CAREER INFORMATION FROM THE

DOCTORATAL EXIT SURVEY

2009 Survey Results

Doctoral Exit Survey Career Information Report

Table of Contents

Page

Welcome 3

Plans After Graduation 4

Top Employers for PhDs 5

Top Industries for PhDs 5-6

Employers by Department 7-8

Information about Postdocs 9

Information about Location after Graduation 10

How Graduates Found Jobs 11

Job Search Process 12

Average Salary and Bonus 12

Average Salary by Course 13

Average Salary by Industry 14-16

Questions about Additional Experiences (Internship, Leadership 16

and Public Service Experience)

Welcome to the CAREER INFORMATION FROM THE 2009 DOCTORAL EXIT SURVEY. We have

taken career related information from the Earned Doctorate Survey and published this in a brief report

for the MIT community and partners. In 2009, we began using the Earned Doctorate Survey to collect

destination information for all PhDs. Employer and salary information about PhDs, prior to 2009, can be

found in the Graduating Student Survey, http://gecd.mit.edu/resources/data . A special thanks to Rieko

Ouchi who worked on this report. Any questions about the survey and results can be directed to

Deborah Liverman, liverman@mit.edu

ABOUT THE DOCTORAL EXIT SURVEY

The Doctoratal Exit Survey is administered by Institutional Research, Office of the Provost at

MIT. The full Earned Doctorate Survey report for 2009 can be viewed at

http://web.mit.edu/ir/surveys/DocExit_2009.pdf . All information about the Doctoral Exit Survey,

including purpose, method, and format can be directed to Institutional Research, http://mit.edu/ir/

2009 MIT POST GRADUATION STATISTICS*

*Based upon 327 (53.9 %) responses to the 2009 Doctoral Exit Survey

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF DOCTORATE STUDENTS GO ON

TO WORK, GRADUATE/PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL, OR OTHER?*

Work Graduate/Professional

School

Still Searching for

Employment Other

78.4% 1.9% 12.6% 7.1%

*Other includes taking time off, traveling, and not planning to work or study.

WHICH EMPLOYERS HIRED THE MOST MIT PhD GRADUATES?

PhD Level Employers # Hires

MIT 26

Stanford University 8

McKinsey 5

Harvard University 4

Mass General Hospital 4

Cornell University 4

Princeton University 3

Harvard Medical 3

Microsoft 3

NASA 3

Tufts University 3

UC Berkeley 3

WHAT WERE THE TOP INDUSTRIES FOR MIT PhD GRADUATES?

INDUSTRY %

Educational Services 38.1%

Scientific & Technical Services 23.2%

Other 14.9%

Software and Data Services 6.6%

Health Care Services 5.0%

Manufacturing, Durable 4.4%

Business & Professional Services 4.4%

Manufacturing, Non-Durable 1.1%

Communications 1.1%

2009 PHD Employers by Department

* Results are based on student report and not representative of all employers who hire MIT students by department.

Course (Course Number) Employers

Civil & Environmental Engineering (1) Boise State University, Curie Institute, Gradient Corporation, University of

Vermont

Mechanical Engineering (2) Bosch, Boston University, Ecole Polytechnique, Hyundai Motor Company,

Intel, MIT, NASA, National Institute of Aerospace, University of Hong

Kong, University of Minnesota, US Navy, Whitesides Group- Harvard

University

Materials Science and Engineering (3) Aegis Lightwave, Bar Ilan University (Israel), Chemical Engineering / MIT,

Institute for Advanced Study, MIT, Rochester Institute of Technology,

Stanford University, University of Canterbury

Architecture (4) Cornell University, ETH Zurich, MIT, Mitsubishi Electric Research Labs,

Southern Methodist University, University of Cambridge

Chemistry (5) Duke University, Fish and Richardson, Harvard Medical School, Johnson

and Johnson, Los Alamos National Laboratory, McKinsey & Co., MIT,

Stanford University, Tessella Inc.

