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Numbers of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations in National

Occupation group

Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Year Number
2004 1,008,750
2005 1,035,010
2006 1,069,720
2007 1,091,660
2008 1,130,560
2009 1,143,870
2010 1,129,220
2011 1,151,420
2012 1,175,590
2013 1,211,570
2014 1,223,580
2015 1,232,380
2016 1,246,060
2017 1,247,130
2018 1,278,310
2019 1,288,900

Individual occupations

Life Scientists
Year Number
2012 260,040
2013 277,100
2014 278,800
2015 281,430
2016 286,400
2017 292,320
2018 304,740
2019 311,900

Agricultural and Food Scientists
Year Number
2012 28,210
2013 30,490
2014 31,670
2015 31,700
2016 31,360
2017 31,750
2018 30,870
2019 30,300

Animal Scientists
Year Number
2004 1,540
2005 3,000
2006 3,930
2007 4,210
2008 2,760
2009 2,190
2010 2,440
2011 2,190
2012 2,120
2013 2,320
2014 2,350
2015 2,430
2016 2,470
2017 2,550
2018 2,530
2019 2,690

Food Scientists and Technologists
Year Number
2004 7,210
2005 7,570
2006 8,770
2007 9,910
2008 10,510
2009 10,790
2010 10,480
2011 12,040
2012 13,680
2013 15,010
2014 14,170
2015 14,660
2016 14,200
2017 15,020
2018 13,330
2019 13,460

Soil and Plant Scientists
Year Number
2004 9,690
2005 10,100
2006 10,720
2007 10,270
2008 10,790
2009 11,830
2010 12,120
2011 11,860
2012 12,410
2013 13,160
2014 15,150
2015 14,610
2016 14,690
2017 14,180
2018 15,010
2019 14,150

Biological Scientists
Year Number
2012 94,690
2013 100,620
2014 103,220
2015 101,970
2016 103,700
2017 104,550
2018 109,030
2019 108,980

Biochemists and Biophysicists
Year Number
2004 15,200
2005 17,690
2006 18,680
2007 19,490
2008 22,230
2009 22,860
2010 22,800
2011 25,160
2012 26,410
2013 29,110
2014 31,350
2015 30,800
2016 29,200
2017 27,380
2018 28,500
2019 31,360

Microbiologists
Year Number
2004 13,880
2005 15,250
2006 15,730
2007 14,610
2008 15,750
2009 16,260
2010 18,330
2011 17,660
2012 18,550
2013 19,880
2014 20,670
2015 21,210
2016 21,670
2017 21,870
2018 20,030
2019 18,270

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
Year Number
2004 15,050
2005 16,440
2006 18,000
2007 17,830
2008 17,780
2009 17,460
2010 17,440
2011 18,380
2012 18,650
2013 18,530
2014 18,970
2015 17,910
2016 17,720
2017 17,710
2018 17,860
2019 19,250

Biological Scientists, All Other
Year Number
2004 26,180
2005 26,200
2006 25,220
2007 27,070
2008 28,290
2009 29,630
2010 30,430
2011 31,550
2012 31,080
2013 33,100
2014 32,230
2015 32,050
2016 35,110
2017 37,590
2018 42,640
2019 40,100

Conservation Scientists and Foresters
Year Number
2012 27,930
2013 27,810
2014 28,350
2015 28,790
2016 28,890
2017 30,340
2018 30,610
2019 31,580

Conservation Scientists
Year Number
2004 14,290
2005 15,540
2006 16,000
2007 16,570
2008 15,830
2009 16,810
2010 18,880
2011 18,910
2012 18,460
2013 18,590
2014 19,210
2015 20,200
2016 20,470
2017 22,040
2018 22,200
2019 22,070

Foresters
Year Number
2004 10,250
2005 10,750
2006 10,760
2007 10,510
2008 10,160
2009 10,230
2010 9,470
2011 9,000
2012 9,470
2013 9,220
2014 9,140
2015 8,590
2016 8,420
2017 8,300
2018 8,410
2019 9,510

