Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

50 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.

Top Metro Areas for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ

$88,665

avg median

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

$99,289

avg median

Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

$104,755

avg median

Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA

$92,925

avg median

San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA

$106,861

avg median

Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

$84,313

avg median

Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX

$79,165

avg median

Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN

$84,111

avg median

Occupation	SOC Code	Median Annual	Employed Nationwide
Agricultural Technicians	19-4012	$46,790	14,340
Animal Scientists	19-1011	$79,120	2,470
Anthropologists and Archeologists	19-3091	$64,910	8,070
Astronomers	19-2011	$132,170	1,560
Atmospheric and Space Scientists	19-2021	$97,450	8,780
Biochemists and Biophysicists	19-1021	$103,650	34,520
Biological Scientists, All Other	19-1029	$93,330	59,710
Biological Technicians	19-4021	$52,000	76,190
Chemical Technicians	19-4031	$57,790	55,640
Chemists	19-2031	$84,150	83,250
Clinical and Counseling Psychologists	19-3033	$95,830	72,190
Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists	19-3031	—	—
Conservation Scientists	19-1031	$67,950	25,590
Economists	19-3011	$115,440	15,880
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health	19-4042	$49,490	39,390
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health	19-2041	$80,060	84,930
Epidemiologists	19-1041	$83,980	11,460
Food Science Technicians	19-4013	$49,430	14,200
Food Scientists and Technologists	19-1012	$85,310	14,370
Forensic Science Technicians	19-4092	$67,440	19,450
Forest and Conservation Technicians	19-4071	$54,310	31,080
Foresters	19-1032	$70,660	9,650
Geographers	19-3092	$97,200	1,380
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians	19-4043	$48,390	9,710
Geological and Hydrologic Technicians	19-4045	—	—
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers	19-2042	$99,240	22,510
Historians	19-3093	$74,050	3,140
Hydrologic Technicians	19-4044	$58,570	2,940
Hydrologists	19-2043	$92,060	5,720
Industrial-Organizational Psychologists	19-3032	$109,840	1,050
Life Scientists, All Other	19-1099	$87,800	7,320
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other	19-4099	$60,130	71,400
Materials Scientists	19-2032	$104,160	8,330
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists	19-1042	$100,590	156,300
Microbiologists	19-1022	$87,330	19,760
Nuclear Technicians	19-4051	$104,240	5,990
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists	19-5011	$83,910	128,430
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians	19-5012	$58,440	31,450
Physical Scientists, All Other	19-2099	$117,960	22,580
Physicists	19-2012	$166,290	21,340
Political Scientists	19-3094	$139,380	5,950
Psychologists, All Other	19-3039	$117,580	17,790
School Psychologists	19-3034	$86,930	63,830
Social Science Research Assistants	19-4061	$58,040	32,940
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other	19-3099	$100,340	36,970
Sociologists	19-3041	$101,690	2,950
Soil and Plant Scientists	19-1013	$71,410	16,600
Survey Researchers	19-3022	$63,380	7,720
Urban and Regional Planners	19-3051	$83,720	43,040
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists	19-1023	$72,860	16,920