Back to Data Tables
Download to excel

nsf.gov - Table 4 - NCSES Characteristics of Scientists and Engineers in the United States: 2010 - US National Science Foundation (NSF) SAS Output
Newer information icon. Newer information is available.
Table 4. Employed U.S. scientists and engineers reporting one or more disabilities, by broad field of highest degree, selected occupation, and degree level: 2010
 

Level and field of highest degree and broad occupational category                Type of disability
Total with disability Hearing Seeing Walking Lifting Cognitive
Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE Number SE
All degree levels, fields, occupationsa 1,644,000 48,500 602,000 27,500 711,000 29,500 232,000 16,000 315,000 21,000 314,000 22,000
S&E occupations 340,000 11,500 134,000 7,500 156,000 8,000 45,000 4,000 48,000 4,000 65,000 5,000
S&E-related occupations 509,000 36,500 162,000 18,500 216,000 22,000 59,000 8,000 103,000 16,500 110,000 19,000
Non-S&E occupations 795,000 32,500 306,000 17,000 339,000 19,500 129,000 13,500 164,000 14,000 138,000 13,500
S&E field 868,000 27,000 326,000 16,000 372,000 16,000 127,000 13,500 148,000 12,500 162,000 12,000
S&E occupations 266,000 9,500 106,000 6,000 119,000 6,500 31,000 3,000 33,000 3,000 53,000 4,500
S&E-related occupations 109,000 9,000 41,000 5,500 45,000 5,000 14,000 3,000 14,000 2,500 25,000 6,000
Non-S&E occupations 493,000 24,500 179,000 13,000 208,000 13,000 82,000 12,500 101,000 12,500 85,000 9,500
Biological/ agricultural/ environmental life sciences degree fields 144,000 11,000 65,000 9,000 52,000 5,500 16,000 3,000 17,000 3,000 28,000 5,000
S&E occupations 32,000 3,000 12,000 2,000 12,000 1,500 4,000 1,000 4,000 1,000 8,000 2,000
S&E-related occupations 35,000 5,500 12,000 3,000 13,000 3,000 3,000 1,500 5,000 2,000 10,000 4,000
Non-S&E occupations 76,000 9,500 41,000 8,000 27,000 4,000 9,000 2,500 7,000 2,000 10,000 2,500
Computer/ mathematical sciences degree fields 120,000 8,500 41,000 5,500 50,000 5,000 15,000 3,000 20,000 3,000 25,000 5,500
S&E occupations 58,000 5,500 23,000 4,000 24,000 3,000 7,000 2,000 7,000 1,500 12,000 2,500
S&E-related occupations 18,000 3,000 7,000 2,500 8,000 2,000 4,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000
Non-S&E occupations 44,000 6,000 11,000 2,500 18,000 3,000 4,000 1,500 11,000 2,000 11,000 5,000
Physical sciences degree fields 53,000 4,500 21,000 2,500 20,000 2,500 6,000 1,500 12,000 3,000 9,000 1,500
S&E occupations 28,000 3,000 11,000 1,500 11,000 1,500 4,000 1,500 5,000 1,500 5,000 1,000
S&E-related occupations 5,000 1,000 2,000 500 2,000 1,000 * * 1,000 500 1,000 500
Non-S&E occupations 20,000 4,000 8,000 2,000 6,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 6,000 2,500 3,000 1,500
Social sciences degree fields 365,000 19,000 118,000 9,000 158,000 12,500 73,000 12,500 82,000 11,500 72,000 7,500
S&E occupations 45,000 3,500 14,000 2,000 19,000 2,500 8,000 1,500 8,000 1,500 10,000 2,000
S&E-related occupations 25,000 5,000 7,000 2,000 12,000 3,000 5,000 2,000 4,000 1,500 9,000 3,500
Non-S&E occupations 295,000 19,000 97,000 8,500 127,000 11,500 60,000 12,500 70,000 11,500 53,000 7,500
Engineering degree fields 186,000 9,500 81,000 6,000 92,000 7,000 17,000 2,500 17,000 2,500 29,000 3,500
S&E occupations 103,000 6,000 45,000 4,000 53,000 5,500 9,000 1,500 9,000 1,500 17,000 2,500
S&E-related occupations 25,000 4,000 13,000 3,500 9,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 4,000 1,500
Non-S&E occupations 58,000 6,000 23,000 3,500 30,000 4,500 6,000 2,000 7,000 1,500 8,000 2,000
S&E-related field 344,000 18,500 123,000 13,500 143,000 10,500 61,000 8,000 93,000 10,500 62,000 9,500
S&E occupations 25,000 3,500 6,000 1,500 13,000 2,500 5,000 1,500 7,000 2,000 5,000 2,000
S&E-related occupations 220,000 15,000 73,000 10,000 88,000 8,500 39,000 7,500 60,000 9,000 41,000 8,000
Non-S&E occupations 99,000 10,500 44,000 8,500 42,000 5,500 17,000 3,500 26,000 4,500 15,000 5,500
