Degree to Occupation Map
Occupations related to a physical science degree
NCES and BLS publish a crosswalk relating instructional programs to occupations. This page lists every occupation that crosswalk relates to physical science, with the BLS typical entry education, 2025 median wage and projected growth for each, and links to the RoleSprint page covering the role where one exists.
What occupations does the official crosswalk relate to a physical science degree?
The CIP 2020-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk published by NCES and BLS relates 45 CIP 2020 programs in physical science to 26 occupations. That maps a field of study to lines of work; it is not a statement that a physical science degree qualifies someone for any of them, and the crosswalk carries no figure for how many graduates enter each. Across the 26 with a published 2025 BLS wage the median is $99,690, ranging from $52,130 for Food Science Technicians to $172,250 for Physicists. BLS typical entry-level education splits 5 at associate's degree, 13 at bachelor's degree, 1 at master's degree, 7 at doctoral or professional degree: 18 at or below a bachelor's degree and 8 above it. Business Intelligence Analysts is projected to grow fastest at +34.6% over 2025-35. The highest-paid are Physicists ($172,250), Architectural and Engineering Managers ($171,270) and Natural Sciences Managers ($167,220).
- Related occupations
- 26, from 45 CIP 2020 programs in physical science (a further 2 related occupations have no BLS or O*NET row on this site and are not listed)
- What the mapping means
- NCES states only that it "crosswalks 2020 CIP Codes to 2018 SOC Codes". It relates a program to an occupation. It does not establish qualification, hiring, or how many graduates take that path.
- BLS typical entry-level education
- Associate's degree: 5; Bachelor's degree: 13; Master's degree: 1; Doctoral or professional degree: 7
- Median wage across these occupations
- $99,690 (2025); 26 of 26 have a published BLS wage
- Next step
- 8 of the 26 occupations have a dedicated RoleSprint page covering what the role requires and how the work is performed.
Source and method
2020 CIP / 2018 SOC Crosswalk, National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics, and BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2. Verified 2026-09-06. Program-to-occupation relationships are reproduced from the NCES/BLS crosswalk exactly as published; RoleSprint groups CIP programs into the field of study a person would search for and lists the union of their related occupations, showing every member CIP code. Wage, typical entry education and outlook are reproduced from BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 for the matching SOC code. Working-condition figures are O*NET 30.3 means. No relationship strength, employment share or qualification judgement is published, because no source supplies one.
What this list is, and what it is not
The crosswalk's own description of itself is one sentence: “This file crosswalks 2020 CIP Codes to 2018 SOC Codes in ascending order by CIP Code.” It relates a field of study to lines of work.
It does not say a physical science degree qualifies anyone for these occupations, that graduates usually enter them, or what share do: the crosswalk publishes no such figure. The wage and education columns come from a separate source, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2, and describe the occupation rather than the degree. Typical entry education is what BLS observes most often among people already doing the work; it is not a rule about who may be hired.
The 26 related occupations
Ordered by BLS median wage, highest first. 26 of 26 have a published wage.
