Science and research jobs: postings, pay, and occupations
How many US job postings are in science and research, what they advertise in pay, and the occupations and industries behind them.
- US job postings
- 17,471
- 0.5% of US postings placed in a field
- Median advertised pay
- $87,500
- Middle 50 percent $56,160 to $137,250
- Share that list pay
- 24.0%
- 4,199 of 17,471 postings
- Fully remote
- 3.1%
- 550 remote postings open to US workers
Figures as of .
Science and research has 17,471 live US job postings as of November 5, 2026, 0.5% of the US postings we could place in a field. That ranks 24th of 24 fields.
Its postings that list pay advertise a median of $87,500 a year, with the middle 50 percent from $56,160 to $137,250.
Its largest occupation is research lab technician and assistant, with 34.6% of its postings. The industry with the most of its postings is pharma, biotech and medical devices, with 18.6%.
Occupations in science and research
Each occupation's share of the US postings in science and research, as of November 5, 2026. A posting placed only in a field has no occupation, so the shares can add up to less than the whole field.
| Occupation | Postings | Share of field | Lists pay | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research lab technician and assistant | 6,045 | 34.6% | 16.4% | $55,000 |
| Environmental scientist and geoscientist | 3,059 | 17.5% | 24.8% | $86,320 |
| Biologist and life scientist | 3,020 | 17.3% | 25.6% | $116,240 |
| Chemist | 2,583 | 14.8% | 28.8% | $116,775 |
| Food and agricultural scientist | 1,416 | 8.1% | 29.9% | $47,840 |
| Economist and social science researcher | 691 | 4.0% | 41.0% | $110,024 |
| Physicist and physical scientist | 657 | 3.8% | 34.6% | $157,500 |
Specialties in science and research
The 18 specialties with the most US postings in science and research, among those with at least 50, each as a share of its occupation's US postings, as of November 5, 2026. Many postings name no specialty.
| Specialty | Occupation | Postings | Share of occupation | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology lab | Research lab technician and assistant | 838 | 13.9% | $61,360 |
| Molecular and cell biology | Biologist and life scientist | 819 | 27.1% | $120,000 |
| Research assistant | Research lab technician and assistant | 719 | 11.9% | $55,120 |
| Field sampling | Environmental scientist and geoscientist | 703 | 23.0% | $58,183 |
| Analytical and bioanalytical | Chemist | 574 | 22.2% | $111,400 |
| Geology | Environmental scientist and geoscientist | 460 | 15.0% | $109,295 |
| Formulation | Chemist | 455 | 17.6% | $116,700 |
| Environmental consulting | Environmental scientist and geoscientist | 402 | 13.1% | $115,000 |
| Chemistry lab | Research lab technician and assistant | 351 | 5.8% | $54,080 |
| QC lab | Research lab technician and assistant | 338 | 5.6% | $52,000 |
| Discovery and translational research | Biologist and life scientist | 272 | 9.0% | $121,740 |
| Computational biology | Biologist and life scientist | 248 | 8.2% | $156,000 |
| QC chemistry | Chemist | 232 | 9.0% | $79,000 |
| Organic and synthetic | Chemist | 217 | 8.4% | $137,500 |
| Microbiology | Biologist and life scientist | 163 | 5.4% | Fewer than 50 postings with pay |
| Immunology | Biologist and life scientist | 115 | 3.8% | Fewer than 50 postings with pay |
| Quantum | Physicist and physical scientist | 104 | 15.8% | Fewer than 50 postings with pay |
| Computational and simulation | Physicist and physical scientist | 102 | 15.5% | $162,000 |
Industries hiring for science and research
The industries with the most US science and research postings, each as a share of the field's US postings, as of November 5, 2026. Each posting counts in its employer's industry.
| Industry | Postings | Share of field | Median pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharma, biotech and medical devices | 3,253 | 18.6% | $118,000 |
| Education | 2,927 | 16.8% | $60,320 |
| Healthcare | 2,755 | 15.8% | $70,000 |
| Professional services | 2,603 | 14.9% | $97,500 |
| Manufacturing and consumer goods | 1,221 | 7.0% | $91,354 |
| Aerospace and defense | 792 | 4.5% | $123,048 |
| Staffing and recruiting | 443 | 2.5% | Held back |
| Hospitality, food service and leisure | 426 | 2.4% | Held back |
| Energy, mining and utilities | 395 | 2.3% | $103,750 |
| Government and public administration | 384 | 2.2% | $61,214 |
| Agriculture | 361 | 2.1% | $51,199 |
| Hardware and electronics | 313 | 1.8% | $140,500 |
Questions
- How many US job postings are in science and research?
- 17,471 live US job postings as of November 5, 2026, 0.5% of the US postings we could place in a field.
- What do science and research job postings pay?
- The median advertised base pay is $87,500 a year, and the middle 50 percent of postings that list pay run from $56,160 to $137,250. 4,199 of its 17,471 US postings list pay.
- Which science and research occupations have the most job postings?
- The occupations with the most science and research postings are research lab technician and assistant (34.6%), environmental scientist and geoscientist (17.5%), and biologist and life scientist (17.3%), each as a share of its US postings.