Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2011

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

This major group comprises the following occupations: Animal Scientists ; Food Scientists and Technologists ; Soil and Plant Scientists ; Biochemists and Biophysicists ; Microbiologists ; Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists ; Biological Scientists, All Other ; Conservation Scientists ; Foresters ; Epidemiologists ; Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists ; Life Scientists, All Other ; Astronomers ; Physicists ; Atmospheric and Space Scientists ; Chemists ; Materials Scientists ; Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health ; Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers ; Hydrologists ; Physical Scientists, All Other ; Economists ; Survey Researchers ; Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists ; Industrial-Organizational Psychologists ; Psychologists, All Other ; Sociologists ; Urban and Regional Planners ; Anthropologists and Archeologists ; Geographers ; Historians ; Political Scientists ; Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other ; Agricultural and Food Science Technicians ; Biological Technicians ; Chemical Technicians ; Geological and Petroleum Technicians ; Nuclear Technicians ; Social Science Research Assistants ; 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)
1,082,370 0.8 % $32.44 $67,470 0.4 %

Percentile wage estimates for this major group:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median) 		75% 90%
Hourly Wage $15.05 $20.20 $28.52 $40.54 $54.63
Annual Wage (2) $31,310 $42,020 $59,330 $84,320 $113,620

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 168,300 26.70 $36.60 $76,140
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 143,770 6.97 $36.02 $74,920
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 123,660 4.33 $25.72 $53,490
State Government (OES Designation) 82,130 3.61 $27.01 $56,180
Local Government (OES Designation) 79,210 1.43 $28.70 $59,700

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 168,300 26.70 $36.60 $76,140
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 45,820 17.23 $34.50 $71,760
Paint, Coating, and Adhesive Manufacturing 4,240 7.58 $28.67 $59,640
Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation) 143,770 6.97 $36.02 $74,920
Basic Chemical Manufacturing 9,710 6.81 $30.49 $63,420

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment (1) Percent of industry employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage (2)
Monetary Authorities-Central Bank 400 2.04 $61.18 $127,250
Oil and Gas Extraction 10,840 6.67 $56.18 $116,860
Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage 120 0.03 $54.47 $113,290
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 780 0.16 $53.97 $112,260
Lessors of Nonfinancial Intangible Assets (except Copyrighted Works) 40 0.16 $52.76 $109,740

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 166,690 11.87 1.41 $36.26 $75,410
Texas 76,810 7.45 0.88 $32.92 $68,480
New York 62,810 7.45 0.88 $31.90 $66,360
Massachusetts 47,320 14.99 1.78 $35.69 $74,240
Pennsylvania 41,750 7.52 0.89 $31.00 $64,470




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 19,630 30.44 3.61 $45.90 $95,480
Alaska 6,430 20.54 2.43 $31.24 $64,980
Montana 7,550 17.76 2.11 $25.18 $52,370
New Mexico 12,720 16.36 1.94 $35.02 $72,840
Wyoming 4,250 15.58 1.85 $25.09 $52,200




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 19,630 30.44 3.61 $45.90 $95,480
Maryland 38,290 15.44 1.83 $40.44 $84,110
New Jersey 33,880 8.98 1.06 $37.73 $78,480
Virginia 27,380 7.70 0.91 $37.25 $77,490
Connecticut 12,630 7.85 0.93 $36.78 $76,510





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 38,230 16.55 1.96 $45.43 $94,500
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division 32,630 19.47 2.31 $35.78 $74,430
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA Metropolitan Division 32,160 8.41 1.00 $35.01 $72,820
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 31,180 6.16 0.73 $35.89 $74,660
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX 25,310 9.92 1.18 $38.79 $80,670
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA 25,290 20.48 2.43 $36.06 $75,010
Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, IL Metropolitan Division 19,160 5.35 0.63 $35.06 $72,920
Philadelphia, PA Metropolitan Division 18,950 10.44 1.24 $34.51 $71,790
Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA Metropolitan Division 18,620 13.59 1.61 $33.50 $69,680
San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City, CA Metropolitan Division 17,160 17.89 2.12 $42.53 $88,470