Median salaries
In 2016, doctorate recipients who had definite commitments for a postdoc or other employed position in the United States in the coming year reported basic annual salaries that varied by their field of study and the type of position to which they committed.
The median salaries for postdocs in all broad fields were relatively similar, ranging between $43,000 and $50,000, except for postdocs in mathematics and computer sciences who had a median salary of $58,000. In every broad field, reported postdoc salaries were lower than salaries reported by doctorate recipients entering non-postdoc employment in industry or academe. Doctorate recipients in engineering and in the other non-S&E fields, such as business, reported the highest median academic salaries, whereas doctorate recipients in mathematics and computer sciences and in the other non-S&E fields reported the highest median salaries in industry positions.
Median basic annual salary of U.S. doctorate recipients with definite commitments for employment in the United States, by position type and broad field of study: 2016
| Broad field of study | Postdoc position | Employed position in academe | Employed position in industry or business |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life sciences | 43,000 | 64,000 | 90,000 |
| Physical sciences and earth sciences | 48,000 | 52,000 | 100,000 |
| Mathematics and computer sciences | 58,000 | 70,000 | 125,000 |
| Psychology and social sciences | 44,000 | 61,000 | 95,000 |
| Engineering | 48,000 | 78,500 | 100,000 |
| Education | 49,800 | 61,000 | 80,000 |
| Humanities and arts | 45,000 | 51,080 | 69,000 |
| Other non-S&E fields | 50,000 | 90,000 | 110,000 |
- S&E = science and engineering.
- NOTES: Definite commitment refers to a doctorate recipient who is either returning to pre-doctoral employment or has signed a contract (or otherwise made a definite commitment) for employment, including postdoc study, in the coming year and plans to stay in the United States. Other non-S&E fields includes business management and administration. Employment in industry includes all non-academic sectors, including self-employment, private for-profit and private non-profit, and government.
- SOURCE: Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities 2016. Related detailed data: tables 48, 49.
