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Table 12-4. Median annual salary of employed U.S. scientists and engineers with a doctorate 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
Doctorate 90,000 500 101,000 4,500 103,000 2,500 93,000 2,000 74,000 2,000 82,000 4,500
Business/ industry 108,000 2,500 114,000 4,500 118,000 3,500 112,000 2,500 65,000 6,000 90,000 2,000
4-year college/ university 75,000 1,000 60,000 2,500 86,000 3,000 76,000 2,000 76,000 2,000 73,000 3,500
Other educational institution 68,000 6,500 81,000 9,000 78,000 2,500 74,000 11,000 59,000 3,000 72,000 5,000
Government 104,000 3,500 99,000 4,500 114,000 4,000 106,000 2,500 105,000 10,000 91,000 3,500
S&E field 94,000 1,500 105,000 3,000 110,000 500 98,000 1,500 75,000 1,500 88,000 2,500
Business/ industry 112,000 2,500 115,000 500 124,000 2,000 117,000 2,500 86,000 9,000 95,000 3,000
4-year college/ university 77,000 2,000 60,000 4,000 90,000 500 78,000 2,500 78,000 2,000 74,000 3,000
Other educational institution 60,000 1,000 46,000 17,500 70,000 3,000 62,000 1,500 55,000 4,000 70,000 2,500
Government 104,000 3,500 100,000 5,500 115,000 2,500 106,000 2,500 98,000 2,500 92,000 2,500
Science 90,000 2,000 101,000 4,500 105,000 1,500 91,000 2,000 74,000 1,500 85,000 1,000
Business/ industry 110,000 1,500 114,000 2,500 120,000 500 112,000 3,000 80,000 7,000 90,000 500
4-year college/ university 75,000 500 59,000 1,000 88,000 2,000 76,000 2,000 75,000 1,500 72,000 2,000
Other educational institution 60,000 1,000 48,000 19,500 71,000 3,500 62,000 2,000 55,000 3,500 71,000 3,500
Government 101,000 3,000 99,000 5,000 112,000 4,000 104,000 4,500 98,000 3,000 92,000 3,500
Biological/ agricultural/ environmental life sciences 85,000 2,000 69,000 3,500 104,000 3,500 84,000 2,500 74,000 1,500 95,000 5,500
Business/ industry 104,000 4,000 92,000 9,500 120,000 1,500 101,000 4,000 98,000 12,500 102,000 6,000
4-year college/ university 70,000 1,000 50,000 5,500 86,000 2,000 70,000 1,500 76,000 4,000 82,000 7,000
Other educational institution 53,000 2,500 D D 59,000 3,000 60,000 10,500 52,000 2,500 58,000 4,000
Government 100,000 3,500 87,000 20,000 115,000 5,500 95,000 5,500 106,000 9,000 95,000 15,000
Agricultural/ food sciences 86,000 2,000 * * 94,000 4,000 87,000 3,500 74,000 1,500 75,000 2,500
Business/ industry 99,000 4,000 * * 103,000 6,500 104,000 9,000 * * 70,000 14,000
4-year college/ university 75,000 4,000 * * 86,000 3,500 75,000 4,500 75,000 2,500 73,000 11,500
Other educational institution 49,000 2,000 D D * * * * 49,000 1,500 D D
Government 100,000 8,000 D D 106,000 7,000 105,000 6,500 D D 79,000 1,000
Biological sciences 85,000 2,500 68,000 11,500 105,000 3,500 83,000 3,500 74,000 2,000 99,000 2,000
Business/ industry 106,000 5,000 92,000 13,500 120,000 4,000 101,000 4,500 99,000 13,500 109,000 7,000
4-year college/ university 70,000 3,000 49,000 5,000 86,000 3,000 69,000 4,000 77,000 4,000 85,000 8,000
Other educational institution 54,000 4,500 D D 59,000 3,000 62,000 9,000 53,000 3,000 59,000 6,500
Government 101,000 5,500 88,000 17,500 117,000 5,500 96,000 6,000 106,000 8,500 99,000 17,000
Environmental life sciences 81,000 3,000 70,000 1,000 90,000 7,000 81,000 3,000 72,000 5,500 84,000 6,000
Business/ industry 93,000 11,500 * * 119,000 13,000 84,000 12,000 * * 82,000 20,000
4-year college/ university 74,000 3,500 * * 73,000 6,000 75,000 3,500 74,000 6,000 * *
Other educational institution * * D D D D D D * * D D