Electrical Engineering and Computer

Science [EECS] (6)

Applied Physical Sciences, ASTAR, BBN Technologies, Chinese University of

Hong Kong, Deutsche Bank, DSO National Laboratories, ETH Zurich,

FastCAP Systems, Google, Harvard Medical School, Heartland Robotics,

IBM, Kayak.com, Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Massachusetts General

Hospital, Microsoft, MIT, MIT Lincoln Laboratory, NSF, Princeton

University, Samsung Electronics, Shell Oil Company, Tufts University,

University of California at Berkeley, University of Maryland, Vistec, Inc.,

Wolf Greenfield

Biology (7) Brandeis University, Ifremer, Julian Downward, L.E.K. Consulting, MIT,

University of Arizona, University of Pennsylvania, Westwood High School

Physics (8) CMU, Harvard University, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,

Massachusetts General Hospital, MIT, National Institute of Standards and

Technology (NIST), Center for Neutron Research, Princeton University,

University of California at Los Angeles, University of Texas at Austin

Brain and Cognitive Sciences (9) Dorchester Collegiate Academy Charter School, Exponent, Navia Systems,

Inc, University of Adelaide, University of California at Berkeley

Chemical Engineering (10) Aerodyne Research, Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Certus Biomedical,

ExxonMobil, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, MathWorks,

McKinsey & Co., MedImmune, MIT, National Renewable Energy

Laboratory, Rohm and Haas, RXi Pharmaceuticals, Technical University of

Denmark, University of Colorado, Boulder

Urban Studies and Planning (11) ICF International, Tufts University

Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Arizona State University, Bryn Mawr College, Columbia University,

Course (Course Number) Employers

Sciences [EAPS] (12) Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, MIT, Northern

Arizona University, Princeton University, University of Bristol, University of

Chicago, University of Southampton / National Oceanography Centre

Economics (14) Cornell University, Harvard University, International Monetary Fund (IMF),

London School of Economics, Yale University

Management (15) Stanford University, University of Texas at Austin

Aeronautics and Astronautics (16) Cadio Inc, McKinsey & Co., MIT, Oxford University, THQ, Inc

Political Science (17) Brandeis University, George Washington University

Mathematics (18) Caltech, Cambridge University, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, EPFL,

Facebook, Inc, Max Planck Institute, MSRI/Berkeley, Stanford University,

Tsinghua University, University of Chicago

Biological Engineering (20) Boston University, Medtronic, MIT, Stanford University, University of

Arizona, University of Chicago

Nuclear Engineering (22) Argonne National Laboratory, The Nuclear Reactor Laboratory at MIT,

Tufts University

Linguistics and Philosophy (24) Cornell University, University of Michigan, University of St Andrews,

University of Sydney

Computational and Systems Biology

[CSB]

Stanford University

Engineering Systems Division [ESD]

(including Operational Research)

Analytics Operations Engineering, McKinsey & Co., MITRE Corporation,

Oracle, University of California at Berkeley, US Air Force

Health Sciences and Technology [HST] Brigham & Women's Hospital, Broad Institute, Cornell University,

Dartmouth College, Massachusetts General Hospital, McKinsey & Co., New

York University, Posit Science, Stanford University

Media Arts and Sciences (Media Lab)

[MAS]

Science, Technology, and Society [STS] Concordia University, MIT

9

DO YOU INTEND TO TAKE A POSTDOC POSITION (All PhDs)?

Yes 54.3%

No 45.7%

DO YOU INTEND TO TAKE A POST DOC POSTION BY DEPARTMENT? (in %)

Course (Course Number) Yes No N#

Civil & Environmental Engineering (1) 14.3% 85.7% 7

Mechanical Engineering (2) 50.0% 50.0% 34

Materials Science and Engineering (3) 58.8% 41.2% 17

Architecture (4) 33.3% 66.7% 9

Chemistry (5) 50.0% 50.0% 22

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science [EECS] (6) 34.6% 65.4% 52

Biology (7) 66.7% 33.3% 18

Physics (8) 90.5% 9.5% 21

Brain and Cognitive Sciences (9) 44.4% 55.6% 9

Chemical Engineering (10) 30.4% 69.6% 23

Urban Studies and Planning (11) 0% 100% 2

Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences [EAPS] (12) 84.6% 15.4% 13

Economics (14) 33.3% 66.7% 6

Management (15) 0% 100% 4

Aeronautics and Astronautics (16) 55.6% 44.4% 9

Political Science (17) 33.3% 66.7% 3

Mathematics (18) 75.0% 25.0% 12

Biological Engineering (20) 76.9% 23.1% 13

Nuclear Engineering (22) 28.6% 71.4% 7

Linguistics and Philosophy (24) 50.0% 50.0% 6

Computational and Systems Biology [CSB] 100% 0% 1

Engineering Systems Design (ESD) (including

Operations Research) 0% 100% 9

Health Sciences and Technology (HST) 73.3% 26.7% 15

Media Arts & Science (MAS) 0% 100% 3

Science, Technology, and Society [STS] 50.0% 50.0% 4

10

FOR THOSE STAYING IN THE UNITED STATES, WHAT STATE DO YOU INTEND TO LIVE AFTER GRADUATION?

