Chemical & Physical Oceanography

Stem Major

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    Total Degrees​
    Awarded in 2024
    569
    growing 9.63%
    Median In-State​
    Public Tuition
    $9,888
    growing 4%
    Median Out-of-State​
    Private Tuition
    $44,620
    growing 2.76%
    Average Wage
    $130,842
    growing 1.24%
    People in Workforce
    1.23M
    growing 2.38%
    Average Employee Age
    44.5
    declining 0.27%

    About

    Physical SciencesGeological & Earth Sciences

    Institutions

    Information about the types of higher education institutions that grant degrees in Chemical & Physical Oceanography and the types of students that study this field. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College awards the most degrees in Chemical & Physical Oceanography in the US, but United States Coast Guard Academy and United States Naval Academy have the highest percentage of degrees awarded in Chemical & Physical Oceanography.

    Tuition costs for Chemical & Physical Oceanography majors are, on average, $9,888 for in-state public colleges, and $44,620 for out of state private colleges.

    The most common sector, by number of institutions, that offers Chemical & Physical Oceanography programs are Public, 4-year or above institutions (35 total). The most common sector, by number of degrees awarded, is Public, 4-year or above (514 completions).

    Institutions

    Institution with the Most Degrees Awarded in Chemical & Physical Oceanography (2024)
    1. Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
      57 degrees awarded
    2. University of Washington-Seattle Campus
      53 degrees awarded
    3. University of California-San Diego
      43 degrees awarded

    The most common sector, by number of degrees awarded in Chemical & Physical Oceanography, is Public, 4-year or above (514 completions in 2024).

    The following chart shows the share of universities that offer Chemical & Physical Oceanography programs, by the total number of completions, colored and grouped by their sector.

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    Tuition Costs for Common Institutions

    $9,888
    Median In-State Public
    $44,620
    Median Out of State Private

    Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College has the most Chemical & Physical Oceanography degree recipients, with 57 degrees awarded in 2024.

    The following bar chart shows the state tuition for the top 5 institutions with the most degrees awarded in Chemical & Physical Oceanography.

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    Specialized Colleges

    Highest Concentration Institution
    1. United States Coast Guard Academy
      14.3%
    2. United States Naval Academy
      3.48%
    3. California State University Maritime Academy
      3.29%

    Out of all institutions that offer Chemical & Physical Oceanography programs and have at least 5 graduates in those programs, United States Coast Guard Academy has the highest percentage of degrees awarded in Chemical & Physical Oceanography, with 14.3%.

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    Degrees Awarded by County

    Counties with the Most Degrees Awarded in Chemical & Physical Oceanography
    1. East Baton Rouge Parish, LA
      57 degrees awarded
    2. King County, WA
      53 degrees awarded
    3. San Diego County, CA
      43 degrees awarded

    This map shows the counties in the United States colored by the highest number of degrees awarded in Chemical & Physical Oceanography by year.

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    Employment

    Information on the businesses and industries that employ Physical Sciences graduates and on wages and locations for those in the field.

    The average salary for Physical Sciences majors is $130,842 and the most common occupations are Postsecondary teachers, Other Physical Scientists, and Physicians.

    The industry that employs the most Physical Sciences majors is Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, though the highest paying industry, by average wage, is Offices of physicians.

    Yearly Income for Common Jobs

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.
    $130,842
    Average Wage in Workforce
    ± $2,893
    1.24%
    1 Year Growth
    ± 3.12%

    The average salary for Physical Sciences majors is $130,842 and the most common occupations are Postsecondary teachers, Other Physical Scientists, and Physicians.

    This chart shows the average annual salaries of the most common occupations for Physical Sciences majors.

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    Highest Paying Locations

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.
    Highest Paying Pumas
    1. East Texas COG (Northwest)--Van Zandt, Wood, Camp & Rains Counties PUMA, TX
      $394,808
    2. Cumberland County (East)--Hope Mills & Spring Lake Towns PUMA, NC
      $377,178
    3. Jackson, Nicholas, Roane, Braxton, Clay, Gilmer, Calhoun Counties PUMA, WV
      $296,522

    This map shows the public use micro areas (PUMAs) in the United States colored by the average salary of Physical Sciences majors.

    Note that the census collects information tied to where people live, not where they work. It is possible that Physical Sciences majors live and work in the same place, but it is also possible that they live and work in two different places.

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    Most Common

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.

    The most common occupations for Physical Sciences majors, by number of employees, are Postsecondary teachers, Other Physical Scientists, and Physicians.

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    Most Specialized

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.

    Compared to other majors, there are an unusually high number of Physical Sciences majors working as Astronomers & physicists, Chemists & materials scientists, and Environmental scientists & geoscientists.

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    Highest Paid

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.

    The highest paid occupations by median income for Physical Sciences majors are Surgeons, Physicians, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents.

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    Occupations by Share

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.
    1.23M
    2024 Workforce
    ± 27,152
    2.38%
    1 Year Growth
    ± 3.06%

    The number of Physical Sciences graduates in the workforce has been growing at a rate of 2.38%, from 1.2M in 2023 to 1.23M in 2024.