| Occupation | BLS typical entry-level education | Median wage | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
Physicists SOC 19-2012 Contact with others 3.4 · Time pressure 3.0 · Sitting 4.6 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $172,250 2025 median | +7.2% 2025-35 · 1.3 openings/yr |
Architectural and Engineering Managers SOC 11-9041 Contact with others 4.5 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 4.0 · Outdoors, all weather 1.8 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $171,270 2025 median | +5.5% 2025-35 · 14.9 openings/yr |
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 4.1 · Outdoors, all weather 1.5 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $167,220 2025 median | +8.2% 2025-35 · 9.2 openings/yr |
Computer and Information Research Scientists SOC 15-1221 Contact with others 4.4 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 4.5 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $140,300 2025 median | +21.8% 2025-35 · 2.9 openings/yr |
Astronomers SOC 19-2011 Contact with others 3.6 · Time pressure 2.9 · Sitting 4.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.7 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $128,820 2025 median | +7.8% 2025-35 · 0.1 openings/yr |
Remote Sensing Scientists and Technologists SOC 19-2099 Contact with others 3.6 · Time pressure 3.4 · Sitting 4.5 · Outdoors, all weather 2.3 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $122,570 2025 median | +2.1% 2025-35 · 1.4 openings/yr |
Business Intelligence Analysts SOC 15-2051 Contact with others 3.3 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 4.8 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $120,230 2025 median | +34.6% 2025-35 · 24.8 openings/yr |
Materials Scientists SOC 19-2032 Contact with others 3.8 · Time pressure 3.4 · Sitting 3.8 · Outdoors, all weather 1.7 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $117,790 2025 median | +8.3% 2025-35 · 0.6 openings/yr |
Web Administrators SOC 15-1299 Contact with others 3.6 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 4.7 · Outdoors, all weather 1.3 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $116,580 2025 median | +5.1% 2025-35 · 27 openings/yr |
Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1032 Contact with others 4.3 · Time pressure 3.5 · Sitting 4.0 · Outdoors, all weather 1.3 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $109,270 2025 median | +7.8% 2025-35 · 3.9 openings/yr |
Atmospheric, Earth, Marine, and Space Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1051 Contact with others 4.3 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 3.3 · Outdoors, all weather 2.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $103,170 2025 median | +2.4% 2025-35 · 0.8 openings/yr |
Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers SOC 19-2042 Contact with others 3.8 · Time pressure 3.4 · Sitting 3.6 · Outdoors, all weather 3.0 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $101,920 2025 median | +5.1% 2025-35 · 1.8 openings/yr |
Physics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1054 Contact with others 4.4 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 3.5 · Outdoors, all weather 1.3 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $100,310 2025 median | +2.4% 2025-35 · 1.1 openings/yr |
Atmospheric and Space Scientists SOC 19-2021 Contact with others 3.9 · Time pressure 4.0 · Sitting 4.4 · Outdoors, all weather 2.2 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $99,070 2025 median | +2.6% 2025-35 · 0.8 openings/yr |
Hydrologists SOC 19-2043 Contact with others 3.9 · Time pressure 3.4 · Sitting 3.9 · Outdoors, all weather 3.1 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $96,600 2025 median | +1.5% 2025-35 · 0.4 openings/yr |
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1053 Contact with others 4.3 · Time pressure 3.6 · Sitting 3.6 · Outdoors, all weather 2.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $94,980 2025 median | +2.7% 2025-35 · 0.6 openings/yr |
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1052 Contact with others 4.3 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 3.9 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $93,250 2025 median | +2.3% 2025-35 · 1.7 openings/yr |
Chemists SOC 19-2031 Contact with others 3.8 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 3.1 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $91,240 2025 median | +6.4% 2025-35 · 5.9 openings/yr |
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health SOC 19-2041 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 4.4 · Outdoors, all weather 2.5 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $82,220 2025 median | +6.1% 2025-35 · 7.3 openings/yr |
Forensic Science Technicians SOC 19-4092 Contact with others 4.2 · Time pressure 3.9 · Sitting 3.1 · Outdoors, all weather 3.9 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $72,060 2025 median | +13.3% 2025-35 · 2.8 openings/yr |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 Contact with others 4.8 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 3.0 · Outdoors, all weather 2.1 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $72,040 2025 median | -0.2% 2025-35 · 63.5 openings/yr |
Quality Control Analysts SOC 19-4099 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 2.4 · Outdoors, all weather 2.1 of 5 | Associate's degree At or below bachelor's | $62,280 2025 median | +4.4% 2025-35 · 11.2 openings/yr |
Chemical Technicians SOC 19-4031 Contact with others 3.9 · Time pressure 4.3 · Sitting 2.4 · Outdoors, all weather 1.9 of 5 | Associate's degree At or below bachelor's | $60,390 2025 median | +4.9% 2025-35 · 7.6 openings/yr |
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health SOC 19-4042 Contact with others 3.9 · Time pressure 4.3 · Sitting 3.2 · Outdoors, all weather 3.6 of 5 | Associate's degree At or below bachelor's | $55,090 2025 median | +6.9% 2025-35 · 5.3 openings/yr |
Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic Technicians SOC 19-4043 Contact with others 3.6 · Time pressure 3.5 · Sitting 3.5 · Outdoors, all weather 2.5 of 5 | Associate's degree At or below bachelor's | $53,350 2025 median | +3.6% 2025-35 · 1 openings/yr |
Food Science Technicians SOC 19-4013 Contact with others 4.6 · Time pressure 4.4 · Sitting 2.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.3 of 5 | Associate's degree At or below bachelor's | $52,130 2025 median | +4.8% 2025-35 · 3 openings/yr |
The crosswalk relates 2 further occupations to this field (19-4044, 25-1199) for which BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 publishes no line item on this site. They are counted here rather than listed, because there would be nothing to show beside the name.
