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Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics

Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2022

19-0000 Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations (Major Group)

Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations comprises the following occupations: Animal Scientists; Food Scientists and Technologists; Soil and Plant Scientists; Biological Scientists, All Other; Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists; Microbiologists; Biochemists and Biophysicists; Foresters; Conservation Scientists; Epidemiologists; Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists; Life Scientists, All Other; Astronomers; Physicists; Atmospheric and Space Scientists; Materials Scientists; Chemists; Hydrologists; Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers; Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health; Physical Scientists, All Other; Economists; Survey Researchers; Psychologists, All Other; Industrial-Organizational Psychologists; School Psychologists; Clinical and Counseling Psychologists; Sociologists; Urban and Regional Planners; Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other; Geographers; Historians; Political Scientists; Anthropologists and Archeologists; Agricultural Technicians; Food Science Technicians; Biological Technicians; Chemical Technicians; Hydrologic Technicians; Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians; Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health; Nuclear Technicians; Social Science Research Assistants; Forest and Conservation Technicians; Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other; Forensic Science Technicians; Occupational Health and Safety Technicians; Occupational Health and Safety Specialists


National estimates for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Industry profile for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Geographic profile for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

National estimates for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
1,314,360 0.5 % $ 40.21 $ 83,640 0.6 %

Percentile wage estimates for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $ 18.99 $ 24.74 $ 35.74 $ 49.45 $ 65.02
Annual Wage (2) $ 39,490 $ 51,460 $ 74,330 $ 102,850 $ 135,240


Industry profile for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Scientific Research and Development Services 200,190 23.06 $ 48.40 $ 100,670
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 146,780 7.04 $ 43.93 $ 91,370
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 105,720 3.50 $ 31.67 $ 65,870
Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 94,990 1.77 $ 35.82 $ 74,510
State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OEWS Designation) 90,550 4.27 $ 32.66 $ 67,930

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Scientific Research and Development Services 200,190 23.06 $ 48.40 $ 100,670
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 47,460 14.30 $ 39.30 $ 81,750
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) 146,780 7.04 $ 43.93 $ 91,370
Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) 20,430 5.67 $ 38.23 $ 79,520
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 77,910 4.91 $ 33.73 $ 70,160

Top paying industries for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 280 1.33 $ 100.68 $ 209,420
Securities, Commodity Contracts, and Other Financial Investments and Related Activities 450 0.04 $ 74.46 $ 154,880
Legal Services 180 0.02 $ 68.82 $ 143,140
Oil and Gas Extraction 4,060 3.99 $ 58.74 $ 122,180
Pipeline Transportation of Crude Oil 130 1.21 $ 58.01 $ 120,670


Geographic profile for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations, see the Create Customized Tables function.



Map of employment of life, physical, and social science occupations by state, May 2022


States with the highest employment level in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 197,570 11.20 1.26 $ 46.74 $ 97,210
Texas 94,350 7.26 0.82 $ 38.01 $ 79,060
New York 69,040 7.58 0.85 $ 42.44 $ 88,260
Massachusetts 63,790 17.89 2.01 $ 49.40 $ 102,760
Pennsylvania 54,840 9.44 1.06 $ 36.50 $ 75,920


Map of location quotient of life, physical, and social science occupations by state, May 2022


States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 20,580 29.82 3.36 $ 56.23 $ 116,960
Alaska 6,800 22.22 2.50 $ 38.33 $ 79,730
Massachusetts 63,790 17.89 2.01 $ 49.40 $ 102,760
Montana 8,460 17.28 1.94 $ 30.11 $ 62,620
Maryland 45,010 17.05 1.92 $ 46.72 $ 97,180


Map of annual mean wages of life, physical, and social science occupations by state, May 2022


Top paying states for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 20,580 29.82 3.36 $ 56.23 $ 116,960
Massachusetts 63,790 17.89 2.01 $ 49.40 $ 102,760
California 197,570 11.20 1.26 $ 46.74 $ 97,210
Maryland 45,010 17.05 1.92 $ 46.72 $ 97,180
Connecticut 12,040 7.38 0.83 $ 45.61 $ 94,860