    The largest single share of Physical Sciences graduates go on to work as Postsecondary teachers (7.13%). This chart shows the various jobs filled by those with a major in Physical Sciences by share of the total number of graduates.

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    Most Common

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.

    The most common industries that employ Physical Sciences majors, by number of employees, are Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals, and Scientific research & development services.

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    Highest Paid

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.

    The highest paying industries of Physical Sciences majors, by average wage, are Offices of physicians, Internet publishing, broadcasting & web search portals, and Securities, commodities, funds, trusts & other financial investments.

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    Industries by Share

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.
    1.23M
    2024 Workforce
    ± 27,152
    2.38%
    1 Year Growth
    ± 3.06%

    The number of Physical Sciences graduates in the workforce has been growing at a rate of 2.38%, from 1.2M in 2023 to 1.23M in 2024.

    The industry which employs the most Physical Sciences graduates by share is Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges, followed by General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals. This visualization shows the industries that hire those who major in Physical Sciences.

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    Specialty Locations

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.
    PUMAS with a relatively high number of Physical Sciences majors
    1. Middlesex County (East)--Cambridge PUMA, MA
      8.22
    2. Santa Clara County (Northwest)--Palo Alto City & Los Altos Hills Town PUMA, CA
      6.74
    3. Boulder PUMA, CO
      6.07

    This map shows the public use micro areas (PUMAs) in the United States where there are a relatively high population of Physical Sciences majors.

    Note that the census collects information tied to where people live, not where they work. It is possible that Physical Sciences majors live and work in the same place, but it is also possible that they live and work in two different places.

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    Diversity

    Demographic information for those who earn a degree in Physical Sciences in the United States.

    The average age of a person in the workforce with a degree in Physical Sciences is 44.5.

    N/A Female employees are more likely to hold Physical Sciences degrees, and White students are the most common race/ethnicty group awarded degrees in Physical Sciences (368 students).

    Workforce Age

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.
    44.5
    Average Age in 2024
    ± 0.31 Years
    0.27%
    1 Year Change
    ± 0.992%

    This chart shows distribution of ages for employees with a degree in Physical Sciences. The most common ages of employees with this major are 30 and 32 years old, which represent 2.9% and 2.84% of the population, respectively.

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    Workforce Degrees

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.

    The most common degree types held by the working population in Physical Sciences are Bachelors Degree, Masters Degree, and Doctorate degree.

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    Sex Imbalance for Common Institutions

    Female (61.9%)
    Most Common Sex with a Degree in this Field

    This chart shows the granted degrees by sex at the 5 institutions that graduate the most students in Chemical & Physical Oceanography.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Degrees Awarded

    Degrees
    Most Common Race or Ethnicity
    1. White
      368 degrees awarded in 2024
    2. Non-resident Alien
      60 degrees awarded in 2024
    3. Hispanic or Latino
      54 degrees awarded in 2024

    This chart shows the number of degrees awarded in Chemical & Physical Oceanography for each race & ethnicity.

    In 2024, White students earned the largest share of the degrees with this major.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Sex

    Degrees
    Most Common Race/Ethnicity and Sex Combination
    1. White Female
      97 degrees awarded
    2. White Male
      62 degrees awarded
    3. Hispanic or Latino Female
      18 degrees awarded

    This chart illustrates the differences by sex for each race & ethnicity of Bachelors Degree recipients in Chemical & Physical Oceanography.

    White Female students, who earn most of the degrees in this field, are the most common combination of race/ethnicity and sex.

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    Global Diversity

    The closest comparable data for the 6 Digit Course Chemical & Physical Oceanography is from the 2 Digit Course Physical Sciences.
    Most Common Countries of Origin
    1. India
      57,996 degree recipients
    2. China
      57,400 degree recipients
    3. Korea
      12,380 degree recipients
    High Relative Number of Students
    1. Sri Lanka
      5.23 times more than expected
    2. Switzerland
      4.01 times more than expected
    3. China
      3.79 times more than expected

    There are a relatively high number of people that were born in Sri Lanka that hold Physical Sciences degrees (5.23 times more than expected), and the most common country of origin by total numbers for non-US students earning a degree in this field is India (57,996 degree recipients).

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    Skills

    Data on the critical and distinctive skills necessary for those working in the Chemical & Physical Oceanography field from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chemical & Physical Oceanography majors need many skills, but most especially Science. The revealed comparative advantage (RCA) shows that Chemical & Physical Oceanography majors need more than the average amount of Technology Design, Management of Financial Resources, and Management of Material Resources.

    These two visualizations, one a radial chart and one a bar chart, show the same information, a rating of how necessary the following skills are for Chemical & Physical Oceanography majors. Toggle between "value" and "RCA" to see the absolute rating of that skill (value) and the revealed comparative advantage (RCA), or how much greater or lesser that skill's rating is than the average. The longer the bar or the closer the line comes to the circumference of the circle, the more important that skill is. The importance of Technology Design is very distinctive for majors, but the Science, Reading Comprehension, and Writing are the three most important skills for people in the field.

    Radar Distribution

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    Bar Chart

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