The PayScale Index (US): Trends in Compensation

2012: For the first time in almost two years, earnings for workers in science and biotech have dipped a bit. Wages in Q1 2012 fell 0.4 percent from the previous quarter. However, due to strong growth in 2011, wages were still up 1.5 percent year-over-year.

2007-2011: Through 2007 and 2008, wages for science and biotech jobs rose a little better than all jobs, up about 4.5 percent for 2007 and about 2 percent for 2008. As a smaller job category, science and biotech is subject to larger quarter-to-quarter changes, but, overall, it followed the national average trend for wages, which was down in 2009 and then flat through 2010. Then, a healthy climb brought wages for workers in science and biotech up 2.5 percent year-over-year by Q4 2011.

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Science and biotech (SOC Codes 11-9120.00 Natural Sciences Managers; 19-0000.00 Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations) jobs use the scientific method to understand the world and the people in it. From physicists and biochemists to crime scene technicians and urban planners, these specialists help us answer the questions of what, how and why, and then show how to use this knowledge to advance human welfare. In private industry, these workers are mostly found in the research labs of major corporations as well as think tanks and research institutes.

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) system is used by Federal statistical agencies to classify workers into occupational categories for the purpose of collecting, calculating, or disseminating data. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The PayScale Index tracks quarterly changes in total cash compensation for full-time, private industry employees in the United States. In addition to a national index, it includes separate indices for specific industries, metropolitan areas, job categories, and company sizes. The PayScale Index uses 2006 average total cash compensation as a baseline.

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