Massachusetts 45.5%

California 18.6%

New York 6.4%

Pennsylvania 2.7%

Illinois 2.3%

Maryland 2.3%

Texas 2.3%

FOR THOSE LEAVING THE UNITED STATES, IN WHAT COUNTRY DO YOU INTEND TO LIVE AFTER GRADUATION?

United Kingdom 18.2%

South Korea 9.1%

Switzerland 9.1%

Canada 7.3%

France 5.5%

India 5.5%

Singapore 5.5%

Hong Kong SAR 3.6%

Israel 3.6%

Japan 3.6%

Australia 3.6%

11

HOW DID MIT PhD GRADUATES FIND THEIR JOBS?

(Students could check all that applied so the number will be more than 100%)

Directly applied to employer 41.0%

Networking 41.0%

Through Department (faculty, academic administrator) 25.9%

Advertised job listing (on-line, print) 21.7%

On-campus recruiting (CareerBridge, Interviewtrak) 17.5%

Professional Conference 15.6%

Personal Contacts (friends, family) 15.6%

Career Fair 9.4%

Other 9.0%

Previously employed by employer (internship, company-sponsored education) 8.0%

Internship led to job offer 6.6%

Contacts acquired through MIT Careers Office (business cards, panels, presentations) 3.3%

12

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF JOB APPLICATIONS/INTERVIEWS/JOB OFFERS?

Degree Level Job Applications Job Interviews Job Offers

Doctorate 10 4 2

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF WORKING GRADUATES NEGOTIATED THEIR SALARY AND BONUS?

Degree Level Negotiated Salary Negotiated Bonus

Doctorate 19.6% 12.1%

WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE SALARY AND SALARY RANGE OF WORKING MIT GRADUATES?

Doctor of Philosophy going into postdoctoral positions $52,747 / $20,000 – $125,000

Doctor of Philosophy going on to other positions $90,106/ $28,000 - $208,000

WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE BONUS (for those receiving bonuses) AND

RANGE OF BONUSES OF WORKING MIT GRADUATES?

Doctor of Philosophy going into postdoctoral positions $ 8,181/$500 -$55,000

Doctor of Philosophy going on to other positions $24,066/$700 - $250,000

WHAT WAS THE AVERAGE NEGOTIATED INCREASE IN SALARY

AND BONUS OF WORKING MIT GRADUATES?

Degree Level Increase in Salary Increase in Bonus

Doctorate $5,242 $9,441

13

2009 Average Salary by Course (US Dollars)

(Number of respondents are in columns titled # after each salary amount. Blank represents 1 or no responses per

cell.)

Course (Course Number) Salary N# Bonus N#

Civil & Environmental Engineering (1) 60,800 5 53,350 2

Mechanical Engineering (2) 58,520 15 9,000 3

Materials Science and Engineering (3) 47,333 6 5,000 2

Architecture (4) 62,500 6 13,000 3

Chemistry (5) 64,500 12 12,667 3

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

[EECS] (6) 84,212 30

19,945 11

Biology (7) 52,900 10 5,125 4

Physics (8) 56,257 14 4,167 3

Brain and Cognitive Sciences (9) 59,250 4 5,000 1

Chemical Engineering (10) 72,000 12 57,500 5

Urban Studies and Planning (11) 60,000 2

EAPS (12) 49,650 10 8,875 4

Economics (14) 103,200 5 33,333 3

Management (15) 175,250 2 27,000 2

Aeronautics and Astronautics (16) 65,000 7 14,000 2

Political Science (17) 61,500 2

Mathematics (18) 63,955 11 16,125 4

Biological Engineering (20) 47,667 6 15,000 1

Nuclear Engineering (22) 76,333 3

Linguistics and Philosophy (24) 51,391 3

Computational and Systems Biology [CSB]

Engineering Systems Design (ESD)

(including Operations Research) 100,143 7 15,500 2

Health Sciences and Technology (HST) 66,400 10 9,667 3

Media Arts & Science (Media Lab) (MAS)

Science, Technology, and Society [STS] 37,000 2

14

2009 Industry & Employer Data

Industry

# of

Students Employers

Average

Salary

Salary Range

Communications,

Arts, Entertainment

(Sports, Media,

Leisure, Film)

2 Aegis Lightwave, Cadio Inc N/A N/A

Computer Software 10 BBN Technologies, Facebook, Inc, Google,

Kayak.com, Microsoft, Navia Systems, Inc,

Oracle, THQ, Inc

108,810 52,500 -

175,000

Consulting 7 Analytics Operations Engineering, L.E.K.

