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Field of degree: Physical science

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Physical science field of degree. Employment: 1,806,350. Median annual wage: $70,000.

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Table 1. Physical science degree, 2018
Data	Physical science	All fields
Employment	1,806,350	55,381,020
Median wage	$70,000	$59,000
Percent employed part time	13	15
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	66	59
Percent with an advanced degree	54	37
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

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Chart 1. Types of physical science majors, 2018
Physical science majors	Major share
Chemistry	35%
Multi-disciplinary or general science	28
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.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a physical science degree, by occupational group, 2018
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	16%
Management occupations	14
Educational instruction and library occupations	12
Life, physical, and social science occupations	12
Computer and mathematical occupations	8
Other	39
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

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Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a physical science degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile	Percent growth, projected 2019–29	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2018	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2018
Software developers and software quality assurance analysts and testers	22%	Bachelor's degree	3%	33%
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	21	Doctoral or professional degree	6	74
Management analysts	11	Bachelor's degree	2	36
Registered nurses	7	Bachelor's degree	2	12
Chemists	5	Bachelor's degree	2	41
Physicians, all other; and ophthalmologists, except pediatric	4	Doctoral or professional degree	7	100
Elementary school teachers, except special education	4	Bachelor's degree	3	50
Personal service managers, all other; entertainment and recreation managers, except gambling; and managers, all other	-2	Bachelor's degree	5	21
Physical scientists, all other	-3	Bachelor's degree	3	70
Chief executives	-10	Bachelor's degree	2	30
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 July 11, 2021).

Last Modified Date: Monday, November 30, 2020