 9,500 159,000 28,500 105,000 3,500 69,000 3,000 110,000 7,000
Cell, cellular biology, and molecular biology 101,000 2,500 96,000 16,000 130,000 3,500 200,000 12,000 100,000 4,500 77,000 4,000 90,000 16,500
Microbiological sciences and immunology 105,000 3,000 102,000 40,500 125,000 3,500 170,000 14,500 100,000 1,000 75,000 3,500 106,000 12,000
Natural resources and conservation 91,000 3,000 95,000 28,500 112,000 7,000 137,000 26,500 90,000 3,000 74,000 3,500 70,000 21,500
Zoology 98,000 3,000 D D 101,000 10,500 77,000 21,500 105,000 4,500 80,000 3,500 78,000 29,000
Other biological sciences 100,000 500 99,000 5,500 124,000 4,500 145,000 7,000 98,000 2,500 72,000 2,000 99,000 4,000
Computer and information sciences 139,000 4,000 140,000 3,000 161,000 3,500 147,000 70,500 149,000 5,000 90,000 3,000 117,000 22,000
Mathematics and statistics 108,000 3,500 129,000 4,000 158,000 3,000 145,000 8,000 120,000 3,000 78,000 2,000 89,000 11,500
Physical sciences, geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 114,000 2,500 125,000 5,000 140,000 4,000 150,000 9,000 117,000 2,500 73,000 1,500 110,000 5,000
Astronomy and astrophysics 104,000 6,000 99,000 11,000 152,000 3,000 D D 105,000 6,500 73,000 4,000 99,000 28,000
Chemistry, except biochemistry 110,000 2,000 123,000 8,000 140,000 2,500 139,000 16,000 115,000 1,500 70,000 1,500 114,000 4,500
Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 102,000 3,000 105,000 4,000 130,000 5,000 139,000 13,000 108,000 3,500 77,000 3,000 97,000 6,000
Physics 121,000 2,500 129,000 5,500 150,000 2,000 177,000 10,500 124,000 2,000 76,000 3,000 104,000 10,000
Psychology 98,000 1,500 109,000 7,000 113,000 4,000 100,000 500 105,000 2,500 76,000 1,500 87,000 4,500
Social sciences 99,000 1,500 114,000 2,000 130,000 5,500 136,000 14,000 110,000 2,500 79,000 1,500 89,000 7,500
Economics 135,000 5,000 112,000 3,500 169,000 8,000 188,000 13,500 139,000 4,500 96,000 3,000 129,000 3,500
Political science and government 95,000 2,000 D D 139,000 10,000 100,000 14,500 95,000 4,500 80,000 3,500 119,000 7,500
Sociology, demography, and population studies 87,000 3,000 103,000 18,500 115,000 8,000 64,000 11,500 100,000 7,000 73,000 2,000 112,000 31,500
Other social sciences 85,000 1,000 108,000 13,500 103,000 5,000 101,000 8,500 92,000 2,500 73,000 2,000 75,000 7,000
Engineering 129,000 1,500 129,000 2,000 150,000 1,500 148,000 7,500 125,000 1,500 93,000 2,000 118,000 3,000
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 135,000 7,000 130,000 6,000 149,000 5,000 D D 135,000 9,000 98,000 5,500 D D
Chemical engineering 129,000 2,000 131,000 11,000 159,000 4,500 161,000 12,000 125,000 3,500 90,000 3,500 126,000 7,500
Civil engineering 110,000 2,000 101,000 7,500 130,000 13,500 113,000 12,500 110,000 4,000 90,000 6,000 100,000 3,500
Electrical and computer engineering 140,000 1,000 139,000 3,000 169,000 5,500 156,000 9,000 140,000 1,500 94,000 5,000 123,000 11,000
Mechanical engineering 120,000 3,000 124,000 8,500 149,000 3,000 153,000 26,000 120,000 500 91,000 5,500 128,000 12,500
Metallurgical and materials engineering 124,000 3,500 113,000 5,000 148,000 7,500 139,000 26,500 120,000 1,500 92,000 8,000 118,000 19,000
Other engineering 123,000 3,000 126,000 5,000 148,000 3,000 135,000 19,500 120,000 500 94,000 4,000 118,000 5,000
Health 104,000 1,500 112,000 14,500 133,000 5,000 134,000 11,000 106,000 5,000 83,000 2,500 108,000 8,000
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 Administration includes accounting, finance, contracts, and human resources.
b R&D includes applied and basic research, design, and development.
c Includes production, operations, maintenance, and other activities not broken out separately.
NOTES: Median annual salaries are for principal job and are rounded to nearest $1,000. Standard errors are rounded up to the nearest $500. 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.