BLS typical entry-level education for these occupations
18 of the 26 have a BLS typical entry-level education at or below a bachelor's degree; 8 are above it. "Typical" is BLS's word: it describes the workers already in the occupation.
- Associate's degree
- 5
- Bachelor's degree
- 13
- Master's degree
- 1
- Doctoral or professional degree
- 7
This is BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2's description of the education most workers in each occupation typically hold when they enter it. It is not a list of requirements, and it says nothing about licences, certifications or experience, which BLS records separately and this page does not show.
Which programs this covers
“Physical science” groups 45 CIP 2020 instructional programs. The occupation list above is the union of everything the crosswalk relates to them.
- 40.0101 Physical Sciences, General
- 40.0201 Astronomy
- 40.0202 Astrophysics
- 40.0203 Planetary Astronomy and Science
- 40.0299 Astronomy and Astrophysics, Other
- 40.0401 Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, General
- 40.0402 Atmospheric Chemistry and Climatology
- 40.0403 Atmospheric Physics and Dynamics
- 40.0404 Meteorology
- 40.0499 Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology, Other
- 40.0501 Chemistry, General
- 40.0502 Analytical Chemistry
- 40.0503 Inorganic Chemistry
- 40.0504 Organic Chemistry
- 40.0506 Physical Chemistry
- 40.0507 Polymer Chemistry
- 40.0508 Chemical Physics
- 40.0509 Environmental Chemistry
- 40.0510 Forensic Chemistry
- 40.0511 Theoretical Chemistry
- 40.0512 Cheminformatics/Chemistry Informatics
- 40.0599 Chemistry, Other
- 40.0601 Geology/Earth Science, General
- 40.0602 Geochemistry
- 40.0603 Geophysics and Seismology
- 40.0604 Paleontology
- 40.0605 Hydrology and Water Resources Science
- 40.0606 Geochemistry and Petrology
- 40.0607 Oceanography, Chemical and Physical
- 40.0699 Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences, Other
- 40.0801 Physics, General
- 40.0802 Atomic/Molecular Physics
- 40.0804 Elementary Particle Physics
- 40.0805 Plasma and High-Temperature Physics
- 40.0806 Nuclear Physics
- 40.0807 Optics/Optical Sciences
- 40.0808 Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
- 40.0809 Acoustics
- 40.0810 Theoretical and Mathematical Physics
- 40.0899 Physics, Other
- 40.1001 Materials Science
- 40.1002 Materials Chemistry
- 40.1099 Materials Sciences, Other
- 40.1101 Physics and Astronomy
- 40.9999 Physical Sciences, Other
Grouping is RoleSprint's, and it is printed here so it can be checked. CIP's own grain is finer than the phrase anyone searches; the alternative is one page per code, which would put near-identical lists in front of the same question. How this map is built.
Working out which of these is realistic
A related occupation is a starting point, not a verdict. Three different questions decide whether one is worth pursuing, and each has its own page.
Program-to-occupation relationships from the 2020 CIP / 2018 SOC Crosswalk, National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wage, typical entry education and outlook from BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2. Working-condition figures from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA and RoleSprint has modified some of this information.
What to do next
A crosswalk relates a field of study to lines of work. Whether one specific opening is worth your time depends on what you can actually show, which is a different question and the one RoleSprint answers.