Table 68. Median annual salaries of U.S. residing full-time employed doctoral scientists and engineers, by occupation and years since doctorate: 2017
(Dollars)
| Occupation |
All full-time employed |
≤ 5 |
6–10 |
11–15 |
16–20 |
21–25 |
> 25 |
| Median salary |
SE |
Median salary |
SE |
Median salary |
SE |
Median salary |
SE |
Median salary |
SE |
Median salary |
SE |
Median salary |
SE |
| All occupations |
110,000 |
500 |
81,000 |
1,500 |
96,000 |
1,000 |
110,000 |
1,500 |
125,000 |
1,500 |
130,000 |
500 |
140,000 |
1,000 |
| Science occupations |
100,000 |
500 |
75,000 |
500 |
90,000 |
500 |
100,000 |
500 |
110,000 |
1,500 |
117,000 |
3,000 |
123,000 |
2,000 |
| Biological/agricultural/other life scientists |
94,000 |
1,500 |
57,000 |
1,000 |
82,000 |
1,500 |
100,000 |
3,000 |
109,000 |
1,500 |
119,000 |
1,500 |
129,000 |
4,000 |
| Agricultural/food scientists |
104,000 |
2,500 |
65,000 |
6,000 |
95,000 |
3,000 |
104,000 |
3,500 |
125,000 |
6,000 |
118,000 |
2,500 |
132,000 |
10,500 |
| Biochemists/biophysicists |
88,000 |
4,000 |
52,000 |
1,000 |
75,000 |
7,500 |
102,000 |
9,000 |
110,000 |
7,000 |
148,000 |
5,500 |
146,000 |
17,000 |
| Biological scientists |
80,000 |
2,500 |
52,000 |
1,000 |
75,000 |
4,000 |
93,000 |
6,500 |
105,000 |
4,000 |
124,000 |
7,000 |
118,000 |
3,000 |
| Forestry/conservation scientists |
87,000 |
4,500 |
70,000 |
4,500 |
83,000 |
6,000 |
105,000 |
15,500 |
101,000 |
21,500 |
101,000 |
25,000 |
110,000 |
15,000 |
| Medical scientists |
105,000 |
2,500 |
59,000 |
1,500 |
94,000 |
2,000 |
118,000 |
4,500 |
136,000 |
4,000 |
140,000 |
5,500 |
151,000 |
7,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, agricultural/other natural sciences |
95,000 |
3,000 |
70,000 |
2,500 |
83,000 |
1,000 |
88,000 |
5,000 |
100,000 |
3,500 |
101,000 |
4,000 |
117,000 |
4,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, biological sciences |
86,000 |
1,500 |
58,000 |
2,000 |
72,000 |
2,500 |
85,000 |
2,000 |
85,000 |
2,000 |
94,000 |
4,500 |
114,000 |
4,000 |
| Other biological/agricultural/life scientists |
100,000 |
500 |
59,000 |
3,500 |
93,000 |
4,500 |
110,000 |
5,500 |
127,000 |
6,500 |
140,000 |
4,000 |
137,000 |
11,500 |
| Computer/information scientists |
130,000 |
2,000 |
125,000 |
3,000 |
129,000 |
1,000 |
126,000 |
4,500 |
140,000 |
4,500 |
139,000 |
5,000 |
135,000 |
4,500 |
| Computer/information scientists |
136,000 |
3,500 |
130,000 |
1,000 |
135,000 |
3,500 |
131,000 |
6,500 |
145,000 |
4,500 |
139,000 |
5,000 |
140,000 |
3,000 |
| Postsecondary teachers, computer science |
102,000 |
3,000 |
85,000 |
5,000 |
89,000 |
2,500 |
100,000 |
5,500 |
118,000 |
5,500 |
120,000 |
7,500 |
122,000 |
7,000 |
| Mathematical scientists |
105,000 |
2,000 |
94,000 |
2,500 |
100,000 |
2,000 |
105,000 |
5,000 |
112,000 |
5,500 |
110,000 |
6,500 |
114,000 |
5,500 |
| Mathematical scientists |
129,000 |
4,000 |
109,000 |
2,000 |
125,000 |
5,500 |
135,000 |
2,000 |
138,000 |
8,000 |
149,000 |
3,500 |
149,000 |
4,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, mathematics/statistics |
83,000 |
2,000 |
64,000 |
3,000 |
68,000 |
3,000 |
83,000 |
3,500 |
90,000 |
1,500 |
96,000 |
4,500 |
104,000 |
3,500 |
| Physical scientists |
100,000 |
500 |
73,000 |
2,000 |
90,000 |
1,000 |
98,000 |
4,000 |
113,000 |
4,500 |
118,000 |
5,500 |
129,000 |
1,500 |
| Chemists, except biochemists |
115,000 |
1,500 |
81,000 |
1,500 |
102,000 |
3,500 |
119,000 |
2,500 |
131,000 |
2,500 |
131,000 |
7,500 |
