Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

The median annual wage for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations is $78,280, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $87,870, and an estimated 1,389,430 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +12.2% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -4.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation).

Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment

How the national median wage for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.

National median wage trend for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations, nominal and inflation-adjusted, BLS OEWS.
Year	Median (nominal)	In 2023 $ (real)	Employment
2023	$78,280	$78,280	1,389,430
2022	$74,330	$77,390	1,314,360
2021	$72,740	$81,795	1,273,640
2020	$69,760	$82,129	1,296,060

Nominal change

+12.2%

Inflation (CPI)

+17.7%

Real change

-4.7%

Highest-Paying Areas (2023)

Where Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $78,280. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.

Highest-paying areas for Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations, BLS OEWS 2023.
Area	Median Annual	vs National	Employment
District of Columbia	$119,480	+52.6%	19,600
Northeast Virginia nonmetropolitan area	$103,290	+31.9%	760
Massachusetts	$100,370	+28.2%	72,590
California	$96,830	+23.7%	212,680
Maryland	$94,160	+20.3%	51,150
Rhode Island	$90,750	+15.9%	3,820
Connecticut	$86,380	+10.3%	12,790
New Jersey	$84,390	+7.8%	41,160
Colorado	$82,920	+5.9%	37,110
Washington	$82,760	+5.7%	44,640