Field of degree: Physical science
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 |
61 |
Percent with an advanced degree
|
52 |
37 |
Chart 1. Types of physical science majors, 2019
Physical science majors |
Major share |
Chemistry
|
36% |
Multi-Disciplinary Or General Science
|
27 |
Physics
|
19 |
Geology And Earth Science
|
11 |
Materials Science
|
2 |
Other
|
6 |
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 |
Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a physical science degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile |
Percent growth, projected 2020–30 |
Typical entry-level education |
Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2019 |
Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2019 |
Postsecondary teachers
|
24% |
See How to Become One |
6% |
73% |
Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers
|
22 |
Bachelor's degree |
3 |
34 |
Registered nurses
|
9 |
Bachelor's degree |
2 |
12 |
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
|
8 |
Bachelor's degree |
2 |
54 |
Personal service managers, all other; entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling; and managers, all other
|
7 |
Bachelor's degree |
5 |
20 |
Chemists
|
7 |
Bachelor's degree |
3 |
40 |
Elementary school teachers, except special education
|
7 |
Bachelor's degree |
2 |
48 |
Geoscientists, except hydrologists and geographers
|
7 |
Bachelor's degree |
2 |
50 |
Physicians, all other; and ophthalmologists, except pediatric
|
5 |
Doctoral or professional degree |
6 |
100 |
Physical scientists, all other
|
1 |
Bachelor's degree |
4 |
69 |
Last Modified Date:
Friday, December 3, 2021