The Physical Science Technician major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.
Within Technician, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.
Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.
As part of Technician, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.
Typical starting pay soon after graduation.
Estimated after a decade of experience.
Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.
CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.
Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.
Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections
| Occupation | Median Wage | Total Jobs | Growth Rate | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Chemical Plant and System Operators SOC: 51-8091 Occupation: Chemical Plant and System Operators | $73,540 | 17,840 | N/A | N/A |
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders SOC: 51-9011 Occupation: Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders | $57,090 | 127,410 | N/A | N/A |
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health SOC: 19-4042 Occupation: Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health | $49,490 | 39,390 | N/A | N/A |
Chemical Technicians SOC: 19-4031 Occupation: Chemical Technicians | $57,790 | 55,640 | N/A | N/A |
Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other SOC: 19-4099 Occupation: Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $60,130 | 71,400 | N/A | N/A |
Hydrologic Technicians SOC: 19-4044 Occupation: Hydrologic Technicians | $58,570 | 2,940 | N/A | N/A |
Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $73,540 | 17,840 |
| 2023 | $80,030 | 17,980 |
| 2022 | $82,670 | 18,710 |
| 2021 | $70,200 | 21,740 |
| 2020 | $65,960 | 29,710 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $57,090 | 127,410 |
| 2023 | $51,720 | 120,260 |
| 2022 | $49,330 | 115,370 |
| 2021 | $48,090 | 106,170 |
| 2020 | $50,510 | 93,060 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $49,490 | 39,390 |
| 2023 | $50,660 | 32,390 |
| 2022 | $48,380 | 33,920 |
| 2021 | $47,370 | 34,110 |
| 2020 | $46,850 | 31,860 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $57,790 | 55,640 |
| 2023 | $56,750 | 55,880 |
| 2022 | $50,840 | 56,030 |
| 2021 | $48,990 | 57,690 |
| 2020 | $49,820 | 63,490 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $60,130 | 71,400 |
| 2023 | $58,350 | 72,230 |
| 2022 | $50,290 | 70,770 |
| 2021 | $49,030 | 62,230 |
| 2020 | $52,460 | 62,080 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $58,570 | 2,940 |
| 2023 | $55,890 | 3,000 |
| 2022 | $58,360 | 2,920 |
| 2021 | $62,280 | 3,550 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $48,390 | 9,710 |
| 2023 | $52,440 | 8,860 |
| 2022 | $48,490 | 9,170 |
| 2021 | $48,310 | 9,210 |