Non-S&E field 433,000 36,500 153,000 16,000 196,000 24,000 44,000 5,000 74,000 14,000 90,000 18,500
S&E occupations 49,000 5,500 22,000 3,500 24,000 4,500 9,000 3,000 8,000 2,500 7,000 3,000
S&E-related occupations 180,000 33,500 49,000 13,000 83,000 21,500 6,000 2,000 29,000 13,000 45,000 17,500
Non-S&E occupations 204,000 15,500 83,000 9,000 89,000 12,000 30,000 4,000 37,000 4,500 38,000 6,500
Bachelor's 988,000 39,500 351,000 22,500 442,000 24,500 137,000 14,000 176,000 15,000 214,000 20,000
S&E occupations 196,000 9,500 82,000 6,500 90,000 7,000 23,000 3,500 23,000 3,000 40,000 4,500
S&E-related occupations 321,000 30,000 94,000 16,000 150,000 19,500 40,000 7,000 59,000 9,000 84,000 18,000
Non-S&E occupations 471,000 25,000 176,000 13,000 202,000 13,000 74,000 11,500 95,000 12,000 90,000 11,000
S&E field 644,000 25,500 242,000 13,500 277,000 14,500 89,000 12,000 104,000 11,500 127,000 11,500
S&E occupations 162,000 9,000 68,000 5,500 74,000 6,000 17,000 2,500 16,000 2,000 31,000 4,000
S&E-related occupations 83,000 8,500 30,000 5,000 32,000 4,500 11,000 3,000 12,000 2,500 22,000 6,000
Non-S&E occupations 398,000 22,500 143,000 11,000 171,000 12,000 62,000 11,000 77,000 11,500 74,000 9,500
Biological/ agricultural/ environmental life sciences degree fields 111,000 10,500 50,000 8,500 38,000 5,500 12,000 2,500 13,000 3,000 24,000 5,000
S&E occupations 18,000 3,000 6,000 1,500 6,000 1,500 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 6,000 2,000
S&E-related occupations 26,000 5,000 9,000 3,000 10,000 3,000 S S 4,000 2,000 9,000 4,000
Non-S&E occupations 67,000 9,000 36,000 7,500 23,000 4,000 8,000 2,000 6,000 2,000 10,000 2,500
Computer/ mathematical sciences degree fields 91,000 8,000 32,000 5,000 37,000 4,500 12,000 3,000 14,000 2,500 19,000 5,500
S&E occupations 38,000 5,000 17,000 4,000 16,000 2,500 4,000 1,500 4,000 1,500 7,000 2,000
S&E-related occupations 15,000 3,000 6,000 2,500 6,000 2,000 4,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 S S
Non-S&E occupations 37,000 6,000 9,000 2,500 15,000 3,000 4,000 1,500 8,000 2,000 10,000 5,000
Physical sciences degree fields 33,000 4,000 13,000 2,000 12,000 2,500 3,000 1,500 7,000 2,500 6,000 1,500
S&E occupations 14,000 2,000 6,000 1,500 6,000 1,500 1,000 1,000 1,000 500 3,000 1,000
S&E-related occupations 3,000 1,000 S S S S D D 1,000 500 * *
Non-S&E occupations 16,000 3,500 7,000 2,000 5,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 5,000 2,500 3,000 1,500
Social sciences degree fields 271,000 17,500 84,000 6,500 120,000 11,500 51,000 11,000 61,000 11,000 58,000 8,000
S&E occupations 18,000 2,500 6,000 2,000 8,000 2,000 4,000 1,500 3,000 1,500 5,000 1,500
S&E-related occupations 20,000 5,000 5,000 2,000 8,000 3,000 3,000 1,500 4,000 1,500 8,000 3,500
Non-S&E occupations 234,000 17,000 73,000 6,000 104,000 10,500 44,000 11,000 54,000 11,000 45,000 7,000
Engineering degree fields 138,000 9,000 62,000 5,500 69,000 6,500 11,000 2,500 10,000 1,500 21,000 3,000
S&E occupations 74,000 6,000 34,000 4,000 38,000 5,000 5,000 1,500 5,000 1,500 11,000 2,000
S&E-related occupations 19,000 3,500 10,000 3,000 7,000 1,500 S S S S 3,000 1,500
Non-S&E occupations 45,000 5,500 19,000 3,000 24,000 4,000 5,000 1,500 4,000 1,000 7,000 2,000
S&E-related field 212,000 15,500 70,000 10,500 88,000 9,500 42,000 7,500 62,000 9,500 46,000 9,000
S&E occupations 13,000 2,500 3,000 1,000 6,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 3,000 1,500 3,000 2,000
S&E-related occupations 134,000 12,500 37,000 7,500 55,000 7,500 28,000 6,500 43,000 8,500 31,000 7,500
Non-S&E occupations 65,000 9,500 30,000 7,500 27,000 4,500 12,000 3,500 16,000 4,000 12,000 5,000
Non-S&E field 132,000 27,000 39,000 13,500 76,000 18,000 6,000 2,500 10,000 3,000 41,000 15,500
S&E occupations 20,000 4,500 10,000 3,000 10,000 3,500 S S 5,000 2,500 5,000 2,500
S&E-related occupations 104,000 26,000 27,000 13,000 62,000 18,000 1,000 1,000 4,000 2,500 32,000 15,500
