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Job outlook for chief science officers in the United States
Are chief science officer jobs in demand?
Yes, chief science officer jobs are in demand. Chief science officer demand is projected to grow 16% from 2018 to 2028.
Chief science officer job and salary trends over time
Compare the number of chief science officer jobs and the average chief science officer salary over time.
Chief science officer jobs over time
Chief science officer job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,842 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 1,736 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 1,647 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 1,486 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 1,388 | 0.00% |
Average chief science officer salary over time
Chief science officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $126,094 | $60.62 | +3.3% |
| 2024 | $122,098 | $58.70 | +2.7% |
| 2023 | $118,903 | $57.16 | +2.4% |
| 2022 | $116,142 | $55.84 | +2.5% |
| 2021 | $113,289 | $54.47 | +3.2% |
Chief science officer jobs by state
The map below shows you the number of chief science officer job openings in each state. The darker areas on the map show where chief science officers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.
Average salary: Job openings:
Most common states for chief science officers
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 359 | 52% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,057 | 30% |
| 3 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 270 | 25% |
| 4 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,318 | 24% |
| 5 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 409 | 24% |
| 6 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 180 | 24% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 148 | 24% |
| 8 | Delaware | 961,939 | 208 | 22% |
| 9 | New York | 19,849,399 | 4,076 | 21% |
| 10 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 284 | 21% |
| 11 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,828 | 20% |
| 12 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 177 | 20% |
| 13 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 2,416 | 19% |
| 14 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,166 | 19% |
| 15 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 364 | 19% |
| 16 | Arizona | 7,016,270 | 1,251 | 18% |
| 17 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,018 | 18% |
| 18 | Iowa | 3,145,711 | 552 | 18% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 241 | 18% |
| 20 | Georgia | 10,429,379 | 1,785 | 17% |
Chief Science Officer job outlook: Expert opinions
We spoke to chief science officer professors and experts from several universities and companies to get their opinions on where the chief science officer job market for recent graduates is heading and how young graduates entering the chief science officer industry can be adequately prepared. Here are their thoughts.
Our panel of chief science officer experts
Helen Mango Ph.D.
Castleton University
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Chief Science Officers in the next 3-5 years?
Helen Mango Ph.D.: Anything with GIS.
Will there be an enduring impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Chief Science Officers?
Helen Mango Ph.D.: Short-term, yes. It is currently harder to find work because companies and governments are holding back hiring. Long-term, no. Geologists have too much to do: geologic hazard assessment, environmental clean-up, exploration, resource use and management, land planning....
Chief science officer jobs
Updated July 21, 2020