140,000 |
3,000 |
| Earth/atmospheric/ocean scientists |
106,000 |
4,500 |
77,000 |
2,500 |
96,000 |
4,500 |
115,000 |
5,000 |
131,000 |
10,000 |
131,000 |
13,500 |
144,000 |
9,500 |
| Physicists/astronomers |
122,000 |
4,000 |
70,000 |
3,000 |
109,000 |
4,500 |
124,000 |
9,500 |
141,000 |
6,500 |
135,000 |
10,500 |
155,000 |
5,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, chemistry |
75,000 |
2,000 |
54,000 |
1,500 |
67,000 |
1,500 |
75,000 |
2,500 |
78,000 |
3,000 |
80,000 |
4,500 |
97,000 |
3,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, physics |
92,000 |
3,000 |
70,000 |
3,500 |
76,000 |
3,000 |
79,000 |
6,000 |
94,000 |
6,500 |
108,000 |
12,500 |
107,000 |
5,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, other physical sciences |
88,000 |
3,000 |
68,000 |
2,500 |
72,000 |
3,000 |
81,000 |
3,500 |
100,000 |
7,000 |
94,000 |
6,000 |
111,000 |
3,500 |
| Other physical scientists |
116,000 |
5,000 |
88,000 |
5,000 |
103,000 |
6,000 |
115,000 |
8,500 |
125,000 |
2,500 |
140,000 |
12,000 |
139,000 |
8,500 |
| Psychologists |
93,000 |
2,000 |
78,000 |
2,500 |
86,000 |
2,000 |
93,000 |
3,500 |
98,000 |
2,500 |
100,000 |
2,000 |
109,000 |
4,500 |
| Psychologists. |
100,000 |
500 |
82,000 |
2,000 |
95,000 |
3,500 |
100,000 |
2,500 |
107,000 |
4,500 |
107,000 |
3,000 |
106,000 |
4,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, psychology |
83,000 |
2,000 |
65,000 |
2,000 |
70,000 |
2,500 |
84,000 |
4,500 |
85,000 |
4,500 |
85,000 |
4,500 |
110,000 |
7,000 |
| Social scientists |
92,000 |
1,500 |
72,000 |
2,000 |
80,000 |
500 |
90,000 |
1,000 |
100,000 |
3,000 |
104,000 |
5,000 |
119,000 |
3,500 |
| Economists |
137,000 |
3,500 |
120,000 |
3,500 |
129,000 |
4,000 |
142,000 |
5,500 |
150,000 |
7,000 |
159,000 |
17,500 |
151,000 |
12,000 |
| Political scientists |
121,000 |
6,000 |
86,000 |
6,500 |
105,000 |
28,000 |
125,000 |
18,500 |
119,000 |
15,000 |
D |
D |
S |
S |
| Postsecondary teachers, economics |
105,000 |
3,500 |
93,000 |
6,500 |
94,000 |
5,500 |
102,000 |
9,000 |
100,000 |
2,000 |
126,000 |
21,000 |
123,000 |
6,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, political science |
85,000 |
3,500 |
68,000 |
3,000 |
69,000 |
5,500 |
79,000 |
8,500 |
90,000 |
7,000 |
99,000 |
6,500 |
104,000 |
6,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, sociology |
78,000 |
2,000 |
58,000 |
2,500 |
67,000 |
3,000 |
77,000 |
3,500 |
82,000 |
4,000 |
89,000 |
3,000 |
113,000 |
11,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, other social sciences |
78,000 |
2,000 |
64,000 |
1,000 |
70,000 |
2,000 |
80,000 |
2,500 |
86,000 |
4,500 |
92,000 |
3,500 |
99,000 |
3,500 |
| Sociologists/anthropologists |
102,000 |
5,500 |
74,000 |
9,500 |
98,000 |
9,500 |
103,000 |
16,500 |
105,000 |
15,000 |
107,000 |
14,500 |
124,000 |
7,000 |
| Other social scientists |
100,000 |
3,000 |
77,000 |
3,000 |
95,000 |
4,000 |
106,000 |
7,500 |
114,000 |
4,000 |
118,000 |
22,000 |
132,000 |
15,500 |
| Engineering occupations |
125,000 |
1,500 |
100,000 |
500 |
113,000 |
3,500 |
125,000 |
2,000 |
140,000 |
3,000 |
149,000 |
2,000 |
149,000 |
2,000 |
| Aerospace, Aeronautical, and Astronautical Engineering |
144,000 |
5,500 |
101,000 |
3,000 |
120,000 |
8,000 |
129,000 |
9,000 |
148,000 |
4,500 |
157,000 |
4,500 |
151,000 |
7,500 |
| Chemical engineers |
129,000 |
2,000 |
103,000 |
4,500 |
123,000 |
3,000 |
130,000 |
14,000 |
166,000 |
8,500 |
149,000 |
12,000 |
157,000 |
7,500 |
