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Industries with Fastest Physical Scientists Salary Growth

These industries raised Physical Scientists salaries the most from 2019 to 2024. Useful for deciding which industry to work in or switch to for better pay growth.

84
Industries with Growth
+69.6%
Highest Growth
+18.8%
Average Growth
16
Industries with Decline

Top 15 Industries for Salary Growth

Physical Scientists salary increase from 2019 to 2024

All 84 Industries with Salary Growth

Rank Industry 2019 Salary 2024 Salary $ Increase % Growth
1 Hospitals $125,340 $212,530 +$87,190 +69.6%
2 Textile Mills $73,830 $121,550 +$47,720 +64.6%
3 Ambulatory Health Care Services $117,190 $192,430 +$75,240 +64.2%
4 Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers $75,440 $121,190 +$45,750 +60.6%
5 Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities $80,950 $126,720 +$45,770 +56.5%
6 Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals $144,180 $218,830 +$74,650 +51.8%
7 Insurance Carriers and Related Activities $91,890 $138,270 +$46,380 +50.5%
8 Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing $88,610 $132,000 +$43,390 +49.0%
9 Grain and Oilseed Milling $66,730 $97,620 +$30,890 +46.3%
10 Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills $74,270 $100,370 +$26,100 +35.1%
11 Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing $129,500 $170,200 +$40,700 +31.4%
12 Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (4232, 4233, 4235, 4236, 4237, and 4239 only) $70,720 $92,550 +$21,830 +30.9%
13 Mining (except Oil and Gas) $78,640 $101,860 +$23,220 +29.5%
14 Metal Ore Mining $80,040 $102,290 +$22,250 +27.8%
15 Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing $94,530 $120,380 +$25,850 +27.3%
16 Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying $71,190 $87,470 +$16,280 +22.9%
17 Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing $100,060 $122,480 +$22,420 +22.4%
18 Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations $64,650 $79,050 +$14,400 +22.3%
19 Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations $92,020 $112,310 +$20,290 +22.0%
20 Computer Systems Design and Related Services $96,990 $118,370 +$21,380 +22.0%
21 Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods $80,520 $98,070 +$17,550 +21.8%
22 Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing $80,860 $98,390 +$17,530 +21.7%
23 Hydroelectric Power Generation $85,440 $103,340 +$17,900 +21.0%
24 Oil and Gas Extraction $139,340 $168,230 +$28,890 +20.7%
25 Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Mills $79,000 $94,960 +$15,960 +20.2%
26 Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools $67,810 $81,480 +$13,670 +20.2%
27 Other Electrical Equipment and Component Manufacturing $81,890 $98,390 +$16,500 +20.1%
28 Fossil Fuel Electric Power Generation $89,990 $107,990 +$18,000 +20.0%
29 Educational Services $67,790 $81,230 +$13,440 +19.8%
30 Scientific Research and Development Services $103,880 $124,420 +$20,540 +19.8%
31 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences $104,190 $124,290 +$20,100 +19.3%
32 Chemical Manufacturing (3251, 3252, 3253, and 3259 only) $82,920 $98,800 +$15,880 +19.2%
33 Motor Vehicle Manufacturing $84,190 $99,910 +$15,720 +18.7%
34 Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories $65,470 $77,570 +$12,100 +18.5%
35 Paper Manufacturing $76,660 $90,790 +$14,130 +18.4%
36 Converted Paper Product Manufacturing $75,970 $89,890 +$13,920 +18.3%
37 Foundries $68,170 $80,100 +$11,930 +17.5%
38 Social Advocacy Organizations $61,820 $71,990 +$10,170 +16.5%
39 Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing $76,170 $88,200 +$12,030 +15.8%
40 Machinery Manufacturing $99,460 $115,060 +$15,600 +15.7%
41 Transportation Equipment Manufacturing $121,120 $139,930 +$18,810 +15.5%
42 Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution $95,150 $108,920 +$13,770 +14.5%
43 Utilities $95,430 $109,010 +$13,580 +14.2%
44 Nuclear Electric Power Generation $104,210 $118,940 +$14,730 +14.1%
45 Tobacco Manufacturing $77,480 $88,410 +$10,930 +14.1%
46 Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing $110,960 $125,530 +$14,570 +13.1%
47 Utility System Construction $68,540 $77,360 +$8,820 +12.9%
48 Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing $89,400 $100,880 +$11,480 +12.8%
49 Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing $77,420 $87,200 +$9,780 +12.6%
50 Food Manufacturing $71,940 $80,690 +$8,750 +12.2%
51 Machinery Manufacturing (3331, 3332, 3334, and 3339 only) $102,400 $114,560 +$12,160 +11.9%
52 Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing $71,580 $79,800 +$8,220 +11.5%
53 Other Support Services $68,730 $76,530 +$7,800 +11.3%
54 Pipeline Transportation of Natural Gas $92,050 $102,230 +$10,180 +11.1%
55 Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services $80,690 $89,400 +$8,710 +10.8%
56 Plastics Product Manufacturing $87,690 $96,960 +$9,270 +10.6%
57 Legal Services $73,070 $80,710 +$7,640 +10.5%
58 Chemical Manufacturing (3255 and 3256 only) $71,150 $78,390 +$7,240 +10.2%
59 Remediation and Other Waste Management Services $73,740 $80,710 +$6,970 +9.5%
60 Beverage Manufacturing $70,170 $76,700 +$6,530 +9.3%
61 Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing $89,250 $97,550 +$8,300 +9.3%
62 Chemical Manufacturing $76,150 $83,200 +$7,050 +9.3%
63 Pipeline Transportation $94,550 $103,030 +$8,480 +9.0%
64 Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing $73,630 $80,060 +$6,430 +8.7%
65 Animal Food Manufacturing $74,200 $80,610 +$6,410 +8.6%
66 Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing $83,570 $90,530 +$6,960 +8.3%
67 Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (3321, 3322, 3325, 3326, and 3329 only) $74,190 $80,150 +$5,960 +8.0%
68 Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4242 and 4246 only) $81,340 $87,200 +$5,860 +7.2%
69 Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services $71,170 $76,080 +$4,910 +6.9%
70 Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing $76,610 $81,690 +$5,080 +6.6%
71 Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services $74,000 $78,730 +$4,730 +6.4%
72 Engineering Services $76,830 $81,670 +$4,840 +6.3%
73 Primary Metal Manufacturing $72,370 $76,560 +$4,190 +5.8%
74 Miscellaneous Manufacturing $78,540 $82,760 +$4,220 +5.4%
75 Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods $82,270 $86,620 +$4,350 +5.3%
76 Management of Companies and Enterprises $108,910 $114,600 +$5,690 +5.2%
77 Rubber Product Manufacturing $78,590 $82,570 +$3,980 +5.1%
78 Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing $61,230 $63,900 +$2,670 +4.4%
79 Medical Equipment and Supplies Manufacturing $79,440 $82,760 +$3,320 +4.2%
80 Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing $71,850 $74,590 +$2,740 +3.8%
81 Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction $71,540 $74,060 +$2,520 +3.5%
82 Waste Management and Remediation Services $74,970 $76,980 +$2,010 +2.7%
83 Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities $69,980 $71,420 +$1,440 +2.1%
84 Other Food Manufacturing $84,750 $85,690 +$940 +1.1%

