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Table 12-3. Median annual salary of employed U.S. scientists and engineers with a master's as the highest degree, by broad field of highest degree, employment sector, and primary or secondary work activity: 2013
 

Level and field of highest degree and employment sector              Primary or secondary work activity
Employed scientists and engineers Computer applications Management, sales, administration Research and development Teaching Other
Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE Median salary SE
Master's 70,000 1,500 92,000 2,500 78,000 1,500 75,000 2,000 50,000 500 61,000 1,500
Business/ industry 80,000 500 100,000 1,500 89,000 2,500 88,000 1,500 52,000 4,000 62,000 2,500
4-year college/ university 40,000 1,500 50,000 10,500 55,000 3,000 28,000 1,500 29,000 2,500 49,000 3,000
Other educational institution 54,000 1,500 50,000 12,000 59,000 2,000 50,000 2,500 52,000 1,000 56,000 1,500
Government 75,000 1,500 74,000 7,000 80,000 2,500 78,000 3,500 58,000 6,500 68,000 2,500
S&E field 75,000 1,000 96,000 1,500 82,000 1,500 80,000 1,000 41,000 2,000 60,000 1,500
Business/ industry 87,000 2,500 100,000 1,000 90,000 1,000 95,000 2,000 43,000 3,000 58,000 5,000
4-year college/ university 28,000 1,500 33,000 5,500 49,000 3,500 25,000 1,000 21,000 1,500 39,000 6,500
Other educational institution 53,000 2,500 67,000 4,500 60,000 1,000 50,000 4,500 46,000 4,000 59,000 1,500
Government 80,000 1,000 80,000 4,000 84,000 3,000 85,000 1,500 64,000 500 70,000 1,000
Science 65,000 1,000 95,000 1,000 74,000 2,000 68,000 3,500 41,000 2,500 54,000 2,000
Business/ industry 77,000 3,000 100,000 1,000 80,000 1,500 85,000 2,000 40,000 4,500 50,000 500
4-year college/ university 30,000 3,000 40,000 7,500 49,000 3,500 26,000 1,500 21,000 2,000 37,000 6,500
Other educational institution 54,000 2,000 65,000 11,000 60,000 1,000 50,000 6,000 48,000 3,500 59,000 2,000
Government 72,000 3,000 73,000 5,000 79,000 3,000 75,000 4,500 56,000 4,000 64,000 3,000
Biological/ agricultural/ environmental life sciences 52,000 3,500 79,000 10,500 63,000 4,000 53,000 4,000 47,000 4,000 52,000 3,500
Business/ industry 58,000 4,500 80,000 6,000 52,000 8,500 68,000 3,000 43,000 8,500 50,000 6,000
4-year college/ university 36,000 5,500 25,000 3,500 47,000 1,000 30,000 2,500 37,000 15,500 45,000 3,000
Other educational institution 48,000 6,000 D D 61,000 16,500 41,000 13,500 48,000 6,500 S S
Government 73,000 2,000 60,000 1,000 79,000 3,500 67,000 6,500 51,000 7,000 64,000 2,500
Agricultural/ food sciences 58,000 10,500 85,000 2,500 76,000 6,000 68,000 6,000 44,000 13,000 49,000 1,000
Business/ industry 51,000 12,500 S S 66,000 26,500 59,000 13,500 S S 49,000 500
4-year college/ university 38,000 6,000 D D 40,000 9,500 35,000 4,000 64,000 15,500 31,000 3,000
Other educational institution S S D D D D D D S S D D
Government 82,000 1,000 D D 82,000 1,000 81,000 1,000 D D 73,000 6,000
Biological sciences 51,000 3,000 79,000 8,500 53,000 8,000 50,000 2,500 46,000 4,000 52,000 3,500
Business/ industry 57,000 5,500 80,000 8,500 52,000 2,000 70,000 5,000 42,000 5,000 53,000 5,000
4-year college/ university 34,000 6,500 26,000 3,000 47,000 1,500 30,000 2,000 31,000 12,500 45,000 1,500
