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Job outlook for process scientists in the United States
Are process scientist jobs in demand?
Process scientist job and salary trends over time
Process scientist jobs over time
Process scientist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 518 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 602 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 607 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 574 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 533 | 0.00% |
Average process scientist salary over time
Process scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $92,203 | $44.33 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $89,462 | $43.01 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | $85,452 | $41.08 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $82,712 | $39.77 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $81,140 | $39.01 | --2.1% |
Process scientist jobs by state
Most common states for process scientists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,030 | 30% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 183 | 26% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 221 | 23% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 986 | 16% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,268 | 15% |
| 6 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 207 | 15% |
| 7 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 943 | 13% |
| 8 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 115 | 13% |
| 9 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,081 | 12% |
| 10 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 126 | 12% |
| 11 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 87 | 12% |
| 12 | Vermont | 623,657 | 75 | 12% |
| 13 | California | 39,536,653 | 4,479 | 11% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 1,157 | 11% |
| 15 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 441 | 11% |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,245 | 10% |
| 17 | Wisconsin | 5,795,483 | 561 | 10% |
| 18 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 548 | 10% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 371 | 10% |
| 20 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 57 | 10% |
Most common cities for process scientists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watertown Town | 3 | 9% | $86,900 |
| 2 | Fairborn | 2 | 6% | $75,591 |
| 3 | Andover | 1 | 3% | $86,658 |
| 4 | Lexington | 1 | 3% | $86,856 |
| 5 | Newark | 1 | 2% | $118,613 |
| 6 | Gaithersburg | 1 | 1% | $90,862 |
| 7 | South San Francisco | 1 | 1% | $118,918 |
| 8 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $86,890 |
| 9 | Chicago | 1 | 0% | $85,760 |
| 10 | Irvine | 1 | 0% | $108,402 |
| 11 | San Francisco | 1 | 0% | $119,022 |
Process Scientist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of process scientist experts
Earlham College
Washburn University of Topeka
Purdue University
University of San Diego
Northwestern University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Washington State University
Purdue University
University of Pittsburgh
Western Washington University
Quinnipiac University
Bradley University
Creighton University
The College of New Jersey
Stevenson University
University of Wisconsin - Platteville
Doverspike Consulting/HR LItehouse
Robert Morris University
Mr. Brian Zimmerman III
Assistant Vice President of Strategic CommunicationsEarlham College
Drama/Theatre Arts And Stagecraft
What Process Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Mr. Brian Zimmerman III: An emerging trend in my particular field is deep-sequencing or "big data" analysis. Many techniques that investigate the identities, regulation, and networks of biological molecules are high-throughput, meaning they generate huge quantities of data that require specialized programs and training to analyze. Developing a background in bioinformatics, data literacy, programming, or computer science will definitely make a student highly marketable and sought after when on the job market. There are several online and in-person courses, workshops, and webinars to learn about these techniques and the accompanying data analysis; I encourage recent graduates or soon-to-be graduates to explore these opportunities as these skills are transferrable to several disciplines and career paths.
Susan Bjerke
Associate Professor of BiologyWashburn University of Topeka
Biological And Physical Sciences
What will help Process Scientists increase their earning potential?
Susan Bjerke: Some of the skills that will be important in the next 3-5 years will be general critical thinking skills and the ability to adapt to changing technology. Almost all science fields are increasingly dependent on technology, so being able to learn new skills and change the way you do things in your job will be important. Being an effective communicator, both in writing and orally, is an overlooked skill in the sciences and is always an important asset.
What general advice would you give to a Process Scientist?
Dr. Peiyi Shen: - The field of food science is ever-evolving. It is very important to keep up-to-date with the latest research, technologies, and trends in both the food industry and academia. They are suggested to attend workshops, conferences, and/or pursue related certifications or advanced degrees. - Building professional relationships can open doors to more opportunities. Joining professional organizations such as the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and participating in industry events provide excellent opportunities to meet people in the same area. - They are encouraged to seek more hand-on and practical experience. For example, internships, co-op programs, and entry-level positions can provide valuable hands-on experience. This can also help you determine which area of food science you are most passionate about. - The food industry is fast-paced and can change rapidly due to the new regulations, consumer trends, and technological advancements. Being flexible and open to change is helpful.
