Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations in U.S.

48 occupations · 2024 BLS OEWS data

Life, physical, and social science occupations include researchers, scientists, and technicians working in biology, chemistry, economics, psychology, and related fields. The table below shows 2024 wage data for these occupations as reported in U.S..

Occupation	Median Annual	Mean Annual	Workers
Physicists	$166,290	$166,000	21,340
Political Scientists	$139,380	$137,600	5,950
Astronomers	$132,170	$134,430	1,560
Physical Scientists, All Other	$117,960	$123,070	22,580
Psychologists, All Other	$117,580	$111,340	17,790
Economists	$115,440	$130,910	15,880
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	$109,840	$134,400	1,050
Nuclear Technicians	$104,240	$100,730	5,990
Materials Scientists	$104,160	$111,410	8,330
Biochemists and Biophysicists	$103,650	$115,570	34,520
Sociologists	$101,690	$111,670	2,950
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	$100,590	$112,690	156,300
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	$100,340	$106,440	36,970
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	$99,240	$111,310	22,510
Atmospheric and Space Scientists	$97,450	$103,980	8,780
Geographers	$97,200	$98,160	1,380
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	$95,830	$106,850	72,190
Biological Scientists, All Other	$93,330	$100,440	59,710
Hydrologists	$92,060	$98,130	5,720
Life Scientists, All Other	$87,800	$101,940	7,320
Microbiologists	$87,330	$95,200	19,760
School Psychologists	$86,930	$93,610	63,830
Food Scientists and Technologists	$85,310	$92,190	14,370
Chemists	$84,150	$95,940	83,250
Epidemiologists	$83,980	$94,160	11,460
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	$83,910	$88,660	128,430
Urban and Regional Planners	$83,720	$89,730	43,040
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	$80,060	$88,640	84,930
Animal Scientists	$79,120	$104,970	2,470
Historians	$74,050	$78,470	3,140
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	$72,860	$77,920	16,920
Soil and Plant Scientists	$71,410	$83,040	16,600
Foresters	$70,660	$74,670	9,650
Conservation Scientists	$67,950	$74,310	25,590
Forensic Science Technicians	$67,440	$75,260	19,450
Anthropologists and Archeologists	$64,910	$71,070	8,070
Survey Researchers	$63,380	$73,470	7,720
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other	$60,130	$64,640	71,400
Hydrologic Technicians	$58,570	$64,410	2,940
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians	$58,440	$63,800	31,450
Social Science Research Assistants	$58,040	$63,560	32,940
Chemical Technicians	$57,790	$61,300	55,640
Forest and Conservation Technicians	$54,310	$56,660	31,080
Biological Technicians	$52,000	$58,020	76,190
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	$49,490	$56,770	39,390
Food Science Technicians	$49,430	$54,400	14,200
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians	$48,390	$58,220	9,710
Agricultural Technicians	$46,790	$49,680	14,340