Other educational institution 48,000 4,500 D D 63,000 21,500 35,000 13,000 48,000 5,000 40,000 14,500
Government 62,000 3,500 60,000 1,000 72,000 3,500 61,000 4,000 49,000 3,000 57,000 7,500
Environmental life sciences 68,000 7,000 S S 81,000 7,500 58,000 3,500 59,000 15,000 65,000 5,000
Business/ industry 66,000 16,000 S S 71,000 19,500 71,000 21,000 D D 57,000 20,500
4-year college/ university S S D D 48,000 6,500 25,000 7,500 S S * *
Other educational institution 62,000 7,000 D D D D S S 63,000 5,500 D D
Government 82,000 500 D D 82,000 7,500 62,000 3,000 D D 68,000 12,500
Computer/ mathematical sciences 90,000 1,500 100,000 1,500 100,000 3,000 91,000 5,000 42,000 3,000 80,000 3,000
Business/ industry 102,000 4,500 105,000 6,000 112,000 5,000 100,000 1,500 77,000 16,500 95,000 5,500
4-year college/ university 35,000 8,000 56,000 7,500 64,000 9,500 27,000 3,000 20,000 500 50,000 2,500
Other educational institution 59,000 3,500 67,000 15,000 74,000 11,000 44,000 17,500 46,000 5,000 76,000 3,000
Government 85,000 6,500 80,000 2,500 95,000 9,000 92,000 9,000 * * 75,000 10,000
Computer/ information sciences 96,000 2,000 100,000 1,000 108,000 5,000 95,000 4,500 39,000 9,000 83,000 3,000
Business/ industry 102,000 4,000 103,000 5,000 113,000 5,000 100,000 1,500 87,000 28,500 95,000 5,500
4-year college/ university 51,000 4,000 63,000 12,000 75,000 10,000 38,000 4,500 26,000 11,000 51,000 2,000
Other educational institution 50,000 14,500 D D 67,000 8,500 67,000 5,000 34,000 6,500 S S
Government 83,000 5,000 79,000 4,000 91,000 11,500 90,000 7,500 D D 74,000 9,000
Mathematics/ statistics 74,000 7,000 98,000 10,500 80,000 5,000 75,000 9,500 42,000 3,000 80,000 500
Business/ industry 103,000 6,500 104,000 6,500 105,000 14,000 100,000 7,000 S S 93,000 14,500
4-year college/ university 20,000 1,000 31,000 10,500 S S 20,000 500 20,000 1,500 45,000 10,000
Other educational institution 60,000 2,000 * * 76,000 15,000 34,000 9,000 55,000 8,000 77,000 5,000
Government 96,000 4,000 97,000 9,500 96,000 3,500 96,000 3,500 D D 98,000 18,000
Physical sciences 65,000 3,500 78,000 15,500 78,000 6,000 65,000 4,000 45,000 7,500 74,000 8,500
Business/ industry 95,000 8,000 109,000 11,000 99,000 4,000 99,000 3,500 S S 93,000 13,500
4-year college/ university 26,000 3,000 28,000 5,500 40,000 18,000 27,000 2,000 23,000 2,500 30,000 3,000
Other educational institution 57,000 4,000 D D 62,000 2,000 57,000 4,000 56,000 4,500 35,000 5,500
Government 69,000 3,000 57,000 5,500 71,000 6,500 66,000 6,500 D D 71,000 5,500
Chemistry, except biochemistry 63,000 3,000 60,000 13,000 74,000 10,500 61,000 5,000 42,000 10,500 65,000 21,000
Business/ industry 82,000 14,000 D D 102,000 24,500 79,000 6,500 * * 100,000 25,000
4-year college/ university 25,000 4,000 D D 44,000 8,500 25,000 3,000 22,000 2,500 S S
Other educational institution 58,000 5,500 D D S S S S 58,000 6,000 D D
Government 68,000 8,000 D D 69,000 12,500 63,000 15,500 D D 46,000 2,500
Earth/ atmospheric/ ocean sciences 68,000 6,000 60,000 12,500 73,000 7,000 71,000 8,500 52,000 2,500 67,000 11,000
Business/ industry 85,000 11,500 87,000 16,500 87,000 11,000 99,000 2,000 D D 64,000 12,500
