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Field of degree: Physical science

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Physical science field of degree. Employment: 1,952,970. Median annual wage: $76,000.

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Table 1. Physical science degree, 2022
Data	Physical science	All fields
Employment	1,952,970	62,187,580
Median wage	76,000	66,000
Percent employed part time	13	14
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	67	62
Percent with an advanced degree	54	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 1. Types of physical science majors, 2022.

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Chart 1. Types of physical science, 2022
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, 2022.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a physical science degree, by occupational group, 2022
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	15%
Management occupations	15
Life, physical, and social science occupations	13
Educational instruction and library occupations	11
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 2023–33	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2022	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2022
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	19%	Doctoral or professional degree	5%	72%
Software developers	18	Bachelor's degree	4	32
Chemists	8	Bachelor's degree	3	38
Managers, all other	6	Bachelor's degree	5	21
Registered nurses	6	Bachelor's degree	2	14
Chief executives	5	Bachelor's degree	2	31
Physicians, all other	4	Doctoral or professional degree	6	100
Physical scientists, all other	2	Bachelor's degree	4	68
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	56
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 May 15, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024