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Field of degree: Physical science

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Physical science field of degree. Employment: 1,911,220. Median annual wage: $74,000.

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Table 1. Physical science degree, 2021
Data	Physical science	All fields
Employment	1,911,220	59,687,450
Median wage	74,000	63,000
Percent employed part time	14	14
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	68	62
Percent with an advanced degree	53	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of physical science majors, 2021.

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Chart 1. Types of physical science, 2021
Physical science majors	Major share
Chemistry	35%
Multi-Disciplinary Or General Science	27
Physics	19
Geology And Earth Science	11
Materials Science	2
Other	6
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a physical science degree, by occupational group, 2021.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a physical science degree, by occupational group, 2021
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	16%
Management occupations	14
Life, physical, and social science occupations	13
Educational instruction and library occupations	12
Computer and mathematical occupations	8
Other	37
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a physical science degree.

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Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a physical science degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile	Percent growth, projected 2022–32	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2021	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2021
Software developers	26%	Bachelor's degree	3%	32%
Chemists	6	Bachelor's degree	2	40
Registered nurses	6	Bachelor's degree	2	13
Postsecondary teachers, all other	4	Doctoral or professional degree	6	72
Managers, all other	3	Bachelor's degree	5	21
Physicians, all other	3	Doctoral or professional degree	6	100
Physical scientists, all other	2	Bachelor's degree	4	70
Elementary school teachers, except special education	1	Bachelor's degree	2	49
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	1	Bachelor's degree	2	55
Chief executives	-8	Bachelor's degree	2	32
Note: Occupational profiles may comprise multiple SOC occupations, which may have differing education categories. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (projected growth, entry-level education) and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (degree holders, advanced degrees).

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Field of degree: Physical science,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/physical-science/physical-science-field-of-degree.htm (visited April 18, 2024).

Last Modified Date: Wednesday, September 6, 2023