. "Attracting the Most Able US Students to Science and Engineering." Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2007.
The following HTML text is provided to enhance online
readability. Many aspects of typography translate only awkwardly to HTML.
Please use the page image
as the authoritative form to ensure accuracy.
Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future
TABLE TS-1A Median PhD Salaries of Engineering and Science Graduates, by Occupation and Field of Doctorate in 1997
Occupation
All Sectors
University
Economics
$75,000
55,000
Computer Science
75,000
56,000
Engineering
73,000
65,000
Physical Science
65,000
52,000
Biological Sciences
56,000
40,000
S&E PhDs in Management, Median Net Income. MDs
92,000
85,000
Field
All Sectors
University
Economics
$69,000
62,000
Computer Science
72,000
57,000
Engineering
75,000
68,000
Physical Science
70,000
54,300
Biological Sciences
60,000
53,000
SOURCE: R. B. Freeman, E. Weinstein, E. Marincola, J. Rosenbaum, and F. Solomon. Careersand Rewards in Bio Sciences: The Disconnect Between Scientific Progress and Career Progression. Bethesda, MD: American Society for Cell Biology, 2001. Available at: http://www.ascb.org/publications/competition.html.
in S&E, including 59% of engineering doctorates.25 In 2000, foreign-born professionals occupied 22% of all US S&E jobs, up from 14% just 10 years before.
But relying on foreign sources of students and research professionals is risky. As systems of higher education and research continue to develop in other countries, it is likely that fewer scientists and engineers will want to come to the United States to study or work. Security concerns also have led to a drop in applications to US graduate programs from international students. Over time, multinational firms may decide simply to locate their R&D facilities overseas, closer to their sources of scientists and engineers.
25
The National Academies. Policy Implications of International Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars in the United States. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2005.