16 Industries with Salary Decline

Rank Industry 2019 Salary 2024 Salary $ Decrease % Decline
1 Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing $65,670 $43,910 -$21,760 -33.1%
2 Specialty Trade Contractors $81,660 $54,720 -$26,940 -33.0%
3 Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods (4241, 4247, and 4249 only) $94,330 $77,200 -$17,130 -18.2%
4 Support Activities for Mining $88,170 $76,160 -$12,010 -13.6%
5 Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing $69,960 $61,720 -$8,240 -11.8%
6 Waste Treatment and Disposal $76,650 $68,810 -$7,840 -10.2%
7 Temporary Help Services $67,680 $61,530 -$6,150 -9.1%
8 Ship and Boat Building $83,440 $78,250 -$5,190 -6.2%
9 Grantmaking and Giving Services $91,460 $86,040 -$5,420 -5.9%
10 Employment Services $67,580 $63,810 -$3,770 -5.6%
11 Administrative and Support Services $68,900 $66,080 -$2,820 -4.1%
12 Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions $64,060 $61,860 -$2,200 -3.4%
13 Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services $76,070 $74,060 -$2,010 -2.6%
14 Junior Colleges $67,390 $66,270 -$1,120 -1.7%
15 Facilities Support Services $108,120 $106,840 -$1,280 -1.2%
16 Machinery, Equipment, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers $92,740 $92,540 -$200 -0.2%

About This Data

Salary growth is calculated by comparing the median annual wage for Physical Scientists in each industry between 2019 and 2024, using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Growth percentage = (2024 median - 2019 median) / 2019 median × 100.

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