Background/Fact Information

Facts About Men & Women In Science

The following information is based on published and publicly available National Science Foundation 1995 survey data. Unless otherwise stated, all information refers to holders of Ph.D.'s or equivalent degrees in the natural sciences and engineering, including mathematical and computer sciences, life and related sciences, physical and related sciences, and engineering. It excludes social sciences and non-science fields.

Women In Science

• Only 62,060 of the nation's 384,610 Ph.D. natural scientists and engineers are women, just 16% of the total.
  
  
• In no field of science or occupational category are there equal or greater numbers of women and men.
  
  
• Only 10% of natural scientist and engineer Ph.D.'s over 50 years old are women.
  
  
• 25% of the natural scientist and engineer Ph.D.'s 35 years old or under are women.
  
  
• 56% of the natural scientist and engineer Ph.D.'s who are women report having no children at home.
  
  
• More women hold Life and related sciences Ph.D.'s than other broad areas of natural science and engineering (66%).
  
  
• Fewer (4,450) women hold Engineering Ph.D.'s than other broad areas of natural science and engineering.
  
  
• Women Ph.D.'s in natural sciences & engineering fields receive an average of $8,000 to $12,000 less in salary than men in the same fields.
  
  
• Women Ph.D.'s in Engineering receive the highest average salary, $58,300.
  
  
• Women Ph.D.'s in Life science & related receive the lowest average salary, $44,000.
  
  
• Women constitute 39% of the students enrolled in graduate science and engineering programs. The numbers of women enrolled has been increasing steadily since 1980.

The top five Ph.D. choices for women are:
1. Biological and health sciences (38,110)
2. Chemistry (except biochem) (8,470)
3. Mathematical sciences (2,980)
4. Agricultural & Food sciences (2,430)
5. Physics & Astronomy (2,190)

The bottom five Ph.D. choices for women are:
5. Environmental Sciences (370)
4. Mechanical engineering (310)
2. Other physical sciences (inc. Earth) (270)
3. Industrial engineering (310)
1. Aerospace/aeronautical engineering (< 50)

The top five natural sciences and engineering occupations for women are:
1. Biological scientist (16,010)
2. Postsecondary teacher, Life science & related (7,310)
3. Computer & Information scientist (5,280)
4. Chemist (except biochem.) (3,420)
5. Postsecondary teacher, Physical science & related (3,130)

The bottom five natural sciences and engineering occupations for women are:
5. Mechanical engineer (180)
4. Forestry & conservation scientist (150)
3. Aerospace & related engineer (150)
2. Civil & architectural engineer (110)
1. Industrial engineer (100)

The full time employment rate for women is 87%.

The part-time employment rate for women is 12%.

Men In Science

• A total of 322,570 of the nation's 384,610 Ph.D. natural scientists and engineers are men, 84% of the total.
  
  
• In every field of science or occupational category there are greater numbers of men than women.
  
  
• Almost all (90%) of natural scientist and engineer Ph.D.'s over 50 years old are men.
  
  
• Most (75%) of the natural scientist and engineer Ph.D.'s 35 years old or under are men.
  
  
• 46% of the natural scientist and engineer Ph.D.'s who are men report having no children at home.
  
  
• More men hold Life and related sciences Ph.D.'s than other broad areas of natural science and engineering (34%).
  
  
• Fewer (82,560) men hold Engineering Ph.D.'s than other broad areas of natural science and engineering.
  
  
• Men Ph.D.'s in natural sciences & engineering fields receive an average of $8,000 to $12,000 more in salary than women in the same fields.
  
  
• Men Ph.D.'s in Engineering receive the highest average salary, $67,000.
  
  
• Men Ph.D.'s in Life science & related receive the lowest average salary, $56,000.
  
  
• Men constitute 61% of the students enrolled in graduate science and engineering programs. The numbers of men enrolled has been decreasing since 1992.

The top five Ph.D. choices for men are:
1. Biological and health sciences (88,780)
2. Chemistry (except biochem) (52,880)
3, Physics & Astronomy (36,540)
4. Engineering (Other) (25,260)
5. Mathematical sciences (22,180)

The bottom five Ph.D. choices for men are:
5. Computer & Information sciences (5,510)
4. Environmental Sciences (4,210)
3. Aerospace/aeronautical engineering (3,770)
2. Industrial engineering (2,210)
1.Other physical sciences (inc. Earth) (1,030)

The top five natural sciences and engineering occupations for men are:
1. Biological scientist (38,310)
2. Postsecondary teacher, Life science & related (25,530)
3. Postsecondary teacher, Physical science & related (21,880)
4. Chemist (except biochem.) (21,070)
5. Postsecondary teacher, Computer & Information science (16,170)

The bottom five natural sciences and engineering occupations for men are:
5. Aerospace & related engineer (4410)
4. Civil & architectural engineer (2,830)
3. Other physical scientist (2,020)
2. Forestry & conservation scientist (910)
1. Industrial engineer (760)

The full time employment rate for men is 94%.

The part-time employment rate for men is 4%.