Map of employment of life, physical, and social science occupations by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA 73,140 7.96 0.90 $ 45.66 $ 94,980
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 59,710 19.72 2.22 $ 54.25 $ 112,850
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 55,230 20.43 2.30 $ 50.64 $ 105,340
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 47,200 7.74 0.87 $ 43.87 $ 91,250
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 44,230 18.48 2.08 $ 57.08 $ 118,720
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 32,640 11.78 1.33 $ 40.90 $ 85,080
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI 29,620 6.71 0.75 $ 43.79 $ 91,090
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX 29,070 9.52 1.07 $ 41.24 $ 85,790
San Diego-Carlsbad, CA 27,090 18.19 2.05 $ 44.46 $ 92,470
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 23,880 11.72 1.32 $ 45.03 $ 93,660


Map of location quotient of life, physical, and social science occupations by area, May 2022


Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Corvallis, OR 1,320 35.63 4.01 $ 34.46 $ 71,680
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC 10,900 33.27 3.74 $ 37.87 $ 78,760
Fairbanks, AK 1,120 32.68 3.68 $ 36.40 $ 75,720
Boulder, CO 6,120 31.92 3.59 $ 50.77 $ 105,610
Ames, IA 1,450 31.55 3.55 $ 32.67 $ 67,940
Athens-Clarke County, GA 2,750 31.44 3.54 $ 31.11 $ 64,710
Ithaca, NY 1,390 29.49 3.32 $ 35.22 $ 73,250
Iowa City, IA 2,530 28.00 3.15 $ 32.29 $ 67,170
Trenton, NJ 6,580 27.79 3.13 $ 49.18 $ 102,290
Midland, MI 960 27.03 3.04 $ 48.69 $ 101,270


Map of annual mean wages of life, physical, and social science occupations by area, May 2022


Top paying metropolitan areas for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA 44,230 18.48 2.08 $ 57.08 $ 118,720
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA 11,230 10.00 1.12 $ 54.26 $ 112,870
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 59,710 19.72 2.22 $ 54.25 $ 112,850
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT 2,210 5.61 0.63 $ 53.11 $ 110,470
Boulder, CO 6,120 31.92 3.59 $ 50.77 $ 105,610
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH 55,230 20.43 2.30 $ 50.64 $ 105,340
Trenton, NJ 6,580 27.79 3.13 $ 49.18 $ 102,290
Kennewick-Richland, WA 2,880 23.66 2.66 $ 48.95 $ 101,810
Midland, MI 960 27.03 3.04 $ 48.69 $ 101,270
Norwich-New London-Westerly, CT-RI 1,450 12.12 1.36 $ 48.01 $ 99,850

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Kansas nonmetropolitan area 3,100 8.09 0.91 $ 29.98 $ 62,350
Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area 3,010 20.76 2.34 $ 30.34 $ 63,120
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 2,610 25.63 2.88 $ 36.49 $ 75,910
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area 2,410 23.92 2.69 $ 30.68 $ 63,820
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area 2,250 22.56 2.54 $ 29.65 $ 61,680

Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northwestern Idaho nonmetropolitan area 2,070 28.67 3.23 $ 25.54 $ 53,130
Alaska nonmetropolitan area 2,610 25.63 2.88 $ 36.49 $ 75,910
North Valley-Northern Mountains Region of California nonmetropolitan area 2,410 23.92 2.69 $ 30.68 $ 63,820
Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area 1,670 23.51 2.65 $ 27.30 $ 56,790
Eastern Washington nonmetropolitan area 2,250 22.56 2.54 $ 29.65 $ 61,680

Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations:

Nonmetropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area 740 15.14 1.70 $ 47.88 $ 99,580
Northern New Mexico nonmetropolitan area (8) (8) (8) $ 45.19 $ 93,990
Connecticut nonmetropolitan area 160 4.77 0.54 $ 41.81 $ 86,960
Massachusetts nonmetropolitan area 400 6.49 0.73 $ 40.93 $ 85,130
Southwest Mississippi nonmetropolitan area 600 8.58 0.97 $ 40.05 $ 83,310


About May 2022 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia.

The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration. A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.


Other OEWS estimates and related information:

May 2022 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2022 Occupation Profiles

Technical Notes

 

Last Modified Date: April 25, 2023