Consulting, McKinsey & Co. 110,714

100,000 –

125,000

Education 98 Arizona State University, Bar Ilan University,

Boise State University, Boston University,

Brandeis University, Bryn Mawr College,

Caltech, Cambridge University, Chinese

University of Hong Kong, CMU, Columbia

University, Concordia University, Cornell

University, Dartmouth College, Dorchester

Collegiate Academy Charter School, Duke

University, Ecole Polytechnique, EPFL, ETH

Zurich, George Washington University, Harvard

University, London School of Economics, MIT,

New York University, Northern Arizona

University, Oxford University, Princeton

University, Rochester Institute of Technology,

Southern Methodist University, Stanford

University, Technical University of Denmark,

Tsinghua University, Tufts University, University

of Adelaide, University of Arizona, University

of Bristol, University of California at Berkeley,

University of California at Los Angeles,

University of Cambridge, University of

Canterbury, University of Chicago, University

of Colorado, Boulder, University of Hong

Kong, University of Maryland, University of

Michigan, University of Minnesota, University

55,193 20,000 –

208,000

15

of Pennsylvania, University of Southampton,

University of St Andrews, University of Sydney,

University of Texas at Austin, University of

Vermont, Westwood High School, Yale

University

Energy and Utilities 1 ExxonMobil, Shell Oil Company N/A N/A

Financial Services

(Commercial

Banking, Insurance)

1

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche

Bank N/A N/A

Health/Medicine 7 Brigham & Women's Hospital, Harvard

Medical School, Massachusetts General

Hospital

44,143 38,000 –

50,000

Manufacturing,

Durable

(machinery,

electronic

hardware, medical

instruments)

5

Bosch, FastCAP Systems, Heartland Robotics,

Hyundai Motor Company, Intel, Mitsubishi

Electric Research Labs, Samsung Electronics

84,260 60,000 -

101,300

Manufacturing,

Non-Durable (food,

chemicals, plastics,

textiles) (including

Chemicals and

Materials)

2

Air Products and Chemicals Inc., Rohm and

Haas 91,500

83,000 –

100,000

Pharmaceuticals

(Biotech, Medical

Device)

4 Certus Biomedical, Johnson and Johnson,

MedImmune, Medtronic, RXi Pharmaceuticals 88,750 82,000 –

105,000

Public

Administration/

Government

6 NASA, International Monetary Fund, US Air

Force, US Navy 88,167 65,000 –

110,000

Scientific &

Technical Services

34 Aerodyne Research, Applied Physical Sciences,

Argonne National Laboratory, ASTAR, BBN

Technologies, Broad Institute, Curie Institute,

DSO National Laboratories, Exponent, Gradient

73,624 35,000 -

125,000

16

Corporation, IBM, ICF International, Ifremer,

Institute for Advanced Study, Joint Institute for

the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean,

Julian Downward, Knolls Atomic Power

Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National

Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National

Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory,

MathWorks, Max Planck Institute, MIT Lincoln

Laboratory, MITRE Corporation, MSRI/Berkeley,

National Institute of Aerospace, NIST, National

Institute of Standards and Technology Center

for Neutron Research, National Renewable

Energy Laboratory, NSF, Posit Science,

Tessella Inc, Vistec, Inc.

Other 2 Fish and Richardson, Wolf Greenfield 95,000

90,000 –

100,000

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF DOCTORATE GRADUATES COMPLETED AN INTERNSHIP IN THEIR CURRENT PROGRAM?

YES NO DON’T KNOW

26.7% 73.3% 0%

WHAT WAS PERCENTAGE OF DOCTORATE GRADUATES HAD LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE?

YES NO DON’T KNOW

47.8% 48.1% 4.1%

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF DOCTORATE GRADUATES HAD SERVICE EXPERIENCE?

YES NO DON’T KNOW

41.9% 54.7% 3.4%