Natural Sciences
Interdisciplinary Studies
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate's Degree | $53,484 | $47,721 to $58,516 | 5 | 100% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $45,910 | $38,999 to $56,340 | 15 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +4% (2025 to 2035), about 23,500 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postsecondary Teachers, All Other | $77,640 | +2% | 12,500 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $167,220 | +8.2% | 9,200 |
| Physical Scientists, All Other | $122,570 | +2.1% | 1,400 |
| Life Scientists, All Other | $93,750 | +6.3% | 400 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a natural sciences program, of 113 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- San Jacinto Community College
- Mesa Community College
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College
- Daemen University
- Glendale Community College
- Estrella Mountain Community College
- University of Puerto Rico at Cayey
- Kansas State University
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.