Medical Scientists
Year Number
2012 100,270
2013 109,630
2014 106,160
2015 109,900
2016 114,560
2017 118,560
2018 127,380
2019 134,590

Epidemiologists
Year Number
2004 4,560
2005 3,630
2006 4,120
2007 3,960
2008 4,370
2009 4,610
2010 4,710
2011 4,610
2012 4,850
2013 5,350
2014 5,420
2015 5,460
2016 5,690
2017 6,870
2018 7,060
2019 7,410

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Year Number
2004 66,450
2005 73,670
2006 78,210
2007 87,440
2008 99,750
2009 101,760
2010 93,560
2011 95,220
2012 95,420
2013 104,280
2014 100,740
2015 104,440
2016 108,870
2017 111,690
2018 120,320
2019 127,180

Miscellaneous Life Scientists
Year Number
2012 8,940
2013 8,550
2014 9,400
2015 9,070
2016 7,890
2017 7,120
2018 6,850
2019 6,450

Life Scientists, All Other
Year Number
2004 13,870
2005 12,790
2006 12,830
2007 12,470
2008 12,030
2009 12,320
2010 10,610
2011 10,020
2012 8,940
2013 8,550
2014 9,400
2015 9,070
2016 7,890
2017 7,120
2018 6,850
2019 6,450

Physical Scientists
Year Number
2012 274,610
2013 276,750
2014 274,520
2015 266,050
2016 262,650
2017 253,650
2018 254,790
2019 255,810

Astronomers and Physicists
Year Number
2012 19,970
2013 19,090
2014 18,450
2015 17,410
2016 18,510
2017 18,730
2018 19,780
2019 18,800

Astronomers
Year Number
2004 680
2005 970
2006 1,430
2007 1,520
2008 1,280
2009 1,240
2010 1,840
2011 2,080
2012 2,150
2013 1,750
2014 1,660
2015 1,760
2016 1,830
2017 2,020
2018 2,160
2019 2,070

Physicists
Year Number
2004 14,150
2005 15,160
2006 15,420
2007 13,980
2008 14,810
2009 13,630
2010 16,860
2011 16,220
2012 17,820
2013 17,340
2014 16,790
2015 15,650
2016 16,680
2017 16,710
2018 17,620
2019 16,730

Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Year Number
2012 10,190
2013 10,800
2014 10,850
2015 10,370
2016 9,800
2017 8,940
2018 9,310
2019 9,290

Atmospheric and Space Scientists
Year Number
2004 7,070
2005 7,050
2006 8,250
2007 8,750
2008 8,860
2009 8,320
2010 8,640
2011 9,640
2012 10,190
2013 10,800
2014 10,850
2015 10,370
2016 9,800
2017 8,940
2018 9,310
2019 9,290

Chemists and Materials Scientists
Year Number
2012 92,920
2013 94,960
2014 92,870
2015 91,510
2016 94,410
2017 91,870
2018 92,290
2019 90,240

Chemists
Year Number
2004 79,650
2005 76,540
2006 80,500
2007 79,860
2008 83,080
2009 79,910
2010 80,180
2011 80,040
2012 84,950
2013 87,560
2014 85,970
2015 84,720
2016 86,660
2017 84,400
2018 84,560
2019 83,530

Materials Scientists
Year Number
2004 7,330
2005 7,880
2006 9,390
2007 9,740
2008 9,650
2009 8,880
2010 8,390
2011 7,900
2012 7,970
2013 7,400
2014 6,900
2015 6,790
2016 7,750
2017 7,470
2018 7,730
2019 6,710

Environmental Scientists and Geoscientists
Year Number
2012 126,300
2013 128,610
2014 129,320
2015 125,630
2016 120,970
2017 116,790
2018 116,030
2019 119,930