4-year college/ university 27,000 5,500 S S * * 28,000 5,500 19,000 4,500 * *
Other educational institution 54,000 8,000 D D 58,000 2,000 48,000 9,000 53,000 7,500 D D
Government 69,000 2,500 54,000 3,000 69,000 3,000 60,000 4,500 D D 74,000 3,500
Physics/ astronomy 73,000 13,500 99,000 11,500 100,000 9,000 61,000 9,000 30,000 9,000 98,000 3,000
Business/ industry 105,000 7,000 118,000 11,000 111,000 27,000 105,000 4,000 D D 101,000 7,000
4-year college/ university 25,000 3,000 28,000 5,500 S S 26,000 3,000 24,000 6,000 24,000 9,500
Other educational institution 53,000 3,500 D D D D D D 52,000 4,000 D D
Government 101,000 15,000 D D 97,000 24,000 D D D D D D
Other physical sciences 71,000 18,000 D D 88,000 6,500 87,000 6,000 D D D D
Business/ industry D D D D S S D D D D D D
4-year college/ university D D D D D D D D D D D D
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government S S D D S S S S D D D D
Social sciences 53,000 2,000 64,000 5,000 61,000 2,500 50,000 3,500 37,000 4,000 50,000 2,000
Business/ industry 50,000 3,000 80,000 10,000 60,000 1,500 53,000 7,000 30,000 11,000 42,000 2,500
4-year college/ university 25,000 2,500 22,000 2,000 47,000 7,000 23,000 1,000 20,000 1,500 27,000 7,500
Other educational institution 53,000 3,000 * * 56,000 5,000 54,000 8,500 42,000 6,000 58,000 3,000
Government 68,000 3,500 45,000 1,000 75,000 6,500 75,000 8,000 57,000 10,000 62,000 2,000
Economics 74,000 9,000 82,000 16,000 80,000 4,000 70,000 9,500 S S 69,000 14,000
Business/ industry 80,000 1,500 90,000 20,500 82,000 4,500 82,000 18,500 S S 68,000 20,000
4-year college/ university 21,000 2,500 20,000 4,500 55,000 6,500 19,000 3,500 S S S S
Other educational institution S S D D D D S S S S D D
Government 83,000 20,000 * * 65,000 17,500 87,000 2,500 D D 89,000 6,500
Political/ related sciences 65,000 5,500 49,000 17,000 69,000 1,500 56,000 7,000 42,000 2,000 68,000 7,000
Business/ industry 64,000 9,000 76,000 28,500 62,000 9,000 68,000 17,000 41,000 1,500 59,000 11,500
4-year college/ university 36,000 8,500 D D 37,000 4,500 25,000 3,000 25,000 3,500 40,000 4,000
Other educational institution 41,000 7,000 D D 47,000 9,000 S S 42,000 10,000 D D
Government 72,000 9,000 D D 79,000 8,000 75,000 8,500 S S 69,000 9,000
Psychology 48,000 3,000 64,000 15,500 56,000 2,000 42,000 5,000 34,000 7,500 45,000 2,500
Business/ industry 43,000 2,500 55,000 7,500 54,000 2,000 36,000 4,000 29,000 3,000 40,000 1,000
4-year college/ university 27,000 2,500 * * 45,000 11,000 25,000 4,000 22,000 4,000 27,000 8,500
Other educational institution 55,000 2,000 D D 57,000 2,500 63,000 7,000 44,000 9,000 59,000 500
Government 60,000 3,000 S S 61,000 2,000 61,000 6,000 46,000 10,000 57,000 3,000
Sociology/ anthropology 54,000 7,000 54,000 14,500 63,000 2,500 50,000 5,500 41,000 12,500 48,000 8,500
Business/ industry 62,000 1,500 S S 63,000 14,500 60,000 12,000 S S S S
4-year college/ university 20,000 1,500 S S 62,000 9,500 17,000 4,500 18,000 3,500 S S
Other educational institution 43,000 12,000 D D 48,000 18,500 45,000 13,500 43,000 12,000 32,000 3,000
Government 54,000 9,500 D D 66,000 10,500 62,000 9,500 D D 49,000 11,000
Other social sciences 49,000 4,000 78,000 20,000 55,000 8,000 52,000 10,000 34,000 8,000 44,000 10,500