Government 88,000 4,000 D D 90,000 7,000 87,000 4,000 D D * *
Computer/ mathematical sciences 100,000 500 115,000 500 120,000 3,500 101,000 5,000 80,000 1,500 87,000 5,500
Business/ industry 125,000 3,000 120,000 3,000 138,000 15,500 129,000 1,500 * * 110,000 10,000
4-year college/ university 84,000 1,000 83,000 13,500 100,000 2,000 85,000 2,500 80,000 2,500 63,000 10,000
Other educational institution 69,000 2,500 D D * * * * 67,000 5,500 * *
Government 118,000 5,500 108,000 3,500 130,000 8,500 119,000 5,500 D D * *
Computer/ information sciences 115,000 3,500 115,000 5,000 125,000 14,000 119,000 6,000 87,000 4,000 79,000 25,500
Business/ industry 129,000 3,500 120,000 8,500 137,000 24,000 133,000 7,000 * * 123,000 22,000
4-year college/ university 91,000 1,500 89,000 12,500 105,000 3,500 92,000 3,000 88,000 4,500 52,000 1,000
Other educational institution * * D D D D D D * * D D
Government 115,000 6,500 * * * * 121,000 12,000 D D D D
Mathematics/ statistics 90,000 2,500 110,000 5,000 116,000 8,000 94,000 3,500 75,000 4,500 87,000 5,000
Business/ industry 120,000 1,000 118,000 2,500 137,000 12,000 121,000 4,000 * * 92,000 7,000
4-year college/ university 80,000 2,500 65,000 21,500 93,000 6,500 80,000 3,000 78,000 4,000 79,000 6,000
Other educational institution 68,000 5,000 D D * * * * 64,000 5,500 D D
Government 119,000 8,500 107,000 11,000 130,000 9,000 118,000 9,000 D D * *
Physical sciences 100,000 500 100,000 4,000 120,000 1,000 103,000 2,500 75,000 2,000 90,000 3,500
Business/ industry 117,000 3,500 110,000 2,500 130,000 2,000 118,000 4,500 106,000 5,500 104,000 5,000
4-year college/ university 75,000 1,500 58,000 6,500 93,000 6,000 77,000 4,000 78,000 3,500 68,000 3,500
Other educational institution 56,000 5,500 D D 64,000 7,000 S S 56,000 5,500 53,000 13,500
Government 108,000 500 99,000 7,500 118,000 3,000 108,000 1,000 * * 97,000 9,000
Chemistry, except biochemistry 100,000 2,000 99,000 12,500 118,000 4,000 101,000 4,000 67,000 3,000 89,000 2,500
Business/ industry 115,000 3,000 105,000 7,500 130,000 5,500 115,000 4,500 100,000 11,500 101,000 7,500
4-year college/ university 65,000 3,500 46,000 5,000 85,000 3,500 65,000 4,000 68,000 4,000 61,000 6,000
Other educational institution 55,000 7,500 D D 66,000 7,000 * * 58,000 6,000 48,000 8,500
Government 99,000 4,500 * * 113,000 3,000 94,000 8,000 * * 91,000 7,500
Earth/ atmospheric/ ocean sciences 92,000 4,000 90,000 11,000 110,000 6,000 98,000 5,000 80,000 2,500 79,000 14,000
Business/ industry 119,000 5,000 110,000 18,500 132,000 19,500 120,000 4,500 * * 94,000 16,500
4-year college/ university 81,000 2,500 76,000 7,500 96,000 9,000 82,000 1,500 81,000 2,000 71,000 5,500
Other educational institution 56,000 8,000 D D * * D D 58,000 6,500 * *
Government 105,000 4,500 * * 118,000 4,500 105,000 5,500 D D 85,000 26,000
Physics/ astronomy 106,000 5,000 102,000 7,000 130,000 6,000 108,000 1,500 82,000 7,500 106,000 5,000
Business/ industry 119,000 1,000 111,000 1,000 130,000 15,500 119,000 1,000 118,000 8,000 109,000 2,000
4-year college/ university 80,000 3,500 56,000 8,000 107,000 14,000 83,000 7,000 85,000 6,500 70,000 15,000
Other educational institution 53,000 9,500 D D * * * * 49,000 5,500 * *
Government 114,000 8,000 104,000 11,500 145,000 11,000 113,000 8,500 D D 119,000 11,000
Other physical sciences 81,000 8,000 * * 95,000 8,000 85,000 7,500 68,000 8,500 * *
Business/ industry 84,000 12,500 D D * * * * D D * *
