Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

48 detailed occupations in this SOC major group.

Group employment
1,473,260
Group mean annual wage
$94,600
Group median annual wage
$82,530
OccupationSOCEmploymentMedian annual
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists19-1042172,340$103,410
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists19-5011140,610$90,150
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health19-204189,250$82,220
Chemists19-203182,770$91,240
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists19-303375,990$100,580
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other19-409973,910$62,280
Biological Technicians19-402169,620$57,510
School Psychologists19-303463,940$95,990
Chemical Technicians19-403157,540$60,390
Biological Scientists, All Other19-102955,850$98,920
Urban and Regional Planners19-305144,230$89,320
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other19-309937,100$101,110
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health19-404234,670$55,090
Biochemists and Biophysicists19-102133,830$127,410
Social Science Research Assistants19-406130,640$61,990
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians19-501230,590$61,560
Forest and Conservation Technicians19-407130,410$54,560
Conservation Scientists19-103125,950$73,010
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers19-204223,470$101,920
Physical Scientists, All Other19-209922,300$122,570
Physicists19-201220,430$172,250
Forensic Science Technicians19-409219,120$72,060
Microbiologists19-102218,940$87,990
Psychologists, All Other19-303918,820$110,840
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists19-102318,120$76,780
Economists19-301117,790$124,720
Soil and Plant Scientists19-101315,730$78,850
Agricultural Technicians19-401215,130$49,630
Food Science Technicians19-401314,600$52,130
Food Scientists and Technologists19-101213,060$88,720
Epidemiologists19-104112,090$87,220
Foresters19-103210,430$76,400
Atmospheric and Space Scientists19-202110,000$99,070
Anthropologists and Archeologists19-30918,990$70,770
Materials Scientists19-20328,470$117,790
Survey Researchers19-30228,290$69,460
Life Scientists, All Other19-10997,460$93,750
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians19-40436,980$53,350
Nuclear Technicians19-40516,470$110,240
Hydrologists19-20435,850$96,600
Political Scientists19-30945,540$142,080
Historians19-30933,450$76,750
Animal Scientists19-10113,100$68,940
Hydrologic Technicians19-40442,840$64,790
Sociologists19-30412,260$106,030
Astronomers19-20112,120$128,820
Geographers19-30921,400$102,040
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists19-3032790$193,950

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 estimates.