Business/ industry 49,000 4,500 83,000 10,500 49,000 3,000 63,000 9,000 17,000 5,500 46,000 10,500
4-year college/ university 24,000 3,000 S S 47,000 9,500 23,000 1,500 17,000 3,500 S S
Other educational institution 42,000 12,500 D D 57,000 18,000 S S 42,000 11,500 S S
Government 83,000 11,500 51,000 21,000 92,000 20,500 111,000 7,000 S S 64,000 6,000
Engineering 99,000 2,000 100,000 1,000 104,000 1,500 98,000 2,500 45,000 7,000 90,000 3,500
Business/ industry 100,000 3,000 101,000 3,000 105,000 5,000 100,000 500 73,000 23,500 88,000 5,000
4-year college/ university 25,000 1,500 27,000 2,000 50,000 16,000 24,000 1,000 20,000 1,500 S S
Other educational institution 41,000 5,000 D D S S S S 40,000 7,000 S S
Government 96,000 2,500 95,000 2,000 97,000 4,000 99,000 4,000 72,000 1,000 100,000 5,500
Aerospace/ related engineering 107,000 13,500 110,000 28,500 115,000 15,000 117,000 17,000 72,000 14,000 120,000 43,500
Business/ industry 123,000 8,000 133,000 30,500 124,000 8,500 130,000 18,500 D D 126,000 20,000
4-year college/ university 24,000 3,500 S S D D 22,000 4,000 * * D D
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government 91,000 42,000 S S S S 100,000 500 D D S S
Chemical engineering 89,000 7,500 80,000 15,500 110,000 21,000 93,000 5,500 D D 88,000 20,500
Business/ industry 99,000 9,000 93,000 13,500 125,000 12,000 99,000 9,500 D D 82,000 37,000
4-year college/ university 25,000 1,500 D D * * 25,000 1,500 D D D D
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government 79,000 14,000 D D 79,000 9,500 65,000 19,000 D D S S
Civil/ architectural engineering 85,000 4,500 98,000 6,000 92,000 5,000 80,000 3,000 44,000 20,500 78,000 5,500
Business/ industry 87,000 4,500 102,000 5,000 99,000 7,500 80,000 3,000 S S 78,000 8,000
4-year college/ university 20,000 1,000 D D * * 21,000 2,500 S S S S
Other educational institution S S D D D D D D D D D D
Government 87,000 2,500 95,000 500 88,000 4,000 89,000 7,500 D D 79,000 6,500
Electrical/ computer engineering 104,000 2,000 102,000 3,500 114,000 4,500 103,000 3,000 18,000 9,000 92,000 7,000
Business/ industry 107,000 3,500 104,000 1,500 114,000 4,000 108,000 3,000 105,000 13,000 91,000 8,000
4-year college/ university 26,000 4,000 S S S S 23,000 4,500 20,000 4,000 D D
Other educational institution S S D D D D D D S S D D
Government 108,000 12,000 94,000 7,000 135,000 20,500 107,000 5,500 D D 97,000 10,500
Industrial engineering 100,000 6,000 112,000 21,500 107,000 7,500 95,000 8,500 41,000 7,500 83,000 14,500
Business/ industry 108,000 8,500 116,000 22,000 108,000 6,000 101,000 6,500 * * 81,000 15,500
4-year college/ university S S D D * * S S S S D D
Other educational institution S S D D D D S S S S D D
Government 90,000 16,000 D D 95,000 28,500 * * D D * *
Mechanical engineering 91,000 5,000 77,000 3,000 99,000 2,000 94,000 6,500 66,000 30,000 89,000 7,500
Business/ industry 98,000 4,000 78,000 3,500 103,000 9,500 99,000 3,500 S S 80,000 7,500
4-year college/ university 32,000 8,000 26,000 8,000 S S 30,000 5,000 21,000 7,500 S S
Other educational institution S S D D D D D D S S D D
Government 88,000 3,000 * * 88,000 21,000 90,000 17,000 D D 122,000 2,500