Non-S&E occupations 8,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 4,000 2,000 D D S S D D
Master's 468,000 23,500 174,000 13,500 203,000 16,000 69,000 7,500 95,000 12,000 73,000 8,500
S&E occupations 95,000 5,500 34,000 3,500 44,000 4,000 13,000 2,500 14,000 2,500 17,000 2,500
S&E-related occupations 129,000 16,500 46,000 8,500 50,000 10,500 14,000 2,500 26,000 9,500 23,000 6,500
Non-S&E occupations 245,000 16,000 95,000 10,000 109,000 12,500 42,000 7,000 55,000 6,500 33,000 5,500
S&E field 162,000 9,500 61,000 7,000 67,000 5,500 27,000 6,500 32,000 5,000 26,000 3,000
S&E occupations 60,000 4,500 22,000 2,500 26,000 2,500 7,000 1,500 9,000 2,000 14,000 2,500
S&E-related occupations 20,000 3,000 8,000 2,000 10,000 2,000 3,000 1,000 2,000 500 2,000 1,000
Non-S&E occupations 82,000 8,000 31,000 6,500 31,000 5,000 18,000 6,000 21,000 4,500 10,000 2,500
Biological/ agricultural/ environmental life sciences degree fields 18,000 3,500 9,000 2,500 7,000 2,000 S S 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000
S&E occupations 4,000 1,000 3,000 1,000 1,000 500 D D S S D D
S&E-related occupations 6,000 1,500 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 D D 1,000 500 S S
Non-S&E occupations 7,000 3,000 S S 3,000 1,500 D D D D D D
Computer/ mathematical sciences degree fields 25,000 3,000 7,000 1,500 11,000 2,000 3,000 1,000 5,000 1,500 5,000 1,500
S&E occupations 16,000 2,500 5,000 1,500 7,000 1,500 2,000 1,000 3,000 1,000 4,000 1,500
S&E-related occupations 3,000 1,000 1,000 500 2,000 1,000 D D * * D D
Non-S&E occupations 7,000 1,500 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 D D 2,000 1,000 D D
Physical sciences degree fields 10,000 2,000 3,000 1,000 3,000 1,000 1,000 1,000 S S 1,000 500
S&E occupations 6,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 1,000 500 S S S S 1,000 500
S&E-related occupations 1,000 1,000 D D S S D D D D D D
Non-S&E occupations 3,000 1,500 1,000 1,000 S S D D D D D D
Social sciences degree fields 72,000 7,500 26,000 6,000 29,000 5,000 17,000 6,000 16,000 4,000 12,000 2,500
S&E occupations 13,000 2,500 3,000 1,000 6,000 1,500 1,000 500 1,000 500 4,000 1,500
S&E-related occupations 5,000 1,500 2,000 1,000 3,000 1,000 D D D D D D
Non-S&E occupations 54,000 7,000 21,000 6,000 20,000 4,500 15,000 6,000 15,000 4,000 8,000 2,000
Engineering degree fields 37,000 3,500 15,000 2,500 17,000 2,500 4,000 1,500 6,000 1,500 6,000 1,500
S&E occupations 21,000 2,500 9,000 1,500 11,000 2,000 3,000 1,000 3,000 1,000 5,000 1,500
S&E-related occupations 6,000 2,000 3,000 1,500 S S D D D D * *
Non-S&E occupations 11,000 2,500 3,000 1,500 5,000 1,500 1,000 1,000 3,000 1,500 1,000 500
S&E-related field 82,000 7,500 30,000 5,500 36,000 4,500 13,000 2,500 21,000 4,000 13,000 3,500
S&E occupations 9,000 2,000 2,000 1,000 4,000 1,500 2,000 1,000 3,000 1,500 2,000 1,000
S&E-related occupations 44,000 5,500 17,000 3,500 20,000 3,500 7,000 2,000 9,000 3,000 8,000 3,000
Non-S&E occupations 29,000 5,000 11,000 4,000 12,000 2,500 5,000 1,500 9,000 3,000 3,000 1,500
Non-S&E field 224,000 19,500 83,000 10,000 99,000 14,000 28,000 4,000 42,000 10,000 34,000 8,500
S&E occupations 26,000 3,500 10,000 2,000 13,000 2,500 4,000 1,500 2,000 1,000 2,000 1,000
S&E-related occupations 65,000 16,500 21,000 7,500 21,000 9,500 4,000 2,000 S S S S
Non-S&E occupations 133,000 13,500 53,000 7,500 65,000 11,500 20,000 3,500 25,000 4,000 20,000 4,500
Doctorate 74,000 3,000 30,000 2,000 32,000 2,000 12,000 1,500 15,000 1,500 11,000 1,000
S&E occupations 46,000 2,000 17,000 1,500 20,000 1,000 8,000 1,000 10,000 1,000 7,000 1,000
S&E-related occupations 9,000 1,000 3,000 1,000 4,000 1,000 1,000 500 2,000 1,000 1,000 500
Non-S&E occupations 20,000 2,000 9,000 1,500 8,000 1,000 2,000 500 4,000 1,000 2,000 1,000
S&E field 59,000 2,000 23,000 1,500 27,000 1,500 9,000 1,000 10,000 1,000 9,000 1,000
S&E occupations 42,000 1,500 16,000 1,000 19,000 1,000 7,000 1,000 8,000 1,000 7,000 1,000