What Process Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Peiyi Shen: - *Data Analysis and Computational Skills:* As big data and AI become increasingly important and popular, being proficient in data analysis, machine learning, and using software like Python can be highly valuable. - *Sustainability Practices:* Knowledge of sustainable food production, waste reduction, and environmental impact will be crucial as the industry moves towards greener practices.
What general advice would you give to a Process Scientist?
Nikhilesh Chawla: Prioritize your education. Having a Bachelor’s is great but you will be able to do much more interesting work AND have a higher salary with a Master’s or PhD.
What Process Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Nikhilesh Chawla: Make sure you are passionate about what you do. Great careers should not feel like a ‘job’. Try to learn as much as you can, be curious, and engaged. Networking with folks in your field and choosing 1-2 or mentors to help guide you would be good too.
What will help Process Scientists increase their earning potential?
Nikhilesh Chawla: Materials Science and Engineering has changed quite a bit in the last few years. In a lot of companies, it used to be a lot of fabrication of a material followed by testing. Now, we have amazing microscopy as well as computation tools. AI is becoming an important part of our field, as is x-ray microscopy to nondestructively study materials under stress, thermal, or electrical conditions.
What will help Process Scientists increase their earning potential?
Nicole Danos PhD: In addition to many sought after hard skills that our Biology program graduate have been trained in (cell and microbial culture, DNA sequencing and bioinformatics, antibody staining, data analysis and biostatistics), graduates should remember to leverage the other scientific skills they learned. This includes things like researching and summarizing the state of knowledge in a field, distilling relevant information for peers and supervisors, presenting experimental designs and results and all around thinking about problems from start to finish. All of our graduates should be able to leverage these soft science skills, since they all had to do an independent research project.
What general advice would you give to a Process Scientist?
Nathaniel Stern: To answer this question we need to be clear what field the graduate intends to continue in. If they want to continue in Physics as a “field”, then they will most likely need to go to graduate school in Physics, Astronomy, or a related field. There are many opportunities for graduates with majors in Physics, but many of these are in different fields. Physics majors excel in these other opportunities, but in order to do “physics”, meaning studying the science of matter and energy, one generally goes to graduate school. If this is the graduate’s plan, then the advice is to be passionate about the research topic that you choose. One does not need to know ahead of time that a particular direction of research is the best possible direction for them, but they should have interest in it. Research often involves small academic questions, and if one doesn’t find these interesting then it can be a bit of a slog. More generally, advice matches other career paths, however: do something that you love, and also choose impactful problems. Even if your own work is a small part of the whole, if you can see the impact of the field it can be exciting all the time. If the graduate is not going to graduate school in Physics or a related subject, then they are likely entering a technical career such as engineering, finance, education, data science, or consulting. Physics is a great basic training for whatever direction someone takes since it trains you to think and problem solve, especially in reducing a problem to its core questions (as opposed to building encyclopedic knowledge of relevant facts). But, whatever specific career path a graduate takes will likely bring more specialized methods, knowledge, and applications. Physics is a great starting point, but future endeavors will broaden thinking to new challenges outside of the rigid rules of physical laws. So, graduates should be willing to, and excited to, adapt to new cultures.
What general advice would you give to a Process Scientist?
Meghan McGee-Lawrence Ph.D.: Take full advantage of the education and training opportunities offered to you either while you are completing your degree or when you start your first post-degree position. Academic institutions and employers are invested in the success of their recruits and regularly provide professional development opportunities to help folks build up skillsets – so make time to seek out and capitalize on those opportunities when they are offered, and document them on your CV (curriculum vitae) / resumes.
What general advice would you give to a Process Scientist?
Jacob Nordman: Salary potential in my field of neuroscience almost always involves publications, awards, and technical acumen. Therefore, as I mentioned, it is important to start early looking for opportunities that can strengthen these areas. Another important aspect of getting high-profile, and thus high-paying, positions, is being able to tell a story with your research and career. Employers want to see that you have thought deeply and strategically about your career and where it’s going. This will allow them to believe you are a safe bet and worthy of their investment.
What will help Process Scientists increase their earning potential?
Lindsey du Toit: Take every opportunity you can to learn, network, and build an effective team of people that bring a greater breadth and depth of skills and expertise to the work on which you will be focusing. Cultivate a life-long sense of intellectual curiosity and learning. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Treat ignorance as an opportunity to learn. Questions demonstrate you want to understand the situation/problem effectively and that you are paying attention. Always demonstrate integrity in your work. It is one of the most valuable traits you can bring to your career. Be kind and supportive of your colleagues.