Other engineering 96,000 3,000 87,000 4,500 103,000 4,500 87,000 4,500 57,000 11,000 96,000 5,500
Business/ industry 97,000 4,500 95,000 10,000 100,000 2,500 92,000 6,500 69,000 7,500 90,000 9,000
4-year college/ university 25,000 2,500 27,000 4,000 39,000 15,000 24,000 1,500 33,000 14,500 50,000 19,500
Other educational institution S S D D D D D D 38,000 17,000 D D
Government 112,000 9,000 * * 114,000 7,000 103,000 6,500 D D 112,000 15,000
S&E-related field 65,000 500 72,000 6,500 72,000 1,500 65,000 4,000 58,000 2,000 67,000 2,500
Business/ industry 70,000 2,500 78,000 5,000 75,000 2,000 73,000 2,500 66,000 5,500 70,000 500
4-year college/ university 60,000 2,500 S S 73,000 2,500 49,000 6,000 55,000 7,000 77,000 11,000
Other educational institution 55,000 1,000 51,000 6,500 58,000 3,500 50,000 2,000 55,000 1,500 55,000 500
Government 76,000 3,000 67,000 5,000 78,000 4,000 67,000 5,000 84,000 7,500 75,000 6,000
Health 70,000 500 69,000 7,500 75,000 1,500 72,000 1,500 60,000 500 70,000 500
Business/ industry 74,000 1,500 70,000 2,000 79,000 3,500 78,000 4,000 68,000 5,000 72,000 2,500
4-year college/ university 65,000 5,000 S S 77,000 5,000 59,000 6,500 60,000 2,000 78,000 6,500
Other educational institution 55,000 1,000 D D 58,000 5,000 54,000 4,000 55,000 2,500 55,000 1,500
Government 76,000 3,000 60,000 13,500 77,000 6,000 63,000 5,000 83,000 7,500 71,000 7,000
Science/ mathematics teacher education 51,000 2,000 62,000 9,500 50,000 3,000 45,000 4,000 53,000 2,000 36,000 10,500
Business/ industry 24,000 7,000 D D 29,000 6,000 S S 40,000 500 S S
4-year college/ university 47,000 6,500 D D 70,000 17,500 19,000 1,500 45,000 10,000 S S
Other educational institution 55,000 2,000 S S 58,000 5,500 48,000 1,500 55,000 2,500 55,000 500
Government 50,000 10,000 D D S S D D S S S S
Technology/ technical fields 87,000 7,500 84,000 7,000 88,000 8,000 90,000 12,000 65,000 17,000 75,000 17,500
Business/ industry 90,000 4,500 87,000 6,000 91,000 10,000 100,000 12,500 S S 78,000 19,500
4-year college/ university 26,000 13,000 D D S S D D S S S S
Other educational institution S S D D D D D D S S D D
Government 78,000 15,500 D D 78,000 15,000 D D D D S S
Other S&E-related fields 64,000 4,500 79,000 9,000 65,000 5,500 63,000 4,000 71,000 28,500 60,000 5,000
Business/ industry 59,000 4,500 S S 64,000 7,000 63,000 6,000 D D 51,000 7,000
4-year college/ university 35,000 10,500 D D 61,000 23,500 25,000 6,000 24,000 2,500 D D
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D S S D D
Government 87,000 9,500 D D 89,000 4,500 70,000 2,000 D D 86,000 7,500
Non-S&E field 65,000 500 87,000 5,000 78,000 2,000 70,000 3,500 50,000 500 59,000 1,500
Business/ industry 83,000 4,000 92,000 2,000 95,000 1,500 89,000 5,500 41,000 5,000 60,000 2,000
4-year college/ university 47,000 2,000 77,000 3,000 55,000 3,500 30,000 5,500 29,000 8,000 47,000 1,500
Other educational institution 52,000 2,500 45,000 7,500 58,000 2,500 49,000 3,000 52,000 1,500 54,000 2,000
Government 70,000 3,500 65,000 19,000 78,000 4,500 67,000 3,500 42,000 9,000 63,000 3,000
Art/ humanities fields 51,000 2,000 88,000 10,500 54,000 4,000 61,000 5,500 51,000 5,000 40,000 2,500