S&E-related occupations 6,000 1,000 2,000 500 3,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500
Non-S&E occupations 11,000 1,000 5,000 1,000 6,000 1,000 2,000 500 2,000 500 1,000 500
Biological/ agricultural/ environmental life sciences degree fields 15,000 1,000 6,000 1,000 7,000 1,000 2,000 500 2,000 500 3,000 1,000
S&E occupations 10,000 1,000 4,000 500 5,000 500 2,000 500 2,000 500 2,000 1,000
S&E-related occupations 3,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500 * * * * * *
Non-S&E occupations 2,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500 * * * * D D
Computer/ mathematical sciences degree fields 4,000 500 2,000 500 2,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500
S&E occupations 4,000 500 1,000 500 2,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500
S&E-related occupations D D D D D D D D D D D D
Non-S&E occupations 1,000 500 * * * * * * D D D D
Physical sciences degree fields 11,000 1,000 5,000 1,000 5,000 1,000 2,000 500 2,000 500 2,000 500
S&E occupations 8,000 1,000 4,000 1,000 3,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500
S&E-related occupations 2,000 500 1,000 500 S S * * D D D D
Non-S&E occupations 1,000 500 * * 1,000 500 * * * * * *
Social sciences degree fields 19,000 1,000 7,000 1,000 8,000 1,000 3,000 500 4,000 500 2,000 500
S&E occupations 12,000 1,000 4,000 500 5,000 500 2,000 500 3,000 500 2,000 500
S&E-related occupations 1,000 500 * * * * D D * * D D
Non-S&E occupations 6,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 3,000 1,000 1,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500
Engineering degree fields 10,000 1,000 4,000 500 5,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500
S&E occupations 7,000 500 3,000 500 4,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500
S&E-related occupations 1,000 500 * * * * D D D D D D
Non-S&E occupations 2,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500 * * * * D D
S&E-related field 5,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 2,000 500 1,000 500 2,000 1,000 1,000 500
S&E occupations 2,000 500 1,000 500 1,000 500 * * 1,000 500 1,000 500
S&E-related occupations 2,000 1,000 1,000 500 1,000 500 * * S S D D
Non-S&E occupations 1,000 500 S S * * D D * * D D
Non-S&E field 10,000 2,000 5,000 1,500 3,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 3,000 1,000 S S
S&E occupations 2,000 1,000 D D S S S S 1,000 1,000 D D
S&E-related occupations S S D D D D D D D D D D
Non-S&E occupations 7,000 1,500 4,000 1,000 2,000 1,000 1,000 500 2,000 1,000 S S

Data codes used in these tables: * = value < 500. D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information. S = suppressed for reliability; coefficient of variation exceeds publication standards.
Abbreviations used in these tables: S&E = science and engineering; SE = standard error.
a Total includes professional degrees not broken out separately.
NOTES: Numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000. Standard errors for numbers are rounded up to the nearest 500. Detail may not add to total because of rounding and because person may report more than one disability. Scientists and engineers are bachelor's and higher degreed individuals living in the United States with an S&E or S&E-related degree or occupation. See appendix for additional details on coverage, eligibility, educational field classification, and occupational classification. Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System surveys ask degree of difficulty—none, slight, moderate, severe, unable to do—individual has in seeing (with glasses/contact lenses), hearing (with hearing aid), walking without assistance, lifting 10 pounds, or concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. Respondents who answered "moderate," "severe," or "unable to do" for any activity were classified as having a disability.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT): 2010.
Data from survey cycle 2010, as of 22 September 2014.