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Field of degree: Physical science

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Physical science field of degree. Employment: 1,984,110. Median annual wage: $80,000.

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Table 1. Physical science degree, 2023
Data	Physical science	All fields
Employment	1,984,110	63,725,710
Median wage	80,000	70,000
Percent employed part time	14	15
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, 2023.

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Chart 1. Types of physical science, 2023
Physical science majors	Major share
Chemistry	36%
Multi-Disciplinary Or General Science	26
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, 2023.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a physical science degree, by occupational group, 2023
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
Occupation	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2023	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2023	Percent growth, projected 2024–34	Typical entry-level education
Physicians, all other	6%	100%	3%	Doctoral or professional degree
Managers, all other	5	21	4	Bachelor's degree
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	5	74	17	Doctoral or professional degree
Physical scientists, all other	4	69	1	Bachelor's degree
Software developers	3	32	16	Bachelor's degree
Chemists	3	38	5	Bachelor's degree
Elementary school teachers, except special education	2	49	-2	Bachelor's degree
Registered nurses	2	14	5	Bachelor's degree
Engineers, all other	2	35	2	Bachelor's degree
Chief executives	2	32	4	Bachelor's degree
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 August 28, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 28, 2025