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
Year Number
2004 66,850
2005 72,000
2006 77,720
2007 80,070
2008 80,120
2009 83,530
2010 81,690
2011 83,090
2012 84,240
2013 87,380
2014 88,740
2015 87,250
2016 84,250
2017 81,920
2018 80,480
2019 84,290

Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
Year Number
2004 25,100
2005 27,430
2006 28,980
2007 31,390
2008 31,260
2009 31,860
2010 30,830
2011 32,490
2012 35,180
2013 34,690
2014 34,000
2015 31,800
2016 30,420
2017 28,520
2018 29,260
2019 29,200

Hydrologists
Year Number
2004 7,290
2005 8,360
2006 7,740
2007 7,670
2008 7,590
2009 7,150
2010 6,910
2011 6,960
2012 6,880
2013 6,540
2014 6,580
2015 6,580
2016 6,300
2017 6,350
2018 6,290
2019 6,440

Miscellaneous Physical Scientists
Year Number
2012 25,230
2013 23,290
2014 23,030
2015 21,130
2016 18,960
2017 17,320
2018 17,380
2019 17,550

Physical Scientists, All Other
Year Number
2004 25,260
2005 23,800
2006 21,380
2007 23,300
2008 22,900
2009 25,310
2010 24,690
2011 25,790
2012 25,230
2013 23,290
2014 23,030
2015 21,130
2016 18,960
2017 17,320
2018 17,380
2019 17,550

Social Scientists and Related Workers
Year Number
2012 235,380
2013 237,790
2014 239,140
2015 239,170
2016 244,820
2017 243,150
2018 247,280
2019 249,100

Economists
Year Number
2012 15,760
2013 17,230
2014 18,680
2015 19,090
2016 19,380
2017 19,550
2018 18,650
2019 19,000

Economists
Year Number
2004 12,030
2005 12,470
2006 12,970
2007 12,740
2008 12,600
2009 13,160
2010 13,250
2011 14,270
2012 15,760
2013 17,230
2014 18,680
2015 19,090
2016 19,380
2017 19,550
2018 18,650
2019 19,000

Survey Researchers
Year Number
2012 17,370
2013 17,370
2014 15,410
2015 13,650
2016 11,930
2017 11,270
2018 11,690
2019 9,930

Survey Researchers
Year Number
2004 19,480
2005 21,650
2006 24,140
2007 22,140
2008 21,100
2009 20,300
2010 17,850
2011 17,060
2012 17,370
2013 17,370
2014 15,410
2015 13,650
2016 11,930
2017 11,270
2018 11,690
2019 9,930

Psychologists
Year Number
2012 114,970
2013 116,390
2014 117,820
2015 118,990
2016 122,310
2017 121,860
2018 124,750
2019 128,120

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
Year Number
2004 1,500
2005 1,070
2006 1,140
2007 1,240
2008 1,460
2009 1,710
2010 1,420
2011 1,230
2012 1,030
2013 1,040
2014 1,110
2015 990
2016 1,020
2017 920
2018 780
2019 630

School Psychologists
Year Number
2004 96,540
2005 98,820
2006 97,330
2007 95,120
2008 97,880
2009 98,330
2010 100,700
2011 100,850
2012 103,590
2013 104,480
2014 104,730
2015 105,600
2016 107,980
2017 108,060
2018 110,490

Psychologists, All Other
Year Number
2004 6,480
2005 6,750
2006 7,960
2007 9,470
2008 9,870
2009 10,260
2010 10,690
2011 10,580
2012 10,350
2013 10,870
2014 11,980
2015 12,400
2016 13,310
2017 12,880
2018 13,480
2019 14,220

Sociologists
Year Number
2012 2,340
2013 2,690
2014 2,240
2015 2,620
2016 2,870
2017 2,770
2018 2,710
2019 2,630