Yan Cong
Purdue University
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What will help Process Scientists increase their earning potential?
Yan Cong: Develop some in-demand skills such as programming or generating content from text models via prompt engineering, et cetera. Get experience and extra income via paid summer internships.
What will help Process Scientists increase their earning potential?
Arjumand Ghazi Ph. D: Having an advanced degree such as a PhD and even a few years postdoc is a good way to start at a higher level. It often allows one to make up for the reduced earnings during the training periods while increasing long-term earnings.
What Process Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Josh Kaplan Ph.D.: Demonstrating a skill set that is unique, such as experience with a rare technical research approach, or demonstrating that you can save your employer money by utilizing free resources, can be used to negotiate a higher salary.
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical SciencesQuinnipiac University
Microbiological Sciences And Immunology
What Process Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.: The first and foremost would be Critical Thinking. We live in a world where facts can be easily acquired, sometimes even by asking Siri/Alexa/ChatGPT/Google/etc. But critical thinking is timeless and priceless. I can ask anyone on the street what xyz is and they can look it up, but can they provide advice or interpret.
Also being a good steward towards science and being willing and able to communicate not just with peers as we are trained, but also with the public, the politicians, the board members. John Holdren*, stated that Scientists should be tithing at least 10 percent of their time to public service ... including activism. In the ever growing science denialism that is happening in our country being able to communicate science with the public is important. As Peter Hotaz states, "Anti-science propaganda is "killing Americans in unprecedented numbers,""
*Holdren is an American scientist who served as the senior advisor to President Barack Obama on science and technology issues through his roles as assistant to the president for science and technology, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and a Research Professor in Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government
What general advice would you give to a Process Scientist?
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.: Practice both public speaking (presentations, journal clubs, research meetings) as much as possible and also practice "elevator speeches".
Do more than the minimum. Is there a conference you can present at, a journal club you can be involved in, an ASM branch or student chapter to participate in.
What will help Process Scientists increase their earning potential?
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.: Be passionate! Be curious! When I write a letter of recommendation I write a little about the obligatory "IQ" elements, how well their exam/assignment/course grade were, then I speak to their EQ, are they kind, helpful, respectful, considerate, etc. and I try to include an example of something that I witnessed regarding EQ. But the majority of the letter discussing PQ and CQ, their passion quotient and their curiosity quotient. A can write a much much better LOR for a student with high PQ and CQ than I can for one with just good grades. What have they read and what do they do in their spare time (and don't say that you can't afford a hobby, you can't afford not to have a hobby or an outlet, otherwise stress takes too much of a toll. Some of my most memorable student conversations are conversations that involved their curiosity, like a conversation about Bonnie Bassler's quorum sensing. Make sure that as you go through life you embrace Einstein's quote 'There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.'
The second piece of advice is: Know what you know, know what you don't know, be willing to admit what you don't know, and don't be afraid to ask questions, but try not to ask questions about simple things that one can easily look up as that indicates laziness rather than inquisitiveness.
The third piece of other advice would be to never give up. As "Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge
What experience really stands out on Process Scientist resumes?
Dr. Jose Lozano Ph.D.: Research and internships, and any activity that demonstrates that the individual is a team worker and can collaborate in interdisciplinary activities.
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Scientist job market given the pandemic?
April Buschelman: Teacher shortage was an issue before the pandemic, and I see this increasing tenfold in the next year. I get weekly notices or requests for graduates that could fill roles in different schools and districts, some are immediate, and others are for the next semester.
Besides only needing more teachers, I think there will be a great demand for teachers with instructional technology concentrations. The pandemic highlighted the need to think outside the traditional brick and mortar "box" of school systems. While newer teachers are being educated in ways to use technology in the classroom, it's rare students are being educated to make the technology the classroom.
One final trend to be aware of is educator burnout and the need for self-preservation. I could see (and hope we will see) schools and districts focusing on the educators' mental health. Inservice days could become more laid back and focus on mental well-being as much as the newest trends and requirements. If we want students to have the best experience and education with school, we need to focus on the educators' mental and physical well-being first.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Process Scientists in the next 3-5 years?
