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What level of education do U.S. S&E workers have?

Notes:
S&E = science and engineering. S&E occupations are those in biological/agricultural/environmental life sciences, physical sciences, computer sciences, mathematics/statistics, engineering, psychology, and social sciences. Physical sciences = chemistry, physics, astronomy, and earth/ocean/atmospheric sciences.

Almost three-fourths of workers in S&E occupations hold a bachelor’s or higher level degree.

Key Observations

  • A bachelor’s degree was the highest degree attained by about 43% of S&E workers in 2011.
  • About 3 in 10 S&E workers held an advanced degree: 22% a master’s degree, 1.5% a professional degree (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., J.D.), and 7% a doctoral degree.
  • More than a fourth (26%) of S&E workers had not earned a bachelor’s degree.
STEM Education Data and Trends 2014
The National Science Board
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