Who influences the progress of the U.S. economy and who creates and develops science and technology?
Income Disparities
In mid-2022, the U.S. had 1.4 million scientists engaged in basic, applied, and social science, with a median pre-tax income of $83.3k, including technical support staff (lab technicians, research assistants, and paraprofessionals).
The 1.4 million includes personnel in both public and quasi-public research units and private companies.
The least in the U.S. receive scientists engaged in public opinion research, design, and conduct surveys, with an income of 60.4 thousand dollars. At the same time, sociologists and social process researchers earn about $100,000, and psychologists earn $85.3,000.
The level of $60,000 defines the minimum threshold for senior scientific staff.
- Anthropologists, archaeologists, environmental scientists, environmentalists, fauna researchers, zoologists, and wildlife researchers receive between $60,000 and $67,000. Historians are less popular, with only $3.5 thousand in income, totaling $64.5 thousand.
- Agricultural and food scientists research ways to improve the efficiency and safety of agricultural enterprises and products, earning $74.9 thousand.
- Urbanists, specialists in urban construction, planning, and development, have an income of about $80 thousand.
- Meteorologists, hydrologists, and geophysicists earn between $84,000 and $88,000.
- Microbiologists, epidemiologists, biochemists, and biophysicists, as well as medical scientists and medical scientific and technical personnel, make up 266,000 people with earnings of $82,800, and excluding technical personnel, 184,000 people earn $98,000. Incomes are highly dependent on the size of companies.
- Physicists and astronomers receive the most, with an income of $139.2 thousand, while political scientists earn $128 thousand. Economists and risk management specialists assessing financial and economic imbalances earn $114 thousand. Mathematicians, statisticians, and Data Science specialists receive about $100,000 to $105,000.
Conclusion
In conclusion, economic progress and the development of science and technology in the United States are influenced by a range of professionals from different scientific disciplines. From sociologists and psychologists to physicists and mathematicians, they all play a critical role in advancing knowledge and innovation. While the income levels of these professionals vary widely, with some earning significantly more than others, it must be recognized that the contributions of each field are integral to the overall growth and prosperity of the country.