This report provides current data on the levels of and key trends in the performance and funding of research and development (R&D) in the United States, with comparisons to the historical record (back to 1953). Detailed statistical tables present data on U.S. R&D expenditures by performing sector, source of funds, type of R&D, and state. Data are drawn from multiple surveys from the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Research and experimental development (R&D) performed in the United States totaled $937 billion in 2023: $138 billion was basic research, $174 billion was applied research, and $625 billion was experimental development. U.S. total R&D expenditures are estimated to be $993 billion for 2024, or $792 billion when adjusted for inflation (in constant 2017 dollars). Data from the National Patterns of R&D Resources annual series by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the U.S. National Science Foundation.

Between 2023 and 2024, the number of postdoctoral appointees (postdocs) rose by 6.1%, from 65,850 to 69,877—the highest number ever reported to the Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering (GSS). Before 2024, the 66,247 postdocs reported in 2019 was the high for the number of postdocs at GSS institutions. Graduate student counts were more complex, with generally stable enrollment in the master’s science, engineering, and health (SEH) program enrollment between 2023 and 2024 and a slight increase in doctoral SEH programs during that period. Findings are from the 2024 GSS, funded by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation and by the National Institutes of Health.

This report presents data from the 2024 Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering, sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation and by the National Institutes of Health. The tables show trends within science, engineering, and selected health fields on graduate student enrollment, postdoc appointments, and doctorate-holding nonfaculty researchers, as well as counts by selected characteristics, such as sex, ethnicity, race, citizenship, field of study, and source of financial support.

Doctorate recipients’ expected median salaries vary by broad field of study and position type. However, in 2024, doctorate recipients in every broad field of study with definite post-graduation commitments in the United States expected to earn more in industry than in academia or postdoc positions. Industry also had the largest spread of expected salaries, where the highest median salary by field of study (computer and information sciences) was nearly double that of the lowest median salary (non-S&E fields).

Although most doctoral recipients in each broad field of study are funded through research assistantships or traineeships; teaching assistantships; or fellowships, scholarships, and dissertation grants, the prevalence of the financial support type varies by field. In 2024, research assistantships and traineeships were the most common source of financial support in most broad fields. About one-third of doctorate recipients in psychology, health sciences, and non-S&E fields relied on their own resources as their primary funding source.

Talent is critical to the U.S. science and engineering enterprise and competitiveness. The U.S. science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce represented about a quarter of the total domestic workforce in 2023, with distinct education, employment, and wage patterns. Recent assessments reveal incomplete recovery for U.S. K–12 students from pandemic-related STEM learning losses. STEM degree production grew at U.S. higher education institutions at all levels between 2013 and 2023. In 2023, the United States was the leading destination for international students, despite a small decline in overall share since 2013.

Nearly one-quarter (23%) of the estimated 4.9 million for-profit companies with at least one employee introduced an innovation during 2020–22. Ten percent of companies reported a product innovation and 20% of companies reported a business process innovation during this period. Data are from the 2023 Annual Business Survey (ABS) (data year 2022), which provides a comprehensive view of business innovation in the United States. The ABS was developed and is cosponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation and by the Census Bureau.

Total higher education research and development (R&D) expenditures reached $117.7 billion in FY 2024, an increase of $8.9 billion or 8.1% from FY 2023. Federally funded R&D at universities exceeded $64 billion, accounting for 55% of total higher education R&D in FY 2024. The data in this report are from the Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey, sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation.

In FY 2023, federal agency obligations to the top 10 higher education recipient institutions totaled $9.9 billion, or 20.1% of all federal S&E support obligations to higher education institutions. In FY 2014, the top 10 recipient institutions totaled $7.2 billion, or 22.7% of all federal S&E support obligations to higher education institutions. This InfoBytes presents statistics on changes in the population of the top 10 recipient institutions during the past decade. Estimates are from the FY 2023 Survey of Federal Science and Engineering Support module within the Survey of Federal Funds for Research and Development, conducted by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics within the U.S. National Science Foundation.