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Field of degree: Physical science

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Physical science field of degree. Employment: 1,871,100. Median annual wage: $70,000.

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Table 1. Physical science degree, 2019
Data	Physical science	All fields
Employment	1,871,100	56,820,460
Median wage	70,000	60,000
Percent employed part time	14	15
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	67	60
Percent with an advanced degree	52	37
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of physical science majors, 2019.

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Chart 1. Types of physical science majors, 2019
Physical science majors	Major share
Chemistry	36%
Multi-Disciplinary Or General Science	27
Physics	18
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, 2019.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a physical science degree, by occupational group, 2019
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	13
Computer and mathematical occupations	7
Other	36
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 2021–31	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2019	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2019
Software developers	26%	Bachelor's degree	3%	34%
Postsecondary teachers	12	Doctoral or professional degree	6	73
Managers, all other	6	Bachelor's degree	5	20
Chemists	6	Bachelor's degree	3	40
Registered nurses	6	Bachelor's degree	2	12
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	5	Bachelor's degree	2	54
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers	5	Bachelor's degree	2	50
Elementary school teachers, except special education	4	Bachelor's degree	2	48
Physicians, all other	2	Doctoral or professional degree	6	100
Physical scientists, all other	0	Bachelor's degree	4	70
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 March 19, 2023).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, September 8, 2022