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Table 3-4. Broad occupation category of employed U.S. scientists and engineers with a doctorate as the highest degree, by field of highest degree: 2013
 

Level and field of highest degree                S&E occupations S&E-related occupations  
All occupations Biological/ agricultural/
other life scientists
Computer/ mathematical
scientists
Physical/ related scientists
Social/ related scientists
Engineering

Health occupations

S&E managers, including health S&E pre-college teachers S&E technicians and technologists Other S&E-related occupations Non-S&E occupations
Number SE Percent Percent SE Percent SE Percent SE Percent SE Percent SE Percent SE Percent SE Percent SE Percent SE Percent SE Percent SE
Doctorate 1,154,000 16,000 100.0 17.5 0.40 9.3 0.35 9.3 0.30 15.1 0.40 10.2 0.30 8.0 0.60 3.4 0.25 1.9 0.50 1.1 0.15 0.1 0.05 24.2 0.70
S&E field 873,000 8,000 100.0 21.3 0.45 10.5 0.30 11.9 0.35 16.4 0.30 13.2 0.30 4.0 0.25 3.6 0.25 0.7 0.15 1.4 0.20 0.1 0.05 17.0 0.40
Science 706,000 7,000 100.0 25.6 0.50 10.5 0.35 13.7 0.40 20.3 0.40 2.4 0.20 4.8 0.30 3.3 0.25 0.7 0.15 1.1 0.20 0.1 0.05 17.4 0.45
Biological/ agricultural/ environmental life sciences 254,000 5,000 100.0 63.0 0.90 2.4 0.30 2.4 0.20 0.8 0.15 0.8 0.15 10.6 0.75 4.3 0.30 0.8 0.15 1.6 0.45 D D 13.0 0.55
Agricultural/ food sciences 20,000 1,000 100.0 65.0 2.55 * * 5.0 1.25 * * * * 5.0 1.40 5.0 0.85 D D D D D D 20.0 1.90
Biological sciences 226,000 5,000 100.0 63.7 1.00 2.7 0.35 1.8 0.20 0.4 0.10 0.9 0.15 11.9 0.85 4.0 0.35 0.9 0.15 1.8 0.50 D D 12.4 0.60
Environmental life sciences 8,000 500 100.0 50.0 3.25 * * 12.5 2.05 12.5 2.60 * * D D 12.5 1.70 D D D D D D 12.5 2.20
Computer/ mathematical sciences 70,000 2,500 100.0 1.4 0.70 77.1 1.65 * * * * 2.9 0.45 * * 2.9 0.45 * * 1.4 0.30 * * 11.4 1.40
Computer/ information sciences 30,000 2,000 100.0 * * 76.7 2.95 D D * * 3.3 0.55 * * 3.3 0.70 D D 3.3 0.50 D D 13.3 2.85
Mathematics/ statistics 39,000 1,500 100.0 S S 79.5 1.85 * * * * 2.6 0.65 * * 2.6 0.65 * * * * * * 10.3 1.00
Physical/ related sciences 167,000 4,000 100.0 9.6 0.80 4.8 0.45 53.3 1.35 * * 7.8 0.65 1.2 0.15 4.2 0.70 1.2 0.15 1.8 0.45 D D 15.6 1.20
Chemistry, except biochemistry 80,000 2,500 100.0 13.8 1.10 2.5 0.50 50.0 1.65 D D 5.0 0.90 1.3 0.25 5.0 1.05 1.3 0.20 1.3 0.55 D D 18.8 1.45
Earth/ atmospheric/ ocean sciences 20,000 1,000 100.0 5.0 1.10 5.0 0.80 70.0 2.20 * * 5.0 1.00 D D 5.0 0.65 * * D D D D 10.0 1.25
Physics/ astronomy 64,000 3,000 100.0 6.3 1.45 7.8 1.00 53.1 2.60 * * 10.9 1.20 * * 3.1 0.85 1.6 0.25 3.1 0.70 D D 14.1 2.45
Other physical sciences 2,000 500 100.0 50.0 5.25 D D 50.0 4.90 D D * * D D D D D D D D D D * *
Social/ related sciences 216,000 3,000 100.0 1.9 0.20 2.3 0.40 0.5 0.15 64.8 0.80 0.5 0.10 1.9 0.20 1.4 0.15 S S * * D D 25.9 0.65
Economics 28,000 1,000 100.0 * * 3.6 1.20 D D 67.9 2.15 D D * * * * D D D D D D 28.6 2.05
Political/ related sciences 22,000 1,000 100.0 D D * * D D 63.6 2.05 D D * * D D * * D D D D 31.8 2.05
Psychology 115,000 2,000 100.0 1.7 0.25 1.7 0.25 D D 69.6 1.05 * * 2.6 0.30 1.7 0.25 D D D D D D 20.0 0.70
