Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012

19-0000 Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations (Major Group)

This major group comprises the following occupations: Life Scientists ; Agricultural and Food Scientists ; Animal Scientists ; Food Scientists and Technologists ; Soil and Plant Scientists ; Biological Scientists ; Biochemists and Biophysicists ; Microbiologists ; Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists ; Biological Scientists, All Other ; Conservation Scientists and Foresters ; Conservation Scientists ; Foresters ; Medical Scientists ; Epidemiologists ; Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists ; Life Scientists, All Other ; Physical Scientists ; Astronomers and Physicists ; Astronomers ; Physicists ; Atmospheric and Space Scientists ; Chemists and Materials Scientists ; Chemists ; Materials Scientists ; Environmental Scientists and Geoscientists ; Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health ; Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ; Hydrologists ; Physical Scientists, All Other ; Social Scientists and Related Workers ; Economists ; Survey Researchers ; Psychologists ; Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists ; Industrial-Organizational Psychologists ; Psychologists, All Other ; Sociologists ; Urban and Regional Planners ; Miscellaneous Social Scientists and Related Workers ; Anthropologists and Archeologists ; Geographers ; Historians ; Political Scientists ; Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other ; Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians ; Agricultural and Food Science Technicians ; Biological Technicians ; Chemical Technicians ; Geological and Petroleum Technicians ; Nuclear Technicians ; Social Science Research Assistants ; Miscellaneous Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians ; Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health ; Forensic Science Technicians ; Forest and Conservation Technicians ; Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
Geographic profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this major group:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3) 		Mean hourly
wage		 Mean annual
wage (2) 		Wage RSE (3)
1,104,100 0.7 % $32.87 $68,360 0.7 %

Percentile wage estimates for this major group:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $15.06 $20.35 $28.89 $41.18 $55.38
Annual Wage (2) $31,320 $42,330 $60,100 $85,660 $115,180

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Scientific Research and Development Services 169,450 26.89 $37.13 $77,230
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 142,780 6.99 $36.11 $75,110
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 126,140 4.35 $26.34 $54,790
State Government (OES Designation) 79,780 3.62 $26.86 $55,860
Local Government (OES Designation) 77,550 1.42 $28.96 $60,240

Industries with the highest concentration of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Scientific Research and Development Services 169,450 26.89 $37.13 $77,230
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 45,100 16.84 $35.77 $74,390
Oil and Gas Extraction 14,240 7.84 $61.75 $128,430
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 142,780 6.99 $36.11 $75,110
Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing 4,040 6.94 $29.74 $61,850

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Oil and Gas Extraction 14,240 7.84 $61.75 $128,430
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 400 2.40 $60.65 $126,150
Depository Credit Intermediation 100 0.01 $59.60 $123,980
Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing 520 0.21 $54.37 $113,090
Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage 100 0.02 $54.26 $112,870

Geographic profile for this occupation: Top

States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.





States with the highest employment level in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
California 171,200 11.97 1.41 $36.75 $76,430
Texas 76,680 7.25 0.86 $35.39 $73,610
New York 62,970 7.37 0.87 $31.97 $66,500
Massachusetts 47,680 14.89 1.76 $36.91 $76,780
Pennsylvania 44,740 7.99 0.94 $31.45 $65,420




States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 19,820 30.32 3.58 $45.59 $94,840
Alaska 6,860 21.53 2.54 $32.49 $67,580
Montana 7,810 18.07 2.13 $25.25 $52,520
Delaware 7,070 17.43 2.06 $36.95 $76,860
Maryland 42,530 16.94 2.00 $39.13 $81,380




Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
District of Columbia 19,820 30.32 3.58 $45.59 $94,840
Maryland 42,530 16.94 2.00 $39.13 $81,380
New Jersey 34,940 9.21 1.09 $38.04 $79,130
Delaware 7,070 17.43 2.06 $36.95 $76,860
Massachusetts 47,680 14.89 1.76 $36.91 $76,780





Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in this occupation:

Metropolitan area Employment (1) Employment per thousand jobs Location quotient (9) Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 40,780 17.40 2.05 $43.86 $91,230
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 34,220 19.99 2.36 $37.89 $78,820
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 33,220 8.58 1.01 $36.46 $75,830
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 32,110 6.23 0.73 $35.60 $74,050
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 28,430 10.77 1.27 $43.91 $91,330
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA 24,290 19.27 2.27 $37.07 $77,100
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 20,630 11.32 1.34 $34.61 $71,980
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 19,550 5.37 0.63 $34.91 $72,610
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division 18,570 18.57 2.19 $42.78 $88,990
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 18,510 13.14 1.55 $34.42 $71,590