An official website of the United States government
Plan, direct, or coordinate activities in such fields as life sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, statistics, and research and development in these fields. Excludes "Architecture and Engineering Managers" (11-9041) and "Computer and Information Systems Managers" (11-3021).
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:
| Employment (1) | Employment RSE (3) |
Mean hourly wage |
Mean annual wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54,780 | 2.2 % | $65.46 | $136,150 | 1.4 % |
Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:
| Percentile | 10% | 25% | 50% (Median) |
75% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly Wage | $32.17 | $44.27 | $57.62 | $77.40 | (5) |
| Annual Wage (2) | $66,920 | $92,070 | $119,850 | $160,990 | (5) |
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 16,970 | 2.52 | $77.22 | $160,620 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 9,970 | 0.49 | $56.04 | $116,560 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 4,280 | 1.51 | $64.30 | $133,730 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 3,350 | 0.15 | $85.93 | $178,740 |
| State Government (OES Designation) | 3,310 | 0.15 | $40.08 | $83,360 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services | 16,970 | 2.52 | $77.22 | $160,620 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing | 4,280 | 1.51 | $64.30 | $133,730 |
| Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) | 9,970 | 0.49 | $56.04 | $116,560 |
| Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers | 740 | 0.37 | $80.62 | $167,690 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | 3,200 | 0.24 | $67.31 | $140,000 |
Top paying industries for this occupation:
| Industry | Employment (1) | Percent of industry employment | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | 180 | 0.13 | $100.63 | $209,310 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 3,350 | 0.15 | $85.93 | $178,740 |
| Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing | 50 | 0.01 | $84.45 | $175,650 |
| Dairy Product Manufacturing | 30 | 0.02 | $83.76 | $174,210 |
| Oil and Gas Extraction | 200 | 0.11 | $81.72 | $169,970 |
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 8,210 | 0.51 | 1.32 | $73.75 | $153,410 |
| New Jersey | 4,590 | 1.16 | 2.97 | $90.57 | $188,380 |
| Massachusetts | 3,360 | 0.97 | 2.49 | $82.69 | $172,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 2,860 | 0.50 | 1.27 | $68.44 | $142,350 |
| Maryland | 2,820 | 1.07 | 2.74 | $67.72 | $140,870 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 1,030 | 1.46 | 3.75 | $60.55 | $125,940 |
| Alaska | 410 | 1.28 | 3.27 | $50.91 | $105,900 |
| New Jersey | 4,590 | 1.16 | 2.97 | $90.57 | $188,380 |
| Maryland | 2,820 | 1.07 | 2.74 | $67.72 | $140,870 |
| Massachusetts | 3,360 | 0.97 | 2.49 | $82.69 | $172,000 |
Top paying States for this occupation:
| State | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | 410 | 0.93 | 2.38 | $95.18 | $197,980 |
| New Jersey | 4,590 | 1.16 | 2.97 | $90.57 | $188,380 |
| Massachusetts | 3,360 | 0.97 | 2.49 | $82.69 | $172,000 |
| Connecticut | 980 | 0.59 | 1.50 | $76.15 | $158,390 |
| California | 8,210 | 0.51 | 1.32 | $73.75 | $153,410 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York-Jersey City-White Plains, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division | 2,770 | 0.42 | 1.08 | $80.81 | $168,090 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | 2,620 | 1.45 | 3.73 | $85.60 | $178,040 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division | 2,390 | 0.96 | 2.46 | $63.32 | $131,700 |
| Newark, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division | 2,180 | 1.89 | 4.83 | $99.16 | $206,250 |
| Silver Spring-Frederick-Rockville, MD Metropolitan Division | 1,680 | 2.90 | 7.42 | $70.25 | $146,120 |
| Montgomery County-Bucks County-Chester County, PA Metropolitan Division | 1,500 | 1.47 | 3.77 | $77.36 | $160,910 |
| San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,420 | 1.33 | 3.41 | $94.36 | $196,270 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1,160 | 3.96 | 10.14 | $77.08 | $160,320 |
| Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division | 1,110 | 0.70 | 1.79 | $72.75 | $151,310 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 1,020 | 0.53 | 1.37 | $58.05 | $120,750 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 1,160 | 3.96 | 10.14 | $77.08 | $160,320 |
| Silver Spring-Frederick-Rockville, MD Metropolitan Division | 1,680 | 2.90 | 7.42 | $70.25 | $146,120 |
| Trenton, NJ | 590 | 2.61 | 6.69 | $79.46 | $165,290 |
| Corvallis, OR | 80 | 2.45 | 6.27 | $57.60 | $119,810 |
| Boulder, CO | 370 | 2.07 | 5.31 | $74.02 | $153,960 |
| Newark, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division | 2,180 | 1.89 | 4.83 | $99.16 | $206,250 |
| San Rafael, CA Metropolitan Division | 200 | 1.75 | 4.48 | $73.32 | $152,500 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 250 | 1.67 | 4.29 | $59.31 | $123,360 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 100 | 1.57 | 4.03 | $48.06 | $99,970 |
| Walla Walla, WA | 40 | 1.51 | 3.88 | $50.93 | $105,920 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Metropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Creek, MI | 40 | 0.74 | 1.90 | $106.91 | $222,370 |
| Newark, NJ-PA Metropolitan Division | 2,180 | 1.89 | 4.83 | $99.16 | $206,250 |
| Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ Metropolitan Division | 380 | 1.11 | 2.84 | $98.61 | $205,120 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT | 270 | 0.64 | 1.64 | $95.73 | $199,110 |
| San Francisco-Redwood City-South San Francisco, CA Metropolitan Division | 1,420 | 1.33 | 3.41 | $94.36 | $196,270 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA NECTA Division | 2,620 | 1.45 | 3.73 | $85.60 | $178,040 |
| Vallejo-Fairfield, CA | 130 | 0.99 | 2.55 | $85.34 | $177,510 |
| Framingham, MA NECTA Division | 230 | 1.30 | 3.32 | $84.93 | $176,650 |
| San Diego-Carlsbad, CA | 940 | 0.68 | 1.75 | $84.11 | $174,950 |
| Lake County-Kenosha County, IL-WI Metropolitan Division | 440 | 1.09 | 2.80 | $83.55 | $173,780 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest employment in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 1.02 | 2.62 | $43.76 | $91,030 |
| North Northeastern Ohio non-metropolitan area (non-contiguous) | 80 | 0.25 | 0.64 | $50.22 | $104,450 |
| Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.16 | 2.97 | $44.55 | $92,670 |
| Southern Indiana nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.38 | 0.96 | $32.31 | $67,200 |
| Southeast Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.97 | 5.05 | $48.85 | $101,620 |
Nonmetropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 1.97 | 5.05 | $48.85 | $101,620 |
| Eastern Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 80 | 1.16 | 2.97 | $44.55 | $92,670 |
| Southwest Montana nonmetropolitan area | 130 | 1.02 | 2.62 | $43.76 | $91,030 |
| Central Oregon nonmetropolitan area | 60 | 0.95 | 2.43 | $45.04 | $93,680 |
| Panhandle of Idaho nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.86 | 2.20 | $43.97 | $91,470 |
Top paying nonmetropolitan areas for this occupation:
| Nonmetropolitan area | Employment (1) | Employment per thousand jobs | Location quotient (9) | Hourly mean wage | Annual mean wage (2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Central New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.50 | 1.27 | $69.52 | $144,590 |
| Northeast Mississippi nonmetropolitan area | 30 | 0.14 | 0.36 | $58.73 | $122,170 |
| Balance of Alaska nonmetropolitan area | 40 | 0.56 | 1.43 | $57.34 | $119,260 |
| West Texas nonmetropolitan area | (8) | (8) | (8) | $52.77 | $109,750 |
| Hawaii / Kauai nonmetropolitan area | 70 | 0.71 | 1.82 | $51.92 | $107,990 |
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 top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
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.
(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $100.00 per hour or $208,000 per year.
(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 OES estimates and related information:
May 2016 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2016 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
Last Modified Date: March 31, 2017