April Buschelman: I think virtual learning and working from home are here to stay. I see many more classes being offered online with a mixture of synchronous and asynchronous class sessions. Homeschooling across the country has doubled due to the pandemic, and parents would love to have the option of still having their child(ren) on track and "in" school without needing to plan every piece of the curriculum. A remote option that allows students to come into the school for portions of the day for specials or electives gives parents a great choice. This option would also enable secondary students to work during the day to support themselves or their families.
One other technology that will become more prevalent is the virtual lessons taught through animated videos rather than an actual teacher. Similar to corporate training or the online curriculum alternatives out there, I see this as an option for schools struggling to hire teachers.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Process Scientists in the next 5 years?
April Buschelman: I think there will be a definite increase in graduates in the next five years. This pandemic is causing many educators to leave the field due to the strain of teaching with multiple restrictions and requirements placed on them to keep everyone safe and healthy. Teachers are split with their desire to be teachers and help students and the teacher's desire to stay healthy and safe. Some are choosing to leave the profession instead and creating this new demand. It will be interesting to see what the future will hold!
Janet Gray Ph.D.
Professor and Department ChairThe College of New Jersey
Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Scientist job market given the pandemic?
Janet Gray Ph.D.: Future trends in the job market will depend on some significant degree in public policy and funding changes following the 2020 elections. I would expect public health, health care, mental health, public policy, social work, social advocacy, and other social service forms to continue to be growing fields. The recent legalization of drugs for medicinal and recreational use in several states will open up new employment areas related not only to distribution but also to policy and social services, as addiction care replaces incarceration. STEM skills will be essential across employment sectors as people continue to depend on remote access for a wide range of needs and activities.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Process Scientists in the next 3-5 years?
Janet Gray Ph.D.: WGSS graduates enter every employment sector, so technological trends for our graduates will follow various sectors' directions. Among the most common careers for WGSS graduates are law, social work, and education. The capacity to work remotely and do so effectively--may depend more on having access to sound technology and good training, and devising more effective ways to use the tools available, than on any new technology becoming available.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Process Scientists in the next 5 years?
Janet Gray Ph.D.: I think an increase, though not dramatic. WGSS majors graduate with a capacity to analyze and strategize about a wide range of social justice issues, including racial justice, LGBTQ rights, immigration rights, and disability rights, in addition to gender equity. Very few employers require a degree specifically in WGSS. Still, many employers value the skills students gain through their major, and I would expect social justice skills to be increasingly in demand across employment sectors in the coming years. Most WGSS majors take second majors as well, and their combined majors give them an edge in a broad range of fields--including mental health, public health, law, education, politics, business, and government.
What experience really stands out on Process Scientist resumes?
Neil Rothman Ph.D.: Above all, demonstrating the ability to apply what you have learned to a practical problem is the best evidence that a candidate will contribute to an organization. Therefore, projects that were undertaken by the candidate (especially team projects) should be highlighted and must include specific contributions made to the project. Since the purpose of the resume is to get an interview, the candidate should have a solid command of the project's overall goals and explain how their contribution was directly related to those goals. The ability to function well on a team is also crucial.
What Process Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Neil Rothman Ph.D.: Any gap year experience should be complementary to their degree program and career goals. If they lack a specific skill that is important in their field of choice, they should focus on that. Otherwise, any experience is useful knowledge, but an experience that provides a better perspective on why they are pursuing a particular career would be best. Most jobs require a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving, but most degree programs don't necessarily provide this. Software development and data analysis will be crucial in almost any career, so that might be something to look at (e.g., Python, R, etc.).
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Process Scientists in the next 3-5 years?
Neil Rothman Ph.D.: Based on the past year, the rapid development of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics would seem to be an area that will be very important. I am talking about developing a specific vaccine or therapeutic and the equipment and laboratory methods necessary for their product. Running a diagnostic test on an "easy to acquire" sample will be essential to enable rapid and widespread testing and diagnosis. Detection of pathogens in water and food will likely continue and potentially increase in importance as the effects of climate change impact the water supply.
I also think that the strategy behind diagnostic testing may become more critical. Rather than going for very high sensitivity and specificity, it may be more useful to have a "good" test that can be conducted more quickly and often to prevent disease spread. This directly impacts what technologies are developed and how they are applied.
Afzal Upal
Professor & Department ChairUniversity of Wisconsin - Platteville
Computer Science & Software Engineering Department
What are the biggest trends we'll see in the Process Scientist job market given the pandemic?
