What are the postgraduation trends?
A graduate’s first position after earning the doctoral degree may reflect broad economic conditions and can shape later career opportunities, earnings, and choices. Over the longer term, the early career patterns of doctorate recipients may influence the decisions of future generations of students considering careers as scientists, engineers, scholars, and researchers.
Job market
Definite commitments for employment at doctorate award among U.S. doctorate recipients, by S&E broad field of study: 1998–2017
S&E
At any given time, the job market for new doctorate recipients will be better in some fields of study than in others. Though all fields tend to follow a similar cyclical pattern that generally reflects overall trends in economic conditions, definite commitments for employment are likely to be influenced by many factors.
The proportion of doctorate recipients in science and engineering (S&E) fields reporting definite commitments for employment, including postdoctoral (postdoc) study, has been in decline since 2001. Proportions hit low points from 2014 to 2016, depending on the field, but in 2017 increased in all S&E broad fields.
S&E = science and engineering.
Note(s)
Shaded areas reflect recessions that occurred between March 2001 and November 2001 and between December 2007 and June 2009 (http://www.nber.org/cycles/cyclesmain.html). Definite commitment refers to a doctorate recipient who is either returning to predoctoral employment or has signed a contract (or otherwise made a definite commitment) for employment, including postdoctoral study, in the coming year. Percentages are based on the number of doctorate recipients responding to the postgraduation status item.
Definite commitments for employment at doctorate award among U.S. doctorate recipients, by non-S&E broad field of study: 1998–2017
Non-S&E
In non-S&E fields, the proportion of doctorate recipients with definite commitments for employment, including postdoc study, has declined in the past 2 decades despite a slight improvement in the past year.
S&E = science and engineering.
Note(s)
Shaded areas reflect recessions that occurred between March 2001 and November 2001 and between December 2007 and June 2009 (http://www.nber.org/cycles/cyclesmain.html). Definite commitment refers to a doctorate recipient who is either returning to predoctoral employment or has signed a contract (or otherwise made a definite commitment) for employment, including postdoctoral study, in the coming year. Percentages are based on the number of doctorate recipients responding to the postgraduation status item.
First postgraduate position
Definite commitments for academic employment in the United States, by broad field of study: 1998–2017
Academic employment
In 2017, 46% of all doctorate recipients with definite employment commitments (excluding postdoc positions) in the United States reported that their principal job would be in academe.
The highest rates of academic employment commitments were reported by doctorate recipients in humanities and arts (77%) and in other non-S&E fields (80%); the lowest rates were in engineering (14%) and in physical sciences and earth sciences (24%). In the past 10 years, the overall rate of academic employment commitments by doctorate recipients in S&E fields has declined, while that of doctorates in non-S&E fields has risen due to the increase in academic commitments in education.
S&E = science and engineering.
Note(s)
Definite commitment for employment refers to a doctorate recipient who is either returning to predoctoral employment or has signed a contract (or otherwise made a definite commitment) for employment other than a postdoctoral position in the coming year. Percentages are based on the number of doctorate recipients who reported definite commitments (including those missing employer type) and plans to stay in the United States.
U.S. postdoctorate rate for U.S. doctorate recipients, by broad field of study: Selected years, 1998–2017
Postdoc positions
Historically, postdoc study positions have been a customary part of the early career paths of doctorate recipients in life sciences and in physical sciences and earth sciences, making up over half of definite commitments. They also have become increasingly prevalent in mathematics and computer sciences, psychology and social sciences, engineering, and non-S&E fields, though at lower rates.
The overall proportion of S&E doctorate recipients taking postdoc positions in the United States immediately after graduation was similar in 2008 and 2017 (47%). However, the proportions of doctorate recipients taking postdoc positions in life sciences, physical and earth sciences, and mathematics and computer sciences declined, while the proportions in engineering and psychology and in social sciences increased.
S&E = science and engineering.
Note(s)
Percentages are based on the number of doctorate recipients who reported definite commitments in the coming year, who reported whether their commitment was for postdoctoral study or other employment, and who plan to live in the United States.
Median salaries
Median basic annual salary of U.S. doctorate recipients with definite commitments for employment in the United States, by position type and broad field of study: 2017
In 2017, doctorate recipients who had definite commitments for a postdoc or other employed position in the United States in the coming year reported basic annual salaries that varied by their field of study and the type of position to which they committed.
In every field, median salaries for doctorate recipients committing to jobs in industry were higher than those in postdocs and academe. The median salaries for postdocs in all broad fields were relatively similar, ranging from $46,000 to $50,000, except for postdocs in mathematics and computer sciences, who had a median salary of $60,000. In every broad field, reported postdoc salaries were lower than salaries reported by doctorate recipients entering non-postdoc employment in industry or academe. Doctorate recipients in engineering and those in other non-S&E fields, such as business, reported the highest median academic salaries. Those in mathematics and computer sciences and those in other non-S&E fields reported the highest median salaries in industry positions.
S&E = science and engineering.
Note(s)
Definite commitment refers to a doctorate recipient who is either returning to predoctoral employment or has signed a contract (or otherwise made a definite commitment) for employment, including postdoctoral study, in the coming year and plans to stay in the United States. Other non-S&E fields includes business management and administration. Employment in industry includes all nonacademic sectors, including self-employment, private for-profit and private nonprofit, and government.
Temporary visa holders and postgraduation
Temporary visa holder U.S. doctorate recipients with definite commitments for employment in the United States, by broad field of study: Selected years, 1998–2017
In 2017, 80% of temporary visa holder doctorate recipients in S&E fields with definite commitments reported that the location of their postdoc or other employment position was in the United States, up from 71% in 1998. Shares were highest in fields where temporary visa holders are more heavily represented: life sciences, physical sciences and earth sciences, mathematics and computer sciences, and engineering.
S&E = science and engineering.
Note(s)
Definite commitment refers to a doctorate recipient who is either returning to predoctoral employment or has signed a contract (or otherwise made a definite commitment) for employment, including postdoctoral study, in the coming year. Percentages are based on the number of temporary visa holders who reported definite commitments and plans to stay in the United States.