Sociologists
Year Number
2004 3,640
2005 3,500
2006 3,440
2007 3,680
2008 4,390
2009 4,430
2010 3,710
2011 2,830
2012 2,340
2013 2,690
2014 2,240
2015 2,620
2016 2,870
2017 2,770
2018 2,710
2019 2,630

Urban and Regional Planners
Year Number
2012 37,620
2013 35,940
2014 35,820
2015 35,480
2016 34,810
2017 35,310
2018 37,840
2019 38,560

Urban and Regional Planners
Year Number
2004 31,140
2005 31,650
2006 32,640
2007 35,040
2008 37,120
2009 38,950
2010 38,830
2011 38,320
2012 37,620
2013 35,940
2014 35,820
2015 35,480
2016 34,810
2017 35,310
2018 37,840
2019 38,560

Miscellaneous Social Scientists and Related Workers
Year Number
2012 47,320
2013 48,170
2014 49,170
2015 49,340
2016 53,520
2017 52,390
2018 51,640
2019 50,860

Anthropologists and Archeologists
Year Number
2004 4,510
2005 4,790
2006 4,960
2007 5,250
2008 5,230
2009 5,570
2010 5,100
2011 5,370
2012 6,060
2013 6,560
2014 7,040
2015 6,980
2016 6,470
2017 6,120
2018 6,020
2019 6,720

Geographers
Year Number
2004 750
2005 810
2006 960
2007 1,010
2008 1,120
2009 1,170
2010 1,300
2011 1,430
2012 1,510
2013 1,480
2014 1,260
2015 1,280
2016 1,370
2017 1,400
2018 1,390
2019 1,400

Historians
Year Number
2004 2,350
2005 2,850
2006 3,090
2007 3,600
2008 3,700
2009 3,620
2010 3,320
2011 3,190
2012 3,340
2013 3,200
2014 3,220
2015 3,010
2016 2,950
2017 3,060
2018 3,040
2019 3,040

Political Scientists
Year Number
2004 4,370
2005 5,010
2006 3,970
2007 3,940
2008 3,530
2009 3,970
2010 4,470
2011 5,340
2012 5,750
2013 5,570
2014 5,640
2015 3,910
2016 6,350
2017 6,320
2018 5,660
2019 6,010

Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
Year Number
2004 31,990
2005 31,900
2006 31,110
2007 30,410
2008 28,680
2009 29,250
2010 28,420
2011 31,520
2012 30,660
2013 31,360
2014 32,010
2015 34,160
2016 36,380
2017 35,490
2018 35,530
2019 33,690

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians
Year Number
2012 334,060
2013 343,440
2014 352,000
2015 359,460
2016 359,000
2017 359,190
2018 365,090
2019 358,730

Agricultural and Food Science Technicians
Year Number
2012 18,280
2013 19,390
2014 20,640
2015 20,260
2016 20,420
2017 21,120
2018 21,290

Agricultural Technicians
Year Number
2019 21,870

Food Science Technicians
Year Number
2004 18,940
2005 19,340
2006 19,220
2007 19,280
2008 18,930
2009 18,490
2010 16,890
2011 17,150
2012 18,280
2013 19,390
2014 20,640
2015 20,260
2016 20,420
2017 21,120
2018 21,290

Biological Technicians
Year Number
2012 72,740
2013 71,590
2014 72,640
2015 72,900
2016 74,720
2017 74,980
2018 77,450
2019 79,530

Biological Technicians
Year Number
2004 59,710
2005 67,080
2006 71,590
2007 69,110
2008 72,200
2009 74,560
2010 72,940
2011 72,140
2012 72,740
2013 71,590
2014 72,640
2015 72,900
2016 74,720
2017 74,980
2018 77,450
2019 79,530

Chemical Technicians
Year Number
2012 61,300
2013 63,880
2014 63,760
2015 64,770
2016 65,510
2017 64,550
2018 65,500
2019 65,760