Sociology/ anthropology 30,000 1,500 100.0 3.3 0.45 3.3 0.50 D D 66.7 1.85 D D 3.3 0.50 * * D D D D D D 23.3 1.60
Other social sciences 21,000 1,500 100.0 4.8 0.70 4.8 2.65 4.8 0.95 33.3 2.35 * * * * * * D D D D D D 52.4 2.80
Engineering 166,000 3,000 100.0 3.0 0.30 10.8 0.70 4.2 0.35 * * 59.0 1.10 0.6 0.15 5.4 0.70 * * 2.4 0.45 D D 15.1 0.85
Aerospace/ related engineering 6,000 1,000 100.0 D D 16.7 2.85 * * D D 66.7 5.45 D D * * D D * * D D 16.7 2.45
Chemical engineering 20,000 1,500 100.0 5.0 0.80 5.0 0.90 5.0 0.75 D D 60.0 3.20 * * 5.0 0.80 D D 5.0 1.35 D D 20.0 3.10
Civil/ architectural engineering 13,000 1,000 100.0 D D * * * * D D 76.9 2.40 D D 7.7 1.20 D D D D D D 7.7 2.10
Electrical/ computer engineering 53,000 2,500 100.0 * * 18.9 1.55 1.9 0.45 D D 54.7 2.25 * * 5.7 2.00 D D 1.9 0.90 D D 13.2 1.75
Industrial engineering 5,000 1,000 100.0 D D 20.0 4.25 D D D D 40.0 5.75 D D * * D D D D D D 20.0 4.15
Mechanical engineering 24,000 1,500 100.0 * * 4.2 0.75 * * D D 70.8 2.60 D D 4.2 0.75 D D * * D D 16.7 2.35
Other engineering 46,000 1,500 100.0 6.5 0.70 6.5 1.40 8.7 0.85 D D 54.3 1.75 2.2 0.40 4.3 0.60 * * 2.2 0.85 D D 15.2 1.15
S&E-related field 89,000 7,000 100.0 15.7 1.95 5.6 1.50 2.2 0.95 4.5 0.90 2.2 0.65 44.9 3.70 2.2 0.55 3.4 1.60 1.1 0.40 D D 19.1 2.15
Health 70,000 6,000 100.0 18.6 2.50 1.4 0.30 1.4 0.25 2.9 0.75 * * 57.1 3.75 2.9 0.45 D D * * D D 15.7 1.85
Science/ mathematics teacher education 12,000 2,500 100.0 D D 25.0 8.40 D D D D D D D D D D 25.0 9.65 D D D D 41.7 9.35
Technology/ technical fields 4,000 1,500 100.0 D D D D D D D D 25.0 11.65 D D D D D D D D D D S S
Other S&E-related fields 2,000 1,000 100.0 D D D D D D S S D D D D D D D D D D D D * *
Non-S&E field 192,000 11,000 100.0 1.6 0.50 5.2 1.15 0.5 0.25 14.1 1.55 0.5 0.20 8.9 2.10 3.1 0.90 6.8 2.65 D D D D 59.4 3.15
Art/ humanities fields 27,000 4,500 100.0 D D D D D D 7.4 2.90 D D D D D D * * D D D D 85.2 5.15
Education, except science/ math teacher education 73,000 7,500 100.0 D D 4.1 1.70 D D 2.7 1.15 D D 11.0 3.00 D D S S D D D D 65.8 5.35
Management/ administration 21,000 4,000 100.0 D D 4.8 2.85 D D 9.5 3.05 D D D D D D D D D D D D 61.9 8.45
Sales/ marketing 7,000 2,500 100.0 D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D 85.7 6.05
Social services/ related 37,000 4,500 100.0 D D 5.4 2.00 D D 29.7 5.25 D D S S D D S S D D D D 40.5 6.25
Other non-S&E field 28,000 3,500 100.0 D D D D D D 35.7 6.20 D D 14.3 5.55 D D D D D D D D 28.6 6.10

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.
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. 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. The doctorate estimates are from the Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT), which represents the total U.S. college educated population. This is in contrast to the doctorate estimates from the Survey of Doctorate Recipients, which represent the population of U.S. doctorate degree recipients.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Scientists and Engineers Statistical Data System (SESTAT): 2013.
Data from survey cycle 2013, as of 24 February 2015.