4-year college/ university 67,000 5,000 D D * * 65,000 6,000 * * D D
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government 96,000 7,000 D D * * 99,000 8,000 D D * *
Social sciences 80,000 2,000 93,000 3,500 94,000 2,000 85,000 1,500 72,000 1,000 80,000 500
Business/ industry 90,000 500 99,000 6,000 100,000 500 104,000 5,500 69,000 6,000 80,000 1,000
4-year college/ university 75,000 1,000 63,000 22,000 86,000 2,500 78,000 3,000 73,000 2,000 70,000 1,500
Other educational institution 64,000 4,500 * * 81,000 5,000 63,000 5,000 55,000 8,000 77,000 5,500
Government 95,000 2,000 95,000 7,500 100,000 5,500 104,000 5,000 94,000 3,000 89,000 3,000
Economics 117,000 6,000 100,000 12,500 144,000 8,000 119,000 4,000 95,000 4,000 122,000 7,500
Business/ industry 125,000 17,500 99,000 14,500 153,000 12,000 128,000 22,000 * * 124,000 21,000
4-year college/ university 103,000 4,500 * * 128,000 10,500 106,000 5,500 99,000 4,000 98,000 4,000
Other educational institution 63,000 500 D D * * * * 63,000 500 D D
Government 133,000 8,000 * * 148,000 10,000 129,000 5,000 D D 148,000 11,500
Political/ related sciences 81,000 3,000 * * 100,000 3,000 83,000 4,500 71,000 2,000 83,000 5,000
Business/ industry 105,000 7,000 * * 123,000 17,000 110,000 17,500 * * 106,000 17,500
4-year college/ university 80,000 2,000 D D 90,000 3,500 80,000 2,000 75,000 4,000 75,000 3,000
Other educational institution 62,000 12,000 D D * * * * 52,000 12,000 D D
Government 96,000 11,500 D D 96,000 24,000 * * D D * *
Psychology 78,000 3,000 90,000 15,500 87,000 2,500 80,000 1,500 68,000 3,000 78,000 2,500
Business/ industry 80,000 2,500 103,000 7,500 90,000 2,000 96,000 5,500 74,000 5,000 77,000 3,500
4-year college/ university 71,000 3,000 51,000 19,000 81,000 4,000 72,000 3,500 68,000 2,500 69,000 3,000
Other educational institution 70,000 7,000 D D 81,000 2,000 76,000 9,000 42,000 18,000 79,000 5,000
Government 90,000 1,500 * * 93,000 2,000 91,000 5,000 95,000 2,000 87,000 4,500
Sociology/ anthropology 71,000 2,500 * * 90,000 4,000 72,000 3,500 68,000 3,000 67,000 4,500
Business/ industry 83,000 4,000 * * 101,000 6,500 86,000 9,500 * * 46,000 9,500
4-year college/ university 69,000 2,500 * * 85,000 5,000 68,000 3,500 69,000 2,500 69,000 3,500
Other educational institution 59,000 4,000 D D * * * * 61,000 5,500 * *
Government 95,000 4,000 D D 100,000 8,000 97,000 3,500 D D 76,000 15,000
Other social sciences 73,000 3,000 84,000 9,000 90,000 6,500 74,000 4,000 65,000 2,000 65,000 9,500
Business/ industry 88,000 7,000 * * 100,000 13,000 100,000 12,000 * * 74,000 18,500
4-year college/ university 70,000 3,000 D D 85,000 2,000 71,000 5,000 65,000 3,000 60,000 9,000
Other educational institution 61,000 12,000 D D 76,000 9,500 * * 61,000 9,500 * *
Government 95,000 10,500 * * 111,000 22,500 84,000 16,500 D D * *
Engineering 113,000 3,500 110,000 4,000 129,000 500 112,000 3,000 95,000 3,000 104,000 3,500
Business/ industry 121,000 3,500 120,000 2,000 134,000 3,500 120,000 1,000 100,000 4,500 108,000 4,500
4-year college/ university 90,000 2,000 76,000 11,000 107,000 6,000 89,000 2,500 96,000 3,000 90,000 6,000
Other educational institution 55,000 7,000 D D 60,000 7,000 * * 58,000 7,000 * *
Government 115,000 7,500 105,000 12,500 125,000 11,000 116,000 8,500 D D 99,000 4,500
Aerospace/ related engineering 119,000 1,500 119,000 13,500 140,000 9,000 119,000 1,500 113,000 7,000 129,000 10,500
Business/ industry 120,000 7,000 123,000 19,000 157,000 31,500 120,000 7,500 D D * *