Business/ industry 37,000 5,500 94,000 14,500 40,000 16,000 70,000 9,500 20,000 3,000 37,000 8,000
4-year college/ university 41,000 8,000 D D 63,000 10,000 30,000 8,500 28,000 6,500 33,000 11,000
Other educational institution 53,000 5,000 D D 52,000 4,500 57,000 22,000 52,000 4,500 76,000 12,000
Government 91,000 10,500 D D 112,000 3,000 78,000 6,000 D D D D
Education, except science/ math teacher education 51,000 2,000 44,000 5,000 52,000 3,000 50,000 500 51,000 2,000 50,000 2,500
Business/ industry 38,000 5,000 55,000 21,000 40,000 1,500 51,000 3,500 S S 29,000 2,000
4-year college/ university 41,000 3,000 D D 44,000 4,000 S S 21,000 10,000 46,000 3,000
Other educational institution 55,000 2,000 44,000 3,500 60,000 2,000 50,000 1,000 52,000 3,500 56,000 2,500
Government 47,000 4,500 S S 50,000 5,500 S S S S 47,000 4,500
Management/ administration 100,000 2,000 92,000 2,500 107,000 3,500 95,000 2,500 49,000 2,500 85,000 5,000
Business/ industry 104,000 3,000 94,000 5,000 110,000 1,000 98,000 4,000 70,000 5,500 94,000 4,000
4-year college/ university 63,000 7,000 76,000 3,000 76,000 6,500 55,000 10,000 S S 54,000 12,000
Other educational institution 49,000 2,500 D D 56,000 8,500 S S 45,000 16,000 48,000 2,000
Government 79,000 8,000 S S 89,000 6,500 83,000 17,000 37,000 15,000 72,000 1,000
Sales/ marketing 90,000 4,000 91,000 16,500 93,000 8,000 86,000 4,000 S S 66,000 20,500
Business/ industry 90,000 7,500 92,000 15,500 93,000 7,500 87,000 4,000 D D 68,000 20,000
4-year college/ university S S D D D D D D D D D D
Other educational institution S S D D D D D D S S D D
Government * * D D D D D D D D D D
Social service/ related 51,000 2,000 70,000 5,500 57,000 3,000 43,000 9,000 41,000 5,500 50,000 1,000
Business/ industry 50,000 1,500 71,000 5,000 54,000 2,500 49,000 3,500 40,000 9,500 48,000 2,000
4-year college/ university 49,000 15,000 D D 67,000 14,500 18,000 6,500 S S 49,000 11,500
Other educational institution 51,000 4,000 D D 52,000 1,000 35,000 3,000 41,000 7,000 52,000 5,000
Government 62,000 3,500 D D 63,000 5,500 57,000 8,000 61,000 4,500 59,000 4,500
Other non-S&E field 56,000 3,000 73,000 10,000 68,000 5,500 51,000 6,000 44,000 3,500 56,000 3,500
Business/ industry 60,000 1,500 75,000 15,500 69,000 2,000 63,000 11,500 37,000 4,500 47,000 5,000
4-year college/ university 52,000 6,500 D D 52,000 6,500 S S 47,000 4,500 62,000 1,000
Other educational institution 43,000 3,500 D D 45,000 7,000 39,000 5,000 42,000 9,500 38,000 13,000
Government 65,000 6,000 63,000 20,000 75,000 9,500 53,000 4,000 49,000 5,000 59,000 7,000

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: Salaries are for principal job and rounded to the nearest $1,000. Standard errors for salaries 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. Business/industry includes self-employed individuals, nonprofit organizations, and other unspecified types of employers. Four-year college/university includes medical schools and university-affiliated research institutes. Other educational institution includes 2-year colleges, precollege institutions, and other educational institutions. Government includes federal (civilian), military, state, and local employers.
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.