Afzal Upal: I believe that this will accelerate the trend towards automation of various aspects of life. This will lead to automation technologies' rapid growth, particularly Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (incredibly deep learning). I do not believe that work from home (WFH) will continue at the high levels at which it is currently happening in the middle of the current pandemic. Although post-pandemic, WFH will continue at a higher level than it was happening in February 2020. Differences in employee productivity, however small, will force most employers to ask many employees to return to their offices. The trend toward automation yet will continue and will lead to an even more massive expansion of jobs in computer science.
What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Process Scientists in the next 3-5 years?
Afzal Upal: Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, as discussed above. I also see rapid growth in epidemiology and public health, given their prominence in the news and given the fact that governments and research institutions, at all levels, will be bolstering their epidemiology and public health personnel.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Process Scientists in the next 5 years?
Afzal Upal: I do see an increase in demand for graduates in both Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning and epidemiology/public health, even in the longer time horizon of 5 years. This is because AI/ML jobs were growing, even before the pandemic, and that trend has only accelerated due to the epidemic. I also expect epidemiology and public health to continue to grow because the public has become sensitive to the pandemic. There's no reason to believe that this is the last pandemic we'll see, given the ease with which people can and travel around the globe.
What type of skills will young Process Scientists need?
Dennis Doverspike Ph.D.: Seemingly a paradox, there will continue to be a need for very general, but highly fungible, skills and demand for too specialized skills, requiring advanced education. Coding, statistics, and data analysis related skills will remain a hot growth area. The aging of the baby boomers will create demand for medical and healthcare-related regions, especially nursing, nursing aides, and emergency services. Despite the automation of many people facing jobs, there will continue to be a demand for interpersonal and people skills, including various types of sales. The switch to remote work, due to COVID, will create a substantial future market to fill the leadership and managerial skills gap. In many areas of Technology and engineering, it is already challenging to find a combination of technical knowledge and people skills, and this demand will intensify.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Process Scientists to find work opportunities?
Dennis Doverspike Ph.D.: Not sure if this question meant geographic locations or industries. I will assume it means geographic areas. Both government and the health care industries will continue to grow, along with a decline in traditional manufacturing, so this will increase jobs around Washington, DC, state capitals, and large regional medical centers. It is harder to predict the impact of COVID and remote work on our cities, especially those located in high housing cost areas and on the coasts. Nevertheless, the movement to remote work and small education continues to expand, making it more and more accurate that choosing where to live will depend upon personal preferences. Thus, location will become less of a factor in work decisions and be driven more by family and leisure choices. One exception might be the aging of the baby boomers. If we see more and more Villages created, then those communities for older individuals will need service staff living in the area to provide personalized medical care, along with a range of recreational and entertainment options.
How do you envision technology impacting Process Scientists in the next 5 years?
Dennis Doverspike Ph.D.: Technology will have a considerable impact. Self-driving vehicles and the replacement of call-center employees with artificial agents will eliminate a large number of high paying, low skill jobs. COVID and Technology will continue to combine to shape how we work, whether we have to commute to work, how we do that, and how we educate ourselves and our children. This will then impact where we live, our cities, the way we fund governments, and the percentage of people in the workforce.
What are the best companies to work for a Process Scientist?
Paul Badger Ph.D.: Some of the best companies to work for are companies or industries with a long history of research and development in the general field of biology. Explicitly speaking, companies associated with the healthcare industry, life sciences, or environmental sciences usually hire graduates with degrees in science fields.
Those jobs are relatively secure with opportunities for advancement over the long term. Another occupation with potential for growth that traditionally hires biology graduates in the field of forensic science. The demand for qualified biology educators has been relatively steady over the years and offers another lot where biology graduates may find employment. Science is the driver for innovation in many areas, from technology to healthcare to agriculture, and design in these areas can lead to market growth and job creation.
Will there be an increase or decrease in demand for Process Scientists in the next 5 years?
Paul Badger Ph.D.: The demand for skilled research scientists in the healthcare industry or related industries will almost certainly grow in the next five years. There is nearly always a need for entry-level positions, such as laboratory scientists or medical laboratory technicians. The recent increase in pressures placed on the health care sector will likely lead to more hiring as testing facilities, and analytical labs are expanded.
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Process Scientists to find work opportunities?
Paul Badger Ph.D.: Any area of the U.S. that has current or projected population growth, like the southern Atlantic states and the Rocky Mountain regions, will have an increased demand for biology graduates in a variety of occupations.