Chemical Technicians
Year Number
2004 61,700
2005 59,790
2006 59,900
2007 64,450
2008 65,830
2009 64,420
2010 59,440
2011 59,650
2012 61,300
2013 63,880
2014 63,760
2015 64,770
2016 65,510
2017 64,550
2018 65,500
2019 65,760

Environmental Science and Geoscience Technicians
Year Number
2012 46,250
2013 49,700
2014 49,780
2015 51,070
2016 48,050
2017 47,660
2018 47,660
2019 49,730

Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
Year Number
2004 29,460
2005 32,460
2006 34,790
2007 33,950
2008 33,370
2009 30,870
2010 28,480
2011 30,320
2012 30,890
2013 34,510
2014 33,760
2015 34,250
2016 32,950
2017 32,840
2018 32,600
2019 32,620

Hydrologic Technicians
Year Number
2004 10,420
2005 11,130
2006 11,280
2007 13,060
2008 14,570
2009 14,460
2010 13,560
2011 14,680
2012 15,360
2013 15,190
2014 16,020
2015 16,820
2016 15,100
2017 14,820
2018 15,060

Nuclear Technicians
Year Number
2012 8,040
2013 6,930
2014 6,380
2015 6,500
2016 6,840
2017 6,850
2018 7,230
2019 6,420

Nuclear Technicians
Year Number
2004 7,210
2005 6,050
2006 6,400
2007 5,920
2008 6,360
2009 6,290
2010 6,960
2011 7,370
2012 8,040
2013 6,930
2014 6,380
2015 6,500
2016 6,840
2017 6,850
2018 7,230
2019 6,420

Social Science Research Assistants
Year Number
2012 26,370
2013 26,830
2014 27,780
2015 28,060
2016 30,030
2017 31,500
2018 34,550
2019 35,580

Social Science Research Assistants
Year Number
2004 15,710
2005 16,320
2006 15,840
2007 16,070
2008 18,120
2009 21,720
2010 25,830
2011 26,200
2012 26,370
2013 26,830
2014 27,780
2015 28,060
2016 30,030
2017 31,500
2018 34,550
2019 35,580

Forest and Conservation Technicians
Year Number
2019 19,060

Forest and Conservation Technicians
Year Number
2004 29,910
2005 29,940
2006 30,580
2007 26,900
2008 30,850
2009 31,440
2010 32,290
2011 30,620
2012 31,720
2013 29,740
2014 30,310
2015 29,810
2016 30,090
2017 30,570
2018 30,220
2019 19,060

Miscellaneous Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians
Year Number
2012 69,360
2013 75,380
2014 80,710
2015 86,090
2016 83,340
2017 81,960
2018 81,190
2019 80,780

Forensic Science Technicians
Year Number
2004 9,230
2005 11,030
2006 12,310
2007 12,030
2008 11,990
2009 12,870
2010 12,390
2011 12,560
2012 12,440
2013 13,430
2014 13,570
2015 14,070
2016 14,800
2017 15,070
2018 15,970
2019 16,520

Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other
Year Number
2004 72,580
2005 63,810
2006 58,080
2007 59,910
2008 58,070
2009 59,530
2010 55,360
2011 58,890
2012 56,920
2013 61,950
2014 67,140
2015 72,020
2016 68,540
2017 66,890
2018 65,220
2019 64,260

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians
Year Number
2019 113,360

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists and Technicians
Year Number
2019 113,360

Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
Year Number
2004 36,360
2005 35,460
2006 42,220
2007 46,460
2008 53,250
2009 51,850
2010 54,680
2011 57,950
2012 59,610
2013 62,830
2014 65,130
2015 70,220
2016 76,630
2017 81,330
2018 88,390
2019 92,780

Occupational Health and Safety Technicians
Year Number
2004 11,190
2005 9,510
2006 10,020
2007 10,260
2008 10,540
2009 10,070
2010 10,040
2011 11,090
2012 11,890
2013 13,660
2014 13,990
2015 16,050
2016 16,560
2017 17,490
2018 18,020
2019 20,580