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What kinds of degrees do workers in S&E occupations have?

Notes:
S&E = science and engineering.
Physical sciences = chemistry, physics, astronomy, and earth/ocean/atmospheric sciences.
S&E-related = health fields, science and math teacher education, technology and technical fields, architecture, and actuarial science.
Non-S&E = management and administration, education (except science and math teacher education), social services and related fields, sales and marketing, arts and humanities, and other fields.

Nearly three-fourths of the 5.4 million individuals with bachelor’s degrees who were working in S&E occupations in 2010 earned their highest degree in an S&E field.

Key Observations

  • The most common degrees held by S&E workers in 2010 were in engineering (29%) and computer/mathematical sciences (19%).
  • 20% of those working in S&E occupations earned their highest degree in a non-S&E field.
STEM Education Data and Trends 2014
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