4-year college/ university 110,000 9,000 * * * * 109,000 10,500 113,000 8,000 * *
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government 129,000 15,500 * * * * 124,000 13,500 D D D D
Chemical engineering 115,000 7,000 103,000 8,000 129,000 5,500 116,000 7,500 86,000 8,000 98,000 10,500
Business/ industry 125,000 7,000 111,000 9,500 130,000 11,000 125,000 6,000 * * 101,000 14,000
4-year college/ university 80,000 6,500 * * 101,000 18,500 74,000 11,000 90,000 8,500 * *
Other educational institution * * D D D D D D * * D D
Government 106,000 10,500 * * * * * * D D * *
Civil/ architectural engineering 100,000 4,500 102,000 33,000 119,000 2,000 100,000 2,000 90,000 2,500 99,000 5,500
Business/ industry 118,000 4,000 135,000 7,500 128,000 8,000 114,000 9,500 D D 107,000 7,000
4-year college/ university 89,000 3,500 * * 102,000 16,000 90,000 4,000 90,000 3,000 * *
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government 96,000 7,500 D D 90,000 9,500 97,000 5,500 D D * *
Electrical/ computer engineering 125,000 2,000 119,000 4,500 148,000 3,500 127,000 4,500 103,000 7,000 110,000 12,000
Business/ industry 130,000 1,500 122,000 5,500 150,000 6,500 130,000 1,500 * * 119,000 13,500
4-year college/ university 99,000 3,500 71,000 13,500 106,000 8,500 100,000 5,000 103,000 6,000 88,000 19,000
Other educational institution * * D D D D D D D D D D
Government 143,000 13,500 * * S S 145,000 12,000 D D * *
Industrial engineering 104,000 7,000 117,000 9,000 119,000 9,000 100,000 6,500 91,000 7,000 109,000 10,000
Business/ industry 117,000 4,000 120,000 14,500 129,000 7,000 114,000 7,000 D D * *
4-year college/ university 82,000 9,000 D D * * 77,000 16,000 93,000 7,000 D D
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government * * D D * * * * D D D D
Mechanical engineering 102,000 3,500 99,000 1,500 127,000 4,000 100,000 3,500 91,000 4,000 99,000 9,000
Business/ industry 110,000 2,000 100,000 4,000 129,000 4,000 109,000 2,000 D D 100,000 10,500
4-year college/ university 88,000 6,500 * * 115,000 9,000 85,000 8,500 93,000 5,000 * *
Other educational institution * * D D D D D D * * D D
Government 101,000 5,500 * * 124,000 9,500 98,000 7,500 D D * *
Other engineering 104,000 2,500 99,000 3,500 120,000 1,000 100,000 2,500 92,000 4,500 104,000 5,000
Business/ industry 111,000 6,000 117,000 12,500 125,000 7,000 109,000 1,500 100,000 2,000 106,000 5,500
4-year college/ university 86,000 500 85,000 19,000 109,000 7,500 86,000 2,000 92,000 5,500 93,000 13,500
Other educational institution 54,000 9,500 D D * * D D 62,000 8,000 D D
Government 108,000 5,000 * * 116,000 5,500 105,000 4,500 D D 97,000 5,500
S&E-related field 86,000 5,500 S S 95,000 7,000 89,000 6,000 74,000 3,000 88,000 13,500
Business/ industry 96,000 10,500 S S 107,000 15,000 92,000 10,000 62,000 6,500 91,000 7,500
4-year college/ university 75,000 5,000 S S 90,000 4,500 75,000 7,000 79,000 4,000 63,000 9,500
Other educational institution S S D D 74,000 500 S S S S 87,000 28,500
Government 114,000 14,000 * * 103,000 5,500 112,000 26,000 S S 109,000 24,000
Health 89,000 5,500 69,000 26,500 93,000 6,000 91,000 6,500 82,000 4,500 91,000 8,500
Business/ industry 91,000 4,000 78,000 21,500 90,000 13,500 92,000 6,000 63,000 3,500 91,000 7,000
4-year college/ university 79,000 4,000 61,000 7,500 93,000 4,500 75,000 6,000 84,000 3,000 68,000 14,000
Other educational institution 80,000 13,500 D D 79,000 7,500 * * 87,000 16,000 87,000 18,500