| Civil/architectural/sanitary engineers |
105,000 |
4,500 |
80,000 |
4,500 |
109,000 |
7,500 |
109,000 |
5,500 |
117,000 |
6,500 |
122,000 |
14,500 |
130,000 |
19,500 |
| Electrical engineers |
140,000 |
2,000 |
116,000 |
3,000 |
130,000 |
4,000 |
144,000 |
6,000 |
151,000 |
5,000 |
164,000 |
6,000 |
159,000 |
6,000 |
| Industrial engineersa |
128,000 |
4,500 |
106,000 |
9,000 |
100,000 |
20,000 |
135,000 |
14,500 |
137,000 |
11,500 |
D |
D |
127,000 |
23,000 |
| Mechanical engineers |
119,000 |
1,000 |
98,000 |
1,500 |
105,000 |
3,000 |
120,000 |
5,000 |
129,000 |
8,500 |
137,000 |
10,000 |
141,000 |
5,500 |
| Postsecondary teachers, engineering |
105,000 |
2,000 |
85,000 |
2,000 |
92,000 |
2,500 |
103,000 |
3,500 |
109,000 |
4,500 |
118,000 |
4,500 |
139,000 |
5,500 |
| Other engineers |
125,000 |
2,000 |
99,000 |
1,000 |
116,000 |
6,500 |
130,000 |
4,000 |
148,000 |
4,000 |
150,000 |
6,000 |
148,000 |
3,000 |
| S&E-related occupations |
121,000 |
3,000 |
82,000 |
3,500 |
98,000 |
2,500 |
122,000 |
5,000 |
140,000 |
6,000 |
147,000 |
7,000 |
162,000 |
4,000 |
| Health occupations, except postsecondary teachers and managers |
121,000 |
4,000 |
75,000 |
4,500 |
95,000 |
5,000 |
133,000 |
8,500 |
148,000 |
4,500 |
171,000 |
15,000 |
180,000 |
17,000 |
| Postsecondary teachers, health and related sciences |
100,000 |
2,500 |
75,000 |
2,500 |
89,000 |
2,000 |
102,000 |
4,500 |
107,000 |
5,500 |
114,000 |
7,500 |
139,000 |
4,000 |
| S&E managers, including health |
155,000 |
4,000 |
109,000 |
2,000 |
125,000 |
5,000 |
140,000 |
3,000 |
170,000 |
6,000 |
163,000 |
5,000 |
180,000 |
4,500 |
| S&E precollege teachers |
63,000 |
2,500 |
55,000 |
1,500 |
58,000 |
7,000 |
74,000 |
8,500 |
56,000 |
10,500 |
63,000 |
4,000 |
64,000 |
4,000 |
| S&E technicians and technologists |
109,000 |
5,500 |
90,000 |
13,000 |
88,000 |
6,500 |
114,000 |
17,500 |
129,000 |
14,000 |
128,000 |
23,500 |
102,000 |
27,500 |
| Other S&E-related occupations |
130,000 |
14,000 |
123,000 |
11,000 |
98,000 |
16,500 |
D |
D |
120,000 |
44,000 |
D |
D |
168,000 |
21,000 |
| Non-S&E occupations |
130,000 |
1,500 |
84,000 |
3,000 |
100,000 |
500 |
120,000 |
4,000 |
149,000 |
1,000 |
150,000 |
4,000 |
165,000 |
4,000 |
| Arts/humanities-related occupations |
85,000 |
3,000 |
73,000 |
1,500 |
86,000 |
2,500 |
96,000 |
10,000 |
104,000 |
8,500 |
84,000 |
12,000 |
87,000 |
3,500 |
| Management-related occupations |
129,000 |
4,500 |
90,000 |
4,000 |
109,000 |
5,500 |
124,000 |
5,500 |
148,000 |
3,000 |
164,000 |
9,500 |
150,000 |
5,000 |
| Non-S&E managers |
168,000 |
4,000 |
99,000 |
4,500 |
117,000 |
6,000 |
139,000 |
4,500 |
174,000 |
5,000 |
172,000 |
5,500 |
195,000 |
6,000 |
| Non-S&E postsecondary teachers |
94,000 |
2,000 |
73,000 |
4,000 |
80,000 |
2,000 |
88,000 |
2,500 |
93,000 |
4,500 |
100,000 |
2,000 |
125,000 |
5,000 |
| Non-S&E precollege/other teachers |
74,000 |
3,000 |
75,000 |
9,000 |
73,000 |
10,000 |
77,000 |
4,500 |
71,000 |
13,000 |
S |
S |
80,000 |
16,000 |
| Sales/marketing occupations |
120,000 |
2,500 |
106,000 |
6,500 |
122,000 |
9,500 |
126,000 |
4,500 |
149,000 |
10,500 |
115,000 |
22,000 |
106,000 |
15,000 |
| Social service–related occupations |
64,000 |
1,000 |
59,000 |
5,500 |
59,000 |
7,000 |
62,000 |
10,500 |
73,000 |
7,500 |
85,000 |
4,000 |
65,000 |
6,000 |
| Other non-S&E occupations |
121,000 |
7,000 |
74,000 |
7,500 |
111,000 |
18,000 |
133,000 |
2,500 |
179,000 |
26,500 |
146,000 |
28,000 |
119,000 |
15,000 |