Government 114,000 14,000 * * 103,000 5,500 112,000 26,000 S S 109,000 24,000
Science/ mathematics teacher education 64,000 8,500 D D 76,000 7,000 57,000 8,500 60,000 10,000 D D
Business/ industry D D D D D D D D D D D D
4-year college/ university 61,000 9,000 D D D D 64,000 16,500 65,000 3,500 D D
Other educational institution 43,000 18,500 D D D D D D 43,000 18,500 D D
Government D D D D D D D D D D D D
Technology/ technical fields 100,000 18,000 D D D D 99,000 3,500 S S D D
Business/ industry 117,000 35,500 D D D D 103,000 16,000 D D D D
4-year college/ university D D D D D D D D S S D D
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government D D D D D D D D D D D D
Other S&E-related fields 48,000 14,000 D D * * 58,000 9,500 D D S S
Business/ industry S S D D 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 D D D D D D D D D D D D
Non-S&E field 75,000 5,000 76,000 11,500 80,000 6,000 76,000 2,000 69,000 2,000 67,000 7,000
Business/ industry 73,000 15,500 79,000 21,000 82,000 15,500 94,000 10,000 48,000 10,500 52,000 21,000
4-year college/ university 71,000 5,500 D D 70,000 7,500 70,000 8,500 70,000 3,500 78,000 14,000
Other educational institution 75,000 4,500 D D 83,000 18,500 75,000 3,500 61,000 15,500 72,000 6,500
Government 87,000 19,000 D D 106,000 31,500 80,000 25,000 D D S S
Art/ humanities fields 63,000 4,000 D D 62,000 7,500 61,000 9,000 64,000 2,000 62,000 12,000
Business/ industry 44,000 15,500 D D 46,000 11,000 S S D D D D
4-year college/ university 68,000 3,000 D D 68,000 3,000 68,000 4,000 65,000 2,500 D D
Other educational institution 49,000 17,000 D D D D S S 49,000 17,000 D D
Government S S D D D D D D D D D D
Education, except science/ math teacher education 76,000 2,500 S S 94,000 14,000 82,000 8,500 66,000 9,000 67,000 9,500
Business/ industry 94,000 6,500 D D 93,000 15,000 106,000 9,500 S S S S
4-year college/ university 69,000 9,000 D D 87,000 17,000 69,000 8,500 61,000 5,000 62,000 1,500
Other educational institution 76,000 2,500 D D 94,000 15,000 S S 69,000 11,500 72,000 6,500
Government D D D D D D D D D D D D
Management/ administration 101,000 8,000 D D 101,000 23,500 101,000 8,500 80,000 20,500 96,000 10,500
Business/ industry 96,000 25,500 D D S S S S D D S S
4-year college/ university 105,000 7,000 D D D D 109,000 9,500 102,000 6,000 D D
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government * * D D D D D D D D D D
Sales/ marketing 74,000 36,500 D D D D S S S S D D
Business/ industry D D D D D D D D D D D D
4-year college/ university 99,000 21,000 D D D D D D 99,000 21,000 D D
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government D D D D D D D D D D D D
Social service/ related 68,000 7,500 D D 65,000 19,500 70,000 5,000 69,000 3,000 47,000 8,000
Business/ industry 49,000 14,500 D D S S 50,000 14,500 54,000 15,000 44,000 2,500
4-year college/ university 73,000 4,500 D D 71,000 16,000 72,000 5,000 71,000 4,000 80,000 1,000
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D S S D D
Government D D D D D D D D D D D D
Other non-S&E field 77,000 13,500 D D 96,000 9,500 68,000 6,500 65,000 5,500 135,000 34,500
Business/ industry 121,000 25,500 D D 116,000 25,000 86,000 6,000 D D S S
4-year college/ university 64,000 5,500 D D 70,000 12,000 62,000 5,000 65,000 5,500 S S
Other educational institution D D D D D D D D D D D D
Government D D D